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CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
SPECIAL MEETINGS
Special meetings of the City Council may be called at the request of the Mayor, City Manager, or any three
members of the Council.11
When called, the Clerk notifies Council in writing of the meeting. All notices of special meetings to Council
members shall state the subjects for which the meeting is being called.12
Electronic Mail or facsimile transmissions may serve as written notice. Phone calls may be used as needed to
supplement other special meeting notices.
Unless the Council votes unanimously, no business except the items on the special meeting agenda can be
transacted. Meetings must be open to the public unless members vote to convene a Closed Session.
CITY COUNCIL RETREATS
The City Council holds two City Council retreats annually. These retreats typically occur in January and July and
are designated as special meetings.
January Retreat: The focus of the January retreat is on items such as budget planning, policy reviews, and
operational updates. This retreat provides an opportunity for in-depth analysis and discussion of critical matters
that impact the city’s operations and governance.
July Retreat: The focus of the July retreat is on strategic planning. This includes long-term goal setting, vision
alignment, and discussions about future initiatives to advance the city’s mission and objectives.
Both retreats aim to provide the Council with dedicated time to address specific areas of importance and foster
collaborative decision-making.
CLOSED SESSION
According to the Charter, meetings of the Council shall be open to the public except when the public welfare
requires Closed Sessions. A City Council or committee may go into Closed Session and exclude the public for
certain stated reasons. In accordance with FOIA, more than 20 items relevant to various aspects of City business
may be discussed in a closed session. Closed Session issues typically involve:
• Personnel VA Code § 2.2-3711.1
• Acquisition of property VA Code § 2.2-3711.3
• Legal briefings VA Code § 2.2-3711.7 and 2.2-3711.8
11
Charter Sec. 2.21
12
FOIA 2.2-3707
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