Conduct of Common Council Business.
Milwaukee City Charter § 4-05
in effect4-05. Conduct of Common Council Business.
1. The common council shall hold stated meetings at such times and places as it shall appoint. The mayor or the president of the common council may call special meetings by notice of at least 24 hours, except that in an emergency as determined by the mayor a 6-hour notice shall suffice, to each of the members, to be served at the member’s city hall office. Special meetings may also be called on not less than 6 hours' notice by the president at the written request of the majority of the members of the council at the time of the request. Special meetings shall also be called on not less than 24 hours' notice by the president at the written request of 5 members of the council at the time of the request.
2. The common council shall determine the rules for their own government and proceedings, provided such rules are consistent with the provisions of ch. 184, L. 1874. A majority of the members at the time of the meeting shall be required to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a smaller number may adjourn. Their session shall be open and public and their proceedings shall be recorded. All their papers and records, and all the election returns, shall be deposited with the clerk of the common council, and may be examined at any time in the presence of the clerk.
3. Each member of the common council shall have one vote on any one question. The ayes and noes may be required by any member. On all questions, ordinances or resolutions for assessing and levying taxes, or for the appropriation or disbursement of money, or creating any liabilities or charge against the city or any fund thereof, the vote shall be taken by ayes and noes. Every vote by ayes and noes shall be entered at length upon the journal.
4. The common council shall be the judge of the election and qualification of its own members, and may:
a. Punish its members or other persons present, by fine, for disorderly behavior.
b. Compel the attendance of its members upon its sessions, and employ the police of the city for that purpose.
c. Fine or expel any member for neglecting his or her duty as such member, or for unnecessary absence from the sessions of the council.
5. At all elections or confirmations by the common council, the vote shall be given orally, and shall be duly recorded by the clerk in the journal. The concurrence of a majority of the members at the time of the vote shall be necessary to an election or confirmation.
6. The common council is a continuing body, and unfinished business pending before it shall not lapse or go down with the council year, but all pending business before the common council, or any committee thereof, at the termination of any council year shall be considered as pending before the common council of the next succeeding council year, or the corresponding committee thereof, and may be acted upon and disposed of by the council of such succeeding year in the same manner and with the same effect as if no change in such common council had taken place, by the expiration of the council year.
(HISTORY: Section 4-05 am. Ch. Ord. 514, File #81-1661, Feb. 25, 1982. 4-05 am. Ch. Ord. 564, File # 86-802, Feb. 3, 1987; eff. Apr. 20, 1987. 4-05-1 am. File # 121726, May 21, 2013; eff. August 10, 2013.)
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/CH4.pdf#page=2Fetched: 10/26/2026