Edmond City Council Guidebook

City Council

GUIDEBOOK

City Council

This serves as a guide to assist you in identifying and performing your basic roles and responsibilities as an Elected Official for the City of Edmond. As a guide, this document does not contain all you need to know about serving residents of this community. If you have any question, contact the City Manager’s Office at (405) 359-4500 or the City Attorney’s Office at (405) 359-4350.

Vision | Mission | Core Values

The

City Council’s vision, mission, and core values serve as a backbone for decision making. These statements and ideals describe our purpose, our intent, and our direction. The vision statement communicates what we intend to do, and our mission statement is how we accomplish those ideals. Core values support our mission and vision, as well as shape the culture of our Council.

City Council’s Vision

Edmond strives to be a diverse and innovative hometown committed to excellence through leadership, balanced growth and cooperation. These high standards will only be accomplished in full partnership with the community.

City Council’s Mission

The Edmond City Council leads by setting policy for City direction, by balancing growth and by serving as stewards of assets for today’s, as well as tomorrow’s community and citizens.

City Council’s Core Values

Truth | We seek the truth and allow for fair and thorough deliberation.

Integrity | We operate on the foundation of trust by honoring honest and open discussion with each other and our citizens.

Proactive | We believe in visionary leadership by creating opportunities for the citizens of Edmond to grow and define their community.

Communication | We provide opportunities for diverse expression of thought and dialogue.

Service | We believe in nurturing and advancing a unified partnership between the Council, the City Staff and our Citizens.

Accountability | We have high standards with regard to our monetary responsibilities, actions and performance, and we hold ourselves accountable to these high standards.

History of Edmond

Edmond’s beginnings are attributed to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, which built its line south through the Unassigned Lands in the 1880s.

Located at a point originally called Mile Marker 103, Edmond was a coal and watering stop on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway line. On March 28, 1887, the Santa Fe officially named the

station Edmond in honor of Edmond Burdick, a Santa Fe traveling freight agent.

Edmond Station was first operated by John Steen, with support from his wife Cordelia and their son Charley. Edmond is located in northern Oklahoma County, approximately fifteen miles north of downtown Oklahoma City. As with many other communities throughout the area, Edmond got its start as a town on April 22, 1889, with the opening of the Unassigned Lands.

Education forms a significant part of Edmond’s history. An important local institution is the University of Central Oklahoma. Originally named the Territorial Normal School in 1891, it prepared students to become teachers. Although it has changed names several times and expanded its curriculum, becoming the University of Central Oklahoma, its first building, Old North Tower, still remains the campus focal point. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. College classes were held in Old North Tower beginning in January 1893 and continue to be held there today.

Edmond’s economic base, growing from the railroad, the normal school, and a surrounding agricultural area, expanded with the discovery of oil in the West Edmond Field during the 1930s and 1940s. Transportation access, always important to the growth of a town, included the arrival of the railroad in 1887 and an interurban line in 1911, designation on U.S. Highway 66 (Route 66) and Highway 77 in the late 1920s, and proximity to Interstate 35 from the early 1960s. More convenient approaches and roads into Edmond in the 1950s and 1960s brought population growth and a corresponding increase in the infrastructure, more schools and businesses in the 1970s and 1980s, numerous housing additions, and active citizen participation in the 1990s through the current day. Edmond Electric, a municipally owned system and one of only thirty-five in the state, has provided power since 1908 and provides vital support to the city for maintaining a high quality of life.

Roles & Responsibilities

The

roles of the Mayor and Councilmembers are established through the Charter of the City of Edmond and Oklahoma law, as applicable. The Charter can be found on page 30 of this manual, or at EdmondOK.gov/168/Search-City-Ordinances.

Excerpts of the Charter

Powers of Mayor and Council

“The Mayor and Council shall have the same power to enact all laws and ordinances for the City possessed by the city council of a city of the first class under the constitution and laws of the State of Oklahoma at the time of the adoption of this Charter, together with all other powers by this Charter granted and all powers hereafter conferred by the constitution and laws of this State.”

Powers of the Mayor

“The mayor shall be recognized as the official head of the City for all ceremonial purposes. In time of public danger or emergency he may, with the consent of the City Council, take command of the police and maintain order and enforce the laws. When present the mayor shall preside at all meetings of the mayor and council.”

Mayor a Member of Council

“In addition to his duties prescribed by law, by this Charter and by ordinance, the Mayor shall also be a member of the council and shall have an equal vote at all times with the members of the council.”

The Mayor to Have No Power of Veto

“The mayor shall not have the power to veto any ordinance, resolution or other measure when passed by the mayor and council, as herein provided.”

Meetings of the Mayor and Council

“It shall be the duty of the incoming mayor and council to meet with the outgoing mayor and council at the last meeting of the outgoing mayor and council, the first Monday in May following the general City election. At such joint meeting the outgoing mayor and council shall, after they have transacted their last business, give the incoming mayor and council such information as they may ask for with reference to the city’s business, and deliver to them all keys, papers, plans, charts, and all other property belonging to the said City of Edmond. The fact that the outgoing mayor and council shall fail or refuse to meet with the incoming mayor and council, as herein provided, shall in no way affect the power and authority of the incoming mayor and council to take office and assume their respective duties under the terms of this Charter.”

Mayor Pro Tem

“At the first meeting of the mayor and council it shall, by majority vote, elect one of its members a mayor pro tem, who shall, in case of absence or disqualification of the mayor, serve as mayor with the title of mayor pro tem, with all powers and duties vested in the mayor. Provided, however, the Mayor Pro Tem shall have only one vote on any question.”

Council-Manager Form of Government

Role of the Mayor

Typically, the mayor in a council-manager community is a voting member of the governing body who may be either directly elected, as in 69% of council-manager communities, or who is selected by and from among their colleagues on the governing body. The mayor shall be recognized as the official head of the City for all ceremonial purposes.

Role of Elected Officials

Under the council-manager form, the elected officials (e.g. the council) are the legislative body and the community’s policy makers. Power is centralized in this body, which approves the budget and adopts local laws and regulations, for example. The elected officials also focus on the community’s big-picture goals, such as community growth and sustainability. The elected officials hire a professional city, town, or county manager based on that person’s education, experience, skills, and abilities and NOT on their political allegiances. The elected officials supervise the manager’s performance, and if that person is not responsive and effective in their role, the elected officials have the authority to remove her or him at any time.

City Manager’s Role

The manager is an at-will employee who can be fired by a majority of the elected officials, consistent with local laws or any employment agreements. This person:

• Prepares a budget for the governing body’s consideration.

• Recruits, hires, supervises, and terminates staff.

• Serves as the governing body’s chief advisor by providing complete and objective information about local operations, discussing options, offering an assessment of the long-term consequences of decisions, and making policy recommendations.

• Carries out the policies established by the governing body.

VOTERS

GOVERNING BODY

MANAGER

DEPARTMENT HEADS

What Role Do Residents Play?

Under council-manager government, local governments often actively engage and involve their residents in community decision making. Residents can guide their community by serving on boards and commissions, participating in visioning and strategic planning sessions, and designing community-oriented local government services.

Roles During City Council Meetings

Mayor

The Mayor, or in their absence the Mayor Pro Tem, is the presiding officer, or Chair, of all City Council / Public Works Authority meetings. The Chair is responsible for leading the meeting, directing the order of business, and for maintaining order. The Chair may direct the removal of individuals if they are disruptive or otherwise violate meeting rules.

Councilmembers

The Mayor and four Councilmembers serve as the elected City Council of the City of Edmond. Members of the City Council may discuss items on a meeting agenda and a majority of the City Council may adopt, approve, amend, reject, deny, strike, continue, refer to staff, or refer to boards and/or commissions any item on a meeting agenda.

City Staff

The City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk are seated with members of the City Council on the dais. The City Manager and City Attorney provide advice and other information to the City Council. The City Clerk, or their designee, takes written minutes of the meeting. The City Manager, Attorney, and Clerk are not members of the City Council and do not vote on agenda items.

Other staff members including department heads, city planners, city engineers, among others, provide additional information regarding specific agenda items being considered.

Councilmember Conduct

Privileged / Confidential Information

The City Attorney and City Manager have the authority to share confidential information to the Mayor and Councilmembers. This communication can relate to a number of matters requiring confidentiality, but most likely relating to legal matters. The AttorneyClient privilege between Councilmembers and the City Attorney prevails, and Councilmembers should not reveal the contents of these communications, as dissemination of the information could have an adverse effect on the City in the litigation involved. Confidential Information includes privileged communication, whether expressed or implied, oral or written, between an elected City Official, City of Edmond employees, and the City Attorney and City of Edmond records, documents, and other information not subject to public disclosure and dissemination by law.

Conduct Toward Citizens

Our City is one of active citizens, and many come to Council meetings on a regular basis. At times, people are in attendance because of emotionally-charged issues. Some agenda items attract large crowds, so be prepared to interact with citizens on a frequent basis. Citizens expect their elected officials to be prompt and in their place when the meeting convenes.

When citizens speak, Councilmembers should present themselves as attentive, they are entitled to be listened to. Councilmembers should present themselves as attentive, make eye contact with the speakers, listen appreciatively, and understand the right of the people to speak their opinion.

Meeting Attendance

Attendance to meetings is crucial – a quorum of Councilmembers is needed to conduct business. City Council meetings typically occur on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, unless otherwise specified. If you know you will be unable to attend a meeting, it is courteous to notify your fellow Councilmembers and staff in advance.

Edmond Public Works Authority

As a member of the City Council, you will also serve as a Trustee for the Edmond Public Works Authority (EPWA).

The Edmond City Council and Edmond Public Works Authority (EPWA) are two distinct legal entities with the same five voting members. The Mayor serves as a trustee and Chairperson of the EPWA while the four Councilmembers serve as trustees of the EPWA. The Edmond Public Works Authority is generally responsible for utilities and other enterprise funds of the City. To efficiently conduct the business of both the EPWA and City, meetings are scheduled at the same time with EPWA business being considered in the middle of the City Council meeting.

Public Image

The Best Advice for Dealing with The Media… Never Go “Off the Record.”

Most members of the media represent the highest levels of journalistic integrity and can be trusted to keep their word; however, one bad experience can be catastrophic. Words that are not said cannot be quoted. If you’re ever unsure, you can direct media contacts to the City’s Marketing/Public Relations Manager.

You’re on Camera!

City Council meetings are recorded and televised, so be aware that you are on camera.

Choose Words Carefully

Comments taken out of context can cause problems. Be cautious about humor or sarcasm. It is never appropriate to use personal slurs or swear words when talking with the media.

Social Media

When Social Media is utilized well, you will learn to engage with your community and build rapport. Social media can be a tool for notices and pushing information, but it can also be a source of conflict. Many people are turned off by social media and simply want to avoid it. However, it has only continued to grow throughout the last decade, and the public has become more reliant on social media updates. When in doubt, contact the Marketing/Public Relations Manager about the appropriate use of social media.

Ethics

The city depends on community-minded individuals like yourself to perform many of its services and responsibilities. The sacrifice of your personal time in service to your community is greatly appreciated. However, there are additional responsibilities that come with public service. To ensure a fair and open government, as a Councilmember, you are subject to certain laws and regulations concerning your conduct.

What are “Ethics Laws”?

Ethics laws are basically a “code of conduct” for public servants. When we think about “government ethics” we generally think about laws that support one of the following five principles of good government.

• Transparent and Impartial Government: The public has the right to know what its government is doing.

• Decision-Making Free from Personal Interests: Duty is to the people, not one’s own interests.

• Decision-Making Free from Gifts, Bribes, or Intimidation: Citizens expect decisions to be made fairly with the best interest of the community and not swayed by bribes or intimidation.

• Public Confidence in the Use of Government Resources: Resources are used wisely and in the best interest of the city.

• Public Faith in the Fair Administration of their City: An open, transparent government that uses its resources wisely and centers all decisions on the best interest of the public, inspires the public’s faith that its government is administered fairly.

Ethics laws apply to all Councilmembers, whether permanent or temporary. Because the City Council

plays an important role in the creation and execution of city policy, it is important for members to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Ethics Statement

It is the City of Edmond’s strong belief that the public should have confidence in the integrity of its government and its officers, employees, and elected and appointed officials; that no officer or employee of the City, elective or appointive, shall use their public positions for personal gain nor should they act in such a way as to give an appearance of any impropriety; and that no City equipment, resources, or confidential information shall be used for any activities outside of official duties.

What is a Conflict of Interest?

A conflict of interest is simply a conflict between your personal interests and your public duties – even if it only appears that way. Anyone can have a conflict of interest. It is merely a situation that exists and does not imply that a person has done something wrong or is in some way dishonest.

However, if a conflict exists, it undermines the appearance of fairness and impartiality and undermines the public’s trust that all decisions are being made for the public good.

Conflicts can arise for various reasons. Typically they are caused by financial interests, occupational concerns, and personal relationships. While a conflict excludes a member from participating in some action, some level of expertise may be lost. Fairness and impartiality, and the appearance of fairness and impartiality, are valued more highly than the expertise lost. To help you determine if you have a conflict of interest, when a matter appears on the Council’s agenda, ask yourself:

• Do I stand to lose or gain anything because of my decision?

• Do I have a close personal or financial relationship with an interested party?

• Have I received a gift or hospitality from anyone who stands to gain or lose from this decision?

• Will this affect my future employment opportunities?

• How would I feel if I saw a story about my connection with this issue on the news or read about it in the paper?

• Would I be embarrassed if people found out about my personal connection to this issue?

Remember, part of the definition for a conflict of interest is a situation that appears to an outside observer to cause a conflict.

There are some situations that appear to be a conflict no matter how honest or detached a person is. So, if it looks bad, don’t do it. If you are still unsure whether you have a conflict after asking yourself these kinds of questions, talk to the City Attorney’s Office.

When you have a conflict…

The rules that govern your conduct deal with conflicts of interest in two basic ways:

• Through recusal – you have a conflict with a specific matter before the Council and you may not take part in the decision-making process

• Through the use of your personal judgment –a conflict not addressed by ethics laws and regulations, you must use personal judgment to decide what to do

Contracting with the city can lead to problems for Councilmembers:

• If you have, or will seek to have, a financial interest, direct or indirect, in a particular contract, you may not participate in the development, evaluation, or decision-making process of the solicitation for that contract.

• If you have played a role in the solicitation process as a Councilmember, you will be prohibited from being a contractor or subcontractor on the particular contract at issue.

Special Interest and Recusal

Recusal means that you remove yourself from participation in a decision to avoid a conflict of interest. Recusal is more than just not voting, you also may not take part in any discussion leading up to a vote either on or off the dais. It is strongly recommended you leave the Council Chambers during the discussion of the item.

Summary of Conflict of Interest Statutes

In general, Oklahoma’s conflict of interest statutes fall into five categories, as follows:

A. A general prohibition that precludes any city officer, employee, or family member of any officer or employee from doing any business of any type with the city. The violation of the statute is a misdemeanor, the contract or agreement entered into is void as a matter of law, and any member voting to approve the contract is personally liable for the amount of the transaction.

B. There are a series of statutes dealing with public trust that preclude the public trust from contracting with trust members or their

families; again, if that conduct occurs, the trustee is removed as a matter of law and the contract is void. Further, the public trust statutes preclude bidding in certain instances by family members and again results in any contract approved, even after the bid, being void and the member who has a conflict being guilty of a felony. Further, willful violations result in removal of the trustee.

C. There are public finance statutes that provide that no contract with a board member or in which a member “directly or indirectly is interested” will be valid. The contract is treated as void. The purpose of the statute is to provide an additional safeguard concerning the expenditure of monies by public bodies in which individual board members are receiving some interest.

D. In addition to the above three conflict of interest statutes, there is also a criminal statute that provides that it is unlawful for any Councilmember to sell materials, supplies or other goods to the city. Any such contract is also void. All members voting yes are personally liable for the amount of the purchase; fines and criminal penalties are provided for.

E. Lastly, if you serve on the board of directors of a company doing business with the City, a conflict exists that will require you to excuse yourself from the discussion and voting on those business dealings.

Per state statutes, the best approach in dealing with possible conflicts is to act with caution. The very basic summary of the rule is that the City cannot contract with any Councilmember or family of any Councilmember; this rule applies even if the Councilmember involved abstains and does not participate in the agreement.

The most likely situation is one in which there is not a direct conflict but some appearance of a conflict because of other business dealings or family mem-

bers. In those instances, the potential conflict should be disclosed, the potential conflict investigated, and a decision made as to whether the potential conflict is a real conflict. Again, if you are not certain whether or not you have a conflict of interest, consult the City Attorney’s office.

Reporting

The State of Oklahoma’s Ethics Commission states, “Quarterly reporting is required for everyone who registered, or is required to register, a committee for a candidate before and after the Election Cycle. Reporting during the election cycle will include partial quarter reports and pre-election reports, but will return to quarterly reporting when the election cycle is over.”

The quarterly reporting schedule has been outlined below. For more detailed information on quarterly reporting or election cycle reporting, visit Ethics.ok.gov

Quarterly Reporting Schedule

Due

of

Apr. 1–Apr. 30 Jan. 1–Mar. 31 1st Quarter Contributions & Expenditures Report

Jul. 1–Jul. 31 Apr. 1–Jun. 30 2nd Quarter Contributions & Expenditures Report

Oct. 1–Oct. 31 Jul. 1–Sept. 30 3rd Quarter Contributions & Expenditures Report

Jan. 1–Jan. 31 Oct. 1–Dec. 31 4th Quarter Contributions & Expenditures Report

This table was taken from Ethics.ok.gov and is up to date as of the printing of this guidebook.

City Staff

City Manager

The City Manager is the chief administrative officer of the City and is hired by the Mayor and Councilmembers. The authority, duties, and responsibilities of the position are outlined in the City Charter. The City Manager is accountable to the City Council, and the Councilmembers should familiarize themselves with the contract terms under which the City Manager is hired.

City Attorney

The City Attorney is hired by the Mayor and Councilmembers and has a duty to advise the Mayor, Council, and the City Manager in legal matters. The City Attorney is the prosecuting officer of the Municipal Court and has full power to prosecute for the violations of any City ordinance in the Municipal Court and has the power to prosecute and resist appeals and proceedings in error or review from the Municipal Court.

City Clerk

The City Clerk’s duties are outlined in the charter and the Municipal Code. This position, appointed by the City Manager, maintains all historical records of the City and is responsible for publishing and posting legal notices as required by law. The City Clerk also issues various licenses and permits, processes record requests, and assembles City Council agendas.

Municipal Judges

“The Municipal Court shall exercise original jurisdiction to hear and determine all prosecutions wherein a violation of any ordinance of the municipality is charges, including any such prosecutions transferred to the Court in accordance with applicable law.”

(Ord. 537 § 2, 1969) A Judge must be duly licensed to practice law in the State of Oklahoma. A Judge may engage in the practice of law in other courts, but shall not accept employment inconsistent with his duties as Judge, or arising out of facts which give rise to or are connected with cases within the jurisdiction of the Court, pending therein, or which might become the subject of proceedings therein.

Boards & Commissions

Boards and Commissions are an established feature of Edmond’s municipal government. They offer citizens an opportunity to participate in the city’s governmental affairs. However, boards cannot perform effectively without support from city staff and Council. Each board and commission has a designated Staff Liaison who serves as the point of contact for the board or commission.

Edmond’s Boards & Commissions

As a Councilmember, you are responsible for nominating individuals to various boards and commissions in the City of Edmond. The City Manager’s Office will go over what boards and commissions your Ward has appointees on upon your appointment, and throughout your term will work closely with you when vacancies and reappointments come about.

Arcadia Lake Commission

Board of Adjustment/Appeals

Capital Improvement Projects Advisory Board

Central Edmond Urban District Board

Citizens Participation Committee

Citizen TIF Oversight Committee

Community Agency Review Commission

Community Policing Board

Development Impact Review Committee

Edmond Bicycle Committee

Edmond Economic Development Authority Board

Edmond Historic Preservation Trust Committee

Edmond Visual Arts Commission

Employee Pension & Retirement Board

Finance / Audit Committee

Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport Board

KickingBird Golf Club Advisory Board

Park Conservancy Trust

Parks & Recreation Advisory Board

Planning Commission

Public Works Committee

Special Events Committee

Stormwater Drainage Advisory Board

Urban Forestry Commission

Veterans Memorial Advisory Committee

Visit Edmond Tourism Advisory Board

A description of each Board and Commission can be found at EdmondOK.gov/BC or by contacting the City Manager’s Office.

Open Meetings

It is the responsibility of all Councilmembers to be knowledgeable about the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and the requirements that pertain to their meetings. Penalty for willful violations of the Act is a fine up to $500 and/or imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year.

Oklahoma Open Meeting Act Guidelines

The following information covers some of the highlights of the Act, and members are encouraged to review the complete Act in more detail.

Prior to a Meeting

Notice of meetings must be provided to the City Clerk prior to meetings. Written notice of the date, time, and place of meetings must be filed with the clerk by December 15th of the preceding year for regularly scheduled meetings. This schedule can be changed by written notice not less than 10 days prior to change. Special meetings can be held by filing a notice of date, time, and place in writing, in person or by phone not less than 48 hours prior to the meeting. (Other rules apply to emergency or continued or reconvened meetings). This excludes Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.

The agenda (including date, time and place of meeting) must be posted at least 24 hours before the meeting in prominent public view. This excludes Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, so an agenda for a regularly scheduled meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, must be posted by 10:00 a.m. on the preceding Friday. Agendas should state the purpose of the meeting and clearly describe each agenda item so that an ordinary citizen with no specialized knowledge of the City Council’s prior action or deliberations will be able to understand from the agenda what will be considered at the meeting.

Places and Times for Meetings

Meetings must be held at places and times that are convenient to the public.

Voting

The vote of each Councilmember must be publicly cast and recorded. Votes will be recorded in the minutes. Options for voting include “yes,” “no,” and “abstain.” Any abstention will be recorded as a “no” vote in the minutes.

To avoid an abstention being counted as a “no” vote, or in the situation where the Council is considering an agenda item where a Councilmember may have a conflict of interest, Councilmembers may leave the room before the item is heard, or a vote is taken, returning to the room after the action is completed.

Executive Sessions

State law authorizes the City Council to receive information and discuss certain matters in private. Executive Sessions can be held to discuss the employment of a direct appointee of the City Council (City Manager or City Attorney), collective bargaining negotiations, purchase or appraisal of real property, and legal claims, among other matters. While the matter may be discussed in private, no action may be taken in private. If any action is to be taken on the matter discussed, it will be a separate item on the agenda following the Executive Session.

Minutes

Minutes of the Council Meeting are kept by the City Clerk and can be made available for public inspection. These minutes are an official summary of the proceedings and must contain the manner and time that notice was given of the meeting; the members present and absent; all matters considered by the Councilmembers; and all actions taken by the Council.

During the Meeting

While enacted to encourage and facilitate an informed citizenry’s understanding of government, the Act does not guarantee a citizen the right to participate in the discussion or decision-making process at an open meeting. The Act provides that a person attending a public meeting may record the proceedings by videotape, audiotape, or by any other method as long as such recording does not interfere with the conduct of the meeting.

What Constitutes a Meeting?

The Act’s definition of a “meeting” is sufficiently broad enough to include not only an officially scheduled, formally convened gathering of a public body, but also any informal gathering where a majority of the public body’s members are personally present and conducting business.

The “conduct of business” includes not only taking official action, but the entire decision-making process in which the public body is engaged, including mere discussions and deliberation where no final action is taken. As a result, informal gatherings of a majority of board members trigger the requirements of the Act whenever public business is discussed. This means if three or more Councilmembers are together, it will be considered a meeting and a public notice must be posted and other rules of the Act followed. Further, extreme care should be taken in regard to discussions held either immediately before or immediately after council meetings.

The Act also states that a public body cannot use electronic or telephonic communications to circumvent the Act, which could include emails and phone calls. Should you “reply all” to an email to all Councilmembers or send an email to all Councilmembers, this could constitute a violation of the Open Meeting Act. This guide lists some of the major points of the Open Meeting Act, but certainly doesn’t cover the entire Act and all of its requirements. Councilmembers should maintain a copy of the Act, if possible, to review. If there are questions on meeting requirements, contact the City Attorney’s Office.

Understanding Agendas

Agenda Contents

Agendas may consist of the following types of items:

General Consent

Items listed under General Consent are usually considered and acted upon as a group with no discussion. Members of the City Council/Public Works Authority may request separate discussions and actions on items listed under General Consent.

Resolution

Resolutions are special or temporary acts of the City Council declaring the will or opinion of the City of Edmond in a particular matter. Resolutions may establish rules, set policy, set fees, and take other actions. Resolutions must be considered and approved by a majority of the Edmond City Council to be approved.

Ordinance

Ordinances are local laws applicable only to the City of Edmond. Ordinances must be considered and approved by a majority of the Edmond City Council to be enacted.

Public Hearings

For items labeled public hearings, items will be introduced by staff and questions may be posed by members of the City Council. Before voting, the Mayor or Chair of the meeting will ask if any member of the audience wishes to speak regarding the item. If a member of the public wishes to speak regarding the item, they should raise their hand and wait to be recognized by the Mayor or Chair of the meeting. Once recognized, they should walk to the podium, adjust the microphone to their speaking height, and introduce themself with their name and address. Comments must be directed to the Mayor or Chair of the meeting and otherwise be made in accordance with meeting rules.

Citizen Comments

At a designated portion of the City Council meeting, labeled “Citizen Comments,” members of the City Council will receive comments from Edmond residents and non-residents who wish to provide information and share their views regarding City related matters that are not on the agenda or scheduled for a public hearing.

Those wishing to speak during Citizen Comments must register in advance of the meeting with the City by submission of a request online at EdmondOK.gov or in person, are limited to one three-minute speaking opportunity, and must direct their remarks to the Chair.

The Chair may limit unrelated, unnecessary, or redundant comments, and/or amend the time allotted for all speakers if necessary to maintain order and conduct business.

Basic Parliamentary Procedures

The

Council works through items on an agenda through a series of motions that allow for discussion and the action. A motion is a proposal on which the entire membership can take an action or a stand on an issue. Motions are designed to ensure that every item is addressed in an orderly fashion.

Meeting Rules

Meetings are conducted in accordance with rules adopted by the City Council / Edmond Public Works Authority. These rules may be amended by consideration and approval of City Council / Public Works Authority resolutions.

Additional detail can be found within the Edmond City Council and Edmond Public Works Authority Meeting rules, but major points include:

• Three members of the City Council / Public Works Authority are required to be present at any meeting to conduct business.

• Regardless of the number of attending members, at least three yes votes are necessary to adopt any motion or approve any action.

• Motions, as well as points of order and privilege, must be considered when properly made.

• Unless otherwise noted in Section V, all Councilmembers, staff, and other attendees must be recognized by the Chair before speaking.

Motions / Procedures

Motions may only be made by members of the City Council / Public Works Authority. Whether members must be recognized to make a motion, whether the motion requires a second, whether the motion is debatable and/or amendable, and the vote required to pass the motion are provided within the table below:

Motions Detail

• Motions to adopt or approve may be offered for individual or multiple agenda items. Motions to adopt or approve may include additional language and requirements tied to the underlying agenda item. All motions to adopt or approve require at least three yes votes. Some motions, such as approving an emergency clause or waiving competitive bids, require at least four yes votes.

• Motions to amend may be offered during debate on the adoption or approval of agenda items. Once a motion to amend has been made, it may only be amended by the member that made the motion.

• Motions to continue agenda items must provide a specific date when the item will be considered in the future.

• Motions to strike may be offered for individual or multiple agenda items.

• Motions to refer must note the board, committee, commission, or staff member(s) the agenda item is being referred to.

• Motions to recess, for small breaks, should note the time the meeting will reconvene. Motions to recess, to continue to the next day, must note the date, time, and place of the continued meeting.

• Motions to adjourn can only be offered when all other agenda items have been heard, considered, and/or stricken, unless allowed by the Chair.

• Motions to suspend the rules may be offered to consider agenda items out of order, immediately end debate, or to otherwise suspend any part of the Edmond City Council & Edmond Public Works Authority Meeting Rules.

• A point of privilege may be raised at any time. Points of privilege should be raised by members to note issues in the room, such as technology not working properly, the inability to hear a speaker, etc.

• A point of order may be raised at any time. Points of order should be raised by members if the meeting is not being conducted in accordance with the rules.

• Motions to appeal the decision of the chair may be offered to appeal any decision regarding procedures and conformance with the rules made by the presiding officer.

• Other motions may be made at the discretion of the Chair, such as a motion to enter executive session. Such motions require a second, are not debatable or amendable, and require at least three yes votes.

City Charter

Article I – Organization and Powers

Section 1. - Organization.

The inhabitants within the boundaries hereinafter defined, and their successors, are hereby created and organized a municipal corporation, and body politic with perpetual succession under the name “The City of Edmond,” and shall succeed to, own and possess all the property, rights, privileges, franchises, powers and immunities now belonging to the present corporation known as The City of Edmond and shall be liable for all debts and obligations for which said present corporation is now liable, and shall have the power to adopt a common seal and alter the same at pleasure, to sue and be sued in all courts, to make contracts, to take and acquire property by purchase, condemnation or otherwise, and to hold, lease, mortgage, convey or otherwise dispose of any of its property within or without the limits of said City, and it shall have such other powers, rights, privileges, franchises and immunities as are granted and conferred by any other parts of this Charter or by the Constitution and laws of the State of Oklahoma.

Section 2. - Boundaries

The boundaries of said City, and the respective wards thereof shall be the same as at the time of the adoption of this Charter and until changed as provided for by law.

Section 3. - General grant of power.

Said City shall have all other powers that may hereafter be given it by the Constitution and the laws of this State, and where any provisions of this Charter shall be in conflict with any law or laws relating to cities of the first class in force at the time of adoption and approval of this Charter, the provisions of this Charter shall prevail, and said City shall have the power to enact and enforce all ordinances necessary to protect health, life and property, and to define, prevent and summarily abate and remove nuisances; to preserve and enforce good government and order, and to protect the lives, health and property of the inhabitants

thereof; to enact and enforce all ordinances upon any subject; provided that no ordinance shall be enacted inconsistent with the general laws of this State, the State Constitution or this Charter.

Section 4. - Constitution applied.

Article Eighteen of the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma, under the title “Municipal Corporation,” and every section thereof, including the initiative and referendum, is hereby adopted and made in full force and effect for the government of The City of Edmond.

Section 5. - Bequests, gifts and donations.

Said City may receive bequests, gifts and donations of all kinds of property in fee simple or in trust for charitable or public purposes and perform all acts necessary to carry out the purposes of such bequests, gifts, donations or trusts with power to manage, sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of same in accordance with the terms of the bequest, gift, donation or trust.

Section 6. - General grant of powers not limited.

The legislative, executive and judicial powers of the City shall extend to all matters of local and municipal government, it being the intent hereof that the specification of particular powers by any other provision of this Charter shall never be construed as limiting or impairing the effect of the general grant of powers hereby made.

Section 7. - Former government in force.

All existing ordinances of the City not inconsistent with this Charter or inapplicable under the altered form of municipal government provided by this Charter shall be and continue in full force and effect until amended or repealed or until they expire by their own limitations, and no existing right, action (civil or penal), court proceeding or contract, shall be affected by the change in the form of government of the City; but shall all continue as though no such change had

taken place; and all debts, penalties and forfeitures which have accrued, or which may hereafter accrue by virtue of anything heretofore done or existing shall inure to the benefit of The City of Edmond and may be sued for and recovered by the said City as though this Charter had not been adopted. Nothing here, however, shall legalize any invalid indebtedness of the City heretofore contracted or incurred, or impair any defense, against the payment of the same; nor shall the adoption of this Charter in any wise interfere with any proceedings heretofore instituted relating to the levy and collection of taxes, special assessments, or levies of any nature or with any proceedings to enforce the payment of the same, and all contracts heretofore entered into by the City shall remain in full force and effect and be completed under the ordinances existing at the time of the adoption of this Charter.

Article II – City Officers

Section 8. - Elective officers.

The elective officers of The City of Edmond shall be a mayor and four councilmen. (Amended General Election, April 7, 2009).

Section 9. - Term of office, salary and qualifications.

All the legislative powers, except the initiative and referendum, shall be vested in the mayor and four councilmen. The mayor shall receive the sum of Thirty-Five Dollars per month for his services and each councilman shall receive the sum of Twenty-Five Dollars per month for his services; provided, such compensation may be changed by ordinance. Candidates for mayor shall be nominated at the primary election of the electors of the City at large. There shall be one councilman from each of the four wards of the City, who shall be nominated at the primary election by the electors of the ward from which such councilman is to be elected. In all general City elections, the candidates for City and Ward offices shall be voted upon by the electors of the City at large.

Each of said officers shall hold his office until his successor is elected and qualified, unless sooner removed as hereinafter provided. The mayor shall hold office for a term of two years, and councilmen shall hold office for a term of four years each. No person shall be eligible to be mayor, or councilman unless he be a citizen of the United States and of the State of Oklahoma, a freeholder in the City of Edmond, at least twenty-five years of age, a resident of said City at least one year next prior to his election, and a qualified voter of said City and Ward from which he seeks election. (Amended General Election, April 5, 1955; Amended General Election, April 7, 2009).

Section 10. - Official oath.

Said mayor and councilmen and all other officers of the City, upon entering the duties of their offices, shall take the oath of office prescribed by the constitution of this State.

All other officers and employees of the City shall give such bonds as the mayor and council may, by ordinance, require. (Amended General Election, April 7, 2009).

Section 11. - Election.

A general City election shall be held in said City on the first Tuesday of April, 1957, at which time there shall be elected a mayor, and four councilmen to succeed the officers of said City then holding office, and who shall assume their duties on the first Monday in May following their election. The mayor and councilman of ward one and the councilman for ward two shall hold office for a term of two years and until their successors are elected and qualified, except as hereinafter provided, and the councilman for ward three and the councilman for ward four shall hold office for a term of four years, and until their successors are elected and qualified, except as hereinafter provided. A general city election shall be held in said City on the first Tuesday in April, 1959, and each two years thereafter, to fill the office of mayor, who shall assume his duties on the first Monday in May follow-

ing his election. A general City election shall be held in said City on the first Tuesday in April, 1959, and each four years thereafter, to fill the offices of councilman for ward one and councilman for ward two, who shall assume their duties on the first Monday in May following their election. A general City election shall be held in said City on the first Tuesday in April, 1961, and each four years thereafter, to fill the offices of and councilman for ward three, and councilman for ward four, who shall assume their duties on the first Monday in May following their election. (Amended General Election, April 5, 1955; Amended Election November 3, 1998; Amended Special Election, May 8, 2001; Amended General Election, April 7, 2009).

Section 12. - Vacancies in office.

A vacancy shall exist when an elective officer fails to qualify within twenty days after notice of his election, dies, resigns, removes from said City, absents himself therefrom for a period of ninety days, except on account of sickness, is convicted of a felony, becomes an habitual drunkard, or is otherwise legally disqualified. Also, a vacancy shall occur in the office of councilman when any councilman removes from the ward from which he was elected. If the office of mayor, or any councilman shall become vacant for any cause, the mayor and council shall appoint some eligible person to fill such vacancy, who shall hold said office until the next general City election, when such vacancy shall be filled as in the case of an original election, but only for the unexpired part of the term of said office. Such officer shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified. All elective officers and those appointed to fill vacancies, as herein provided, shall hold their respective offices, subject to the provisions of the recall, as herein provided, or to be removed from office as provided by law. (Amended General Election, April 6, 1965; Amended General Election, April 7, 2009).

Section 13. - Former officers retained. All officers, appointees, and employees of the present corporation of the City of Edmond, except the mayor,

city treasurer and councilmen, shall continue in their respective offices and employment upon adoption of this Charter and the organization of the new City government until their services are dispensed with by order of the mayor and council or the city manager. The mayor and council shall by majority vote fill all vacancies where this Charter provides for appointments to be made by the mayor and council; the city manager shall fill all vacancies where this Charter provides for the appointment to be made by the manager. (Amended General Election, April 5, 1977).

Article III – The City Manager

Section 14. - The mayor and council to appoint city manager. The mayor and council as soon as practicable, after its members qualify and it is duly organized, shall by majority vote appoint a city manager, who shall be the head of the municipal government, under the direction and supervision of the mayor and council, and he shall receive such compensation as the mayor and council may determine. The city manager shall be appointed without regard to his political beliefs, and need not be a resident of the City or State at the time of his appointment. At the time the mayor and council take office, or at any time that there may be a vacancy in the office of the city manager, or during the absence or disability of the city manager, the mayor and council may designate some properly qualified person to temporarily execute the functions of the office of the city manager, with such arrangement about salary as may seem right and proper to the mayor and city council. (As amended in 1947).

Section 15. - General powers and duties of the city manager. The city manager shall be the administrative head of the municipal government, under the direction and supervision of the mayor and council. He shall not, during his term of office, be an employee of or perform any executive duty for any person, firm, corporation or institution other than The City of Edmond, and he shall not be interested in the profits or emoluments of any contract, job, work or service of the City.

Section 16. - Oath and qualifications.

Before entering upon the duties of his office, he shall take the official oath and shall execute a bond of not less than One Thousand Dollars, to be approved by the mayor and council, in favor of the City for faithful performance of his duties, which bond may be increased any time by the mayor and council.

Section 17. - Special powers and duties of the city manager. The city manager shall have the special powers and duties herein enumerated, and shall be directly responsible to the mayor and council for the proper administration thereof, to-wit:

A. To see that all laws and ordinances governing the City of Edmond are enforced.

B. To appoint and remove at his or her sole discretion, for the good of the service, all directors or heads of departments and any subordinate officer or employee in such departments; provided that preference shall be given to home labor when same is available. Provided further, nothing herein shall be construed to negate the specific terms of any valid, executed collective bargaining agreement. (Amended Special Election, May 8, 2001).

C. To exercise actual management, control and supervision of and over all departments of the City government, including, if called to his or her attention in a timely and sufficiently detailed manner, review of personnel decisions, and to exercise all other administrative functions, except as otherwise in this Charter provided. (Amended Special Election, May 8, 2001).

D. To supervise and manage all public work of the City and the repair and maintenance thereof, to manage and control the public utilities of the City, and have general charge of the cleaning, sprinkling, lighting, and improving of the streets, sidewalks, bridges, and public grounds

within and without the City, except as otherwise herein provided.

E. To supervise and manage and have a general charge of the City parks and of City cemeteries.

F. To make a monthly report to the mayor and council and to attend all meetings of the mayor and council with the right to take part in the discussions but having no vote.

G. To recommend to the mayor and council for adoption, such measures as he may deem necessary or expedient.

H. To keep the mayor and council fully advised as to the financial condition of the City, and to prepare and submit to the mayor and council an annual budget as by this Charter required.

I. To see that all franchise rights and provisions are justly enforced.

J. To submit to the mayor and council at each meeting thereof an order of business covering his recommendations.

K. To create such departments for the more efficient and economical administration of the affairs of the City as he shall deem necessary and expedient, subject to the approval of the mayor and council.

L. To have power at any time to investigate the affairs of any department, take appropriate remedial action not inconsistent with any provision of the Charter or, as necessary, make his or her recommendations to the Mayor and Council. (Amended Special Election, May 8, 2001).

M. To perform all such other duties as may be imposed on him by this Charter or by ordinance.

N. Neither the mayor nor any member of the council shall recommend any appointment to be made by the manager except upon request of the manager.

O. The city manager shall not appoint or remove subordinate employees of the municipal judge, or city attorney. (Amended General Election, April 5, 1977; Amended General Election, April 7, 2009).

P. The city manager shall hire a city treasurer with the advice and consent of the city council and the city treasurer shall work under the supervision of the city manager. (Added General Election, April 7, 2009)

The city manager shall hire a city treasurer with the advice and consent of the city council and the city treasurer shall work under the supervision of the city manager. (Added General Election, April 7, 2009)

Section 18. - Purchasing agent.

The City Manager or his designate shall be the purchasing agent for the City. Except in case of emergency, the City Manager shall procure written bids from competitive vendors where the estimated cost of the purchase exceeds an amount as determined by the City Council and the competitive bids shall be kept on file in his office. The City Manager may authorize the purchases where the estimated cost does not exceed the amount determined by the City Council by seeking competitive price quotations from prospective vendors and purchase at the lowest and best price available. The Mayor and Council shall make rules governing the letting of contracts or the making of purchases by the City Manager, but no contract or purchase, where the amount exceeds the amount determined by the City Council shall be valid, unless approved by the Mayor and Council. Emergency as used in this Section shall be limited to conditions resulting from a sudden, unexpected happening or unforeseen occurrence or condition and situation

wherein the public health and safety is endangered. In no event shall the amount determined by the City Council for competitive bidding be greater than the amount set by state law pursuant to the State Public Competitive Bidding Act.

Upon presentation to the Mayor and City Council of evidence that there is only one vendor for a particular purchase, the Mayor and Council may waive the requirement of competitive bids, provided, however, that such a waiver shall occur prior to the purchase, and that a vote of at least four members of the Mayor and Council shall be required for such waiver.

The Mayor and Council, by ordinance shall adopt and prescribe rules and regulations pertaining to purchasing consistent with the provisions of this Section. (Amended General Election, April 3, 1979; Amended Election, November 3, 1998; Amended Special Election, May 8, 2001; Amended General Election, April 7, 2009).

Article IV – City Treasurer

Section 19. - Duties of the city treasurer. The city treasurer shall have the custody of the funds of the City, and shall pay out the same only upon order of the city manager attested by the city clerk and signed by the mayor. He shall invest the funds of the City only in such securities as are provided for by constitution in the laws of the State of Oklahoma, for the investment of the school funds of the State, and all uninvested funds shall be deposited in the City depository, or depositories of the City. The city treasurer is required to attend the second regular council meeting of each month and at that time to be prepared to report on the financial status of the City.

The city manager may authorize the city treasurer to employ and supervise such employee or employees as may be necessary for the efficient discharge of his duties. The city treasurer may submit an annual budget through the city manager outlining the

amounts required for the proper conduct of his office, to include requirements for personnel, office equipment, supplies or any other needs the city treasurer may determine. (Amended General Election, April 3, 1979; Amended General Election, April 7, 2009 - This amendment changing the position of City Treasurer from elective to appointive will commence on May 6, 2013 or sooner if a vacancy in the position of City Treasurer occurs.).

Section 20. - Deposit of public money.

The city depository or depositories, shall be the bank or banks of the City, designated by the city manager and approved by the mayor and council. Said bank or banks shall pay interest on daily balances of the City at the rate required by law; provided, that if any bank or banks shall bid for the City deposits, offering a higher rate of interest, the mayor and council may designate said bank or banks so bidding, as the depository, or depositories of the City. (Amended General Election, April 7, 2009).

Section 21. - Depository must give bond.

The city depository or depositories, shall secure the City for all deposits by giving a good and sufficient bond, with approved security or guaranty company, qualified to do business in the State of Oklahoma, as surety. Said bond to equal the sum of the probable maximum deposits of the City at any one time with said depository, and a new bond may be required by the mayor and council at any time when the existing bond or bonds shall be deemed insufficient; provided that the mayor and council shall have power to take from a depository in lieu of such bond, any outstanding bonds or warrants of the City of Edmond, or such other bonds as said mayor and council may approve, properly assigned, to be held by the city treasurer as collateral security; and to the extent of the par value of such bonds or warrants, the depository shall be released from the above required surety bond.

Article V – City Clerk

Section 22. - Duties and bond.

The city manager shall appoint the city clerk, who shall receive such compensation as the city manager may determine. He shall be custodian of the Seal of the City of Edmond, and he shall perform such duties as may be ordered by the city manager. He shall give bond in the minimum sum of One Thousand Dollars, or such other sum as may be provided by ordinance, such bond to be approved by the mayor and council.

(Amended General Election, April 5, 1977).

Article VI – Municipal Court

Section 23. - Municipal judge to be appointed.

The municipal court of The City of Edmond, as now provided for by the Constitution and laws of the State of Oklahoma, is hereby continued, except as herein provided. The mayor and council shall appoint a fit and proper person, a resident and citizen of Edmond, as judge of said court, with official title of municipal judge. Such appointment by the mayor and council shall be subject to the provisions of this Charter with reference to removal. In this Section the term judge includes judges.

The mayor and city council may authorize the municipal judge to employ and supervise such employee or employees as may be necessary for the efficient discharge of his duties. The municipal judge may submit an annual budget through the city manager outlining the amounts required for the proper conduct of his office, to include requirements for personnel, office equipment, supplies or any other needs the municipal judge may determine. (Amended General Election, April 3, 1979).

Section 24. - Compensation.

The salary and compensation of the municipal judge shall be fixed by the mayor and council and paid monthly. The said judge shall make a report to the

mayor and council monthly, showing the number of cases before him the preceding month, the name of the defendants, the charges against each, the name of the arresting officer, and the disposition of the case. (As amended in 1937).

Article VII– City Attorney

Section 25. - Qualifications.

The city attorney having such qualifications, powers and duties, as are prescribed by law for city attorneys in cities of comparable population, shall be appointed by the mayor and council. It shall be his duty to advise the mayor and council, and each member thereof, and the city manager upon all law questions, and he shall give opinions in writing when requested and shall represent the City as attorney in all litigation, in all courts, for or against the City; and shall perform such other legal services in behalf of the City, its officers and employees, as may be required by the mayor and council. No person shall be appointed city attorney who has not been regularly admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of this State. All assistant city attorneys shall be appointed by the city attorney and approved by the mayor and council.

The mayor and council may authorize the city attorney to employ and supervise such additional employee or employees as may be necessary for the efficient discharge of his duties. The city attorney may submit an annual budget through the city manager outlining the amounts required for the proper conduct of his office, to include requirements for personnel, office equipment, supplies or any other needs the city attorney may determine. (Amended General Election, April 3, 1979).

Section 26. - Compensation.

The salary and compensation of the city attorney shall be fixed by the mayor and council and paid monthly. (As amended in 1937).

Article VIII – Parks, Boulevards and Cemeteries

Section 27. - Supervised by manager.

The city manager shall have charge of all city parks, boulevards and cemeteries. He shall supervise all work done therein and shall keep the mayor and council advised as to such work and the cost thereof.

Article IX – Legislative Department

Section 28. - Powers of mayor and council.

The mayor and council shall have the same power to enact all laws and ordinances for the City possessed by the city council of a city of the first class under the constitution and laws of the State of Oklahoma at the time of the adoption of this Charter, together with all other powers by this Charter granted and all powers hereafter conferred by the constitution and laws of this State.

Section 29. - Powers of the mayor.

The mayor shall be recognized as the official head of the City for all ceremonial purposes. In time of public danger or emergency he may, with the consent of the City council, take command of the police and maintain order and enforce the laws. When present the mayor shall preside at all meetings of the mayor and council.

Section 30. - Mayor a member of council.

In addition to his duties prescribed by law, by this Charter and by ordinance, the mayor shall also be a member of the council and shall have an equal vote at all times with the members of the council.

Section 31. - The mayor to have no power of veto. The mayor shall not have the power to veto any ordinance, resolution or other measure when passed by the mayor and council, as herein provided.

Section 32. - Meetings of the mayor and council. Until otherwise provided by ordinance, the regular meetings of the mayor and council shall be the first and third Mondays of each month, at the hours now provided for by ordinance. It shall be the duty of the incoming mayor and council to meet with the outgoing mayor and council at the last meeting of the outgoing mayor and council, the first Monday in May following the general City election. At such joint meeting the outgoing mayor and council shall, after they have transacted their last business, give the incoming mayor and council such information as they may ask for with reference to the city’s business, and deliver to them all keys, papers, plans, charts, and all other property belonging to the said City of Edmond. The fact that the outgoing mayor and council shall fail or refuse to meet with the incoming mayor and council, as herein provided, shall in no way affect the power and authority of the incoming mayor and council to take office and assume their respective duties under the terms of this Charter.

Section 33. - Mayor pro tem.

At the first meeting of the mayor and council it shall, by majority vote, elect one of its members a mayor pro tem, who shall, in case of absence or disqualification of the mayor, serve as mayor with the title of mayor pro tem, with all powers and duties vested in the mayor. Provided, however, the mayor pro tem shall have only one vote on any question. (Amended General Election, April 5, 1977).

Section 34. - Removal of mayor and councilmen. The mayor or any councilman shall be subject to removal from office in the manner and for the same cause or causes as provided by the laws of the State of Oklahoma for the removal of county officers, it being intended hereby to provide cumulative procedure and cause for removal. In event of a vacancy in the office of mayor, the mayor pro tem shall serve as mayor with all the powers and duties vested in the mayor until such vacancy is filled by appointment as provided herein.

Article X – Ordinances

Section 35. - Caption.

The style of all ordinances shall be “BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMOND,” but such caption may be omitted when said ordinances are revised and digested under the order of the mayor and council, or when they are published in book form.

Section 36. - Contents, repealed ordinances not revived by reference to title only.

Every ordinance adopted by the mayor and council shall embrace but one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title. No repealed ordinance shall be revived, amended, or the provisions thereof extended or conferred by reference to title only; but so much thereof as is revived, amended, extended or conferred shall be re-enacted and published at length; provided, that if any subject be embraced in any ordinance contrary to the provisions of this Section, such ordinance shall be void only as to so much of the ordinance as may not be expressed in the title thereof.

Section 37. - Ordinances, how adopted.

Three members of the council shall constitute a quorum, the mayor being counted as a member, and the affirmative vote of at least three members shall be necessary to adopt any motion or resolution or pass any ordinance, or other measure. Any member may request the call of the roll upon any vote and the clerk shall make a record of such vote.

Section 38. - Notice to public, effective date of municipal ordinances.

No ordinance, except an emergency ordinance, shall be adopted unless the gist of the ordinance and the date it will be considered has been published in an issue of a newspaper of general circulation within the City of Edmond not less than two (2) nor more than ten (10) days prior to the date of its passage,

and unless the gist of the ordinance and the date it will be considered has been continuously posted at City Hall, in some place accessible to the public, for at least three (3) days prior to its passage. Every ordinance, except an emergency ordinance, shall go into effect thirty (30) days after its final passage, unless it specifies a later date. As soon as practicable after the final passage of any ordinance, except an emergency ordinance, and prior to its effective date, it shall be published as required by law. (Amended General Election, April 3, 1979; Amended General Election, April 7, 2009).

Section 39. - Emergency ordinances.

In case of a public emergency the mayor and council may pass an emergency ordinance. Such emergency measure must state, in a separate motion, the reasons why it is necessary that the measure become effective immediately; the question of emergency must be ruled upon separately from the remainder of the ordinance and approved by the affirmative vote of at least four (4) members of the city council. An emergency ordinance takes effect as soon as it is signed by the mayor or the mayor pro tem and attested by the city clerk. (Amended General Election, April 3, 1979).

Section 40. - To be signed and published. Every ordinance passed by the mayor and council must be signed by the mayor, or by the mayor pro tem, when acting, attested by the clerk with the seal attached and shall be recorded in the city clerk’s office. It shall then be published as required by law. (Amended General Election, April 7, 2009).

Section 41. - Printed ordinances admitted in evidence. All printed ordinances published by authority of the mayor and council shall, in all judicial proceedings in all courts be admitted in evidence with the same force and effect as would original ordinances, and in such proceedings it shall not be necessary to plead the entire ordinance or section, but only such parts thereof as are offered in evidence.

Article XI – Recall of Elective Officers

Section 42. - May be removed after six months. The holder of any elective office either by election or appointment to fill a vacancy, may be removed at any time after six months from the date of his accession to said office, by the registered voters in the City, in the manner set forth in the following sections. (Amended Election, November 3, 1998).

Section 43. - Ten percent of voters.

An affidavit in triplicate shall be made by a person or persons representing at least ten percent of the voters registered in the City as shown by the return of the last general City election of the officer sought to be recalled, which persons shall be named in the affidavit and same filed with the city clerk, proposing such recall and setting forth in a statement of not more than two hundred words the grounds therefor. One of such affidavits shall be sent by the city clerk by registered mail to the residence address of the officer sought to be recalled, and said officer shall have five days after the mailing of such affidavit to formulate and deliver to the city clerk a statement of not more than two hundred words setting forth the reasons justifying such officer’s course. The reasons for and against the recall of said officer shall be printed in the heading of the petition filed; provided, that if no reasons against the recall are submitted by said officer the petition shall be valid if otherwise conforming to the provisions hereof. (Amended Election, November 3, 1998).

Section 44. - Petition to be filed. When the five days have expired from the date of mailing said affidavit to the officer whose recall is sought, the persons desiring said recall shall file with the city clerk a petition for the recall of such officer containing in the heading thereof the reasons for the recall as stated in the affidavit and the reason against the recall if any may have been filed. Said petition shall have attached thereto blanks with lines sufficient for signatures of not less than fifty percent of the registered voters in the City, as shown by the

County Election Board registration records at the time the petition is filed. (Amended Election, November 3, 1998).

Section 45. - Petition published.

The city clerk shall then cause to be published in some newspaper of general circulation in the City of Edmond, a notice to the voters, stating the name of the officer whose recall is sought and notifying persons desiring to sign said petition, that they may present themselves at the office of the city clerk at the city hall, within thirty days from the publication of said notice and sign said petition. One publication of said notice shall be sufficient. During said thirty days, Sundays and legal holidays excepted, the city clerk shall remain continuously in his office between the hours of one-thirty p.m. and five p.m. for the purpose of receiving signatures to said petition. Failure on the part of the city clerk to keep his office open as herein specified, unless unavoidably prevented by sickness, shall be adjudged a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof he shall be punished by a fine of not less than Ten Dollars and not more than Nineteen Dollars, and each day said clerk violates the provisions hereof shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.

Section 46. - To be signed by thirty-five percent. When said petition has been signed by thirty-five percent of the registered voters in the City as shown by the returns of the last general City election of the officer sought to be recalled, said petition shall be deemed sufficient to authorize the calling of an election for the purpose of electing a successor to such officer, and it shall be the duty of the mayor and council or the city clerk, as hereinafter provided, to call such election.

Said petition shall be open at all times to the inspection of any registered voter of the City and when requested to do so by any registered voter, the city clerk shall total the number of signatures to the petition and shall compare same with the registration lists

containing the names of the voters of the City, and at any time within thirty days from the date of the first publication of the notice to voters when there shall be a number of signers to said petition equal to thirtyfive percent of the registered voters to said City qualified to vote for a successor to such officer as shown by the returns of the last general City election of the officer sought to be recalled; and in any event, not later than five days after the expiration of said thirty days, the said city clerk shall certify the sufficiency or insufficiency of the petition to the mayor and council, and he shall further certify that all signatures to the petition are genuine, and were affixed to said petition in his office and in his presence, and that each signer thereof either read said petition or had same read to him before signing same, whereupon the mayor and council, if said petition is sufficient as provided herein, shall within ten days from the date of the clerk’s certificate, call the election petitioned for; and said election shall be held as soon as it can be scheduled by the County Election Board.

If the recall of the mayor alone, or the mayor and one or two of the councilmen is sought, the remaining councilmen shall call the election. If the recall of the mayor and more than two councilmen is sought, the city clerk shall call the election. Said election shall be called and be conducted and the results declared in all respects as in other city elections. The successor of any officer so recalled and removed shall hold office during the unexpired term of his predecessor. (Amended Election, November 3, 1998).

Section 47. - Denied when.

If sufficient signatures are not affixed to said petition within thirty days of the first publication of the notice to voters, said petition shall remain on file with the city clerk and said recall shall be denied; provided, that the failure to obtain sufficient signatures shall be no bar to the institution of other proceedings in conformity with this Article.

Section 48. - Candidates.

Any person sought to be removed may be a candidate for office to succeed himself, and if he so requests in writing, the proper officer or officers shall place his name on the official ballot. In such recall election, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected. If at such election some person other than the incumbent received the highest number of votes, the said incumbent shall be deemed to have been removed and shall vacate the office upon the qualification of his successor, which shall be within ten days from the declaration of the result. Otherwise the incumbent shall remain in office.

Section 49. - Removed officer not to be appointed. No person who has been removed from office by recall, or who has resigned from such office while recall proceedings were pending against him, shall be appointed to any office under the city government, within one year after such removal by recall or resignation.

Article XII – Revenue

Section 50. - System for revenue collections.

Except as otherwise provided by the general revenue laws of the State and this Charter, the mayor and council shall by ordinance provide for the collection, custody and disbursement of all public monies, from whatever sources derived, and establish as near as may be a uniform system of municipal accounting.

Section 51. - Budget.

On or before the first Tuesday of each fiscal year, or at such other times as the mayor and council may by ordinance require, the city manager shall submit in writing to the mayor and council an annual budget for the ensuing year, giving detailed estimates of the needs and requirements of the several departments and other divisions of the City government, according to a classification as nearly uniform as possible, and the amounts required for the proper conduct of the various departments and divisions of the City gov-

ernment for the ensuing fiscal year; said budget shall present the following information:

A. An itemized statement of the appropriations recommended by the city manager for current expenses and for permanent improvements for each department and each division thereof for the ensuing fiscal year, with comparative statements in parallel columns for the appropriations and expenditures of the current year, and the increases or decreases in the appropriations recommended.

B. An itemized statement of the taxes required, and of the estimated revenues of the City from all other sources, for the ensuing fiscal year, with a comparative statement in parallel columns of the taxes and other revenues for the current year, and of the increases estimated or proposed.

C. A statement of the amount of revenue needed to create a sinking fund to be used; 1st, for the payment of interest coupons as they fall due; 2nd, for the payment of bonds as they fall due; 3rd, for the payment of such parts of judgments as the City may be by law required to pay.

D. A statement of the financial condition of the City.

E. Such other information as may be required by the mayor and council. (Amended General Election, April 5, 1977).

Section 52. - Certification.

The mayor after determining the amount necessary to maintain the City government for the ensuing fiscal year, shall at such time and in the manner provided by law certify to the County Excise Board a Financial Statement and Estimate, showing the amounts necessary to be raised by taxation for the several funds and the amounts required in each fund.

Article XIII – Public Service Corporations

Section 53. - Reservation of control over public highways Charges regulated Exclusive franchises prohibited. No grant, extension or renewal of any franchise or other use of the streets, alleys, or other public grounds of this municipality, shall divest the City of its control and regulation of such use and enjoyment. Nor shall the power to regulate the charges for public services be surrendered and no exclusive franchise shall ever be granted.

Section 54. - Mayor and council shall frame law. The mayor and council shall be vested with the power of adopting all laws and ordinances not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of this State for the taxation, regulation and control of all public service and public utility corporation now or hereafter existing or operating in whole or in part within the City.

Section 55. - Power of taxation over public service corporations.

All grants and renewals of franchises and privileges shall reserve to the City the right to terminate the same and to purchase all the property of the utility in the streets, avenues, alleys and public places in the City and elsewhere as may be provided in the franchise making the grant or renewal, used in or useful for the operation of the utility, at such prices as may be agreed upon between the owner and the City, and in the event of a disagreement, the same may at the option of the City be submitted to arbitration under the arbitration laws of the State of Oklahoma; or in the event no arbitration agreement can be reached, then the City may obtain such property by condemnation under the eminent domain laws of the State of Oklahoma.

Section 56. - Purchase price. No franchise making such grant or renewal shall be valid unless it shall expressly provide therein that the price to be paid by the City for the property that may be acquired by it from such utility, by purchase,

condemnation or otherwise, shall exclude all value of such grant or renewal.

Article XIV – Municipally Owned Utilities

Section 57. - Acquisition of property Public utilities.

Said City shall have power, within its territorial limits and within fifteen miles from said limits, to construct, condemn, purchase, acquire, lease, improve, add to, maintain and conduct and operate, in whole or in part, waterworks, light plants, telephone systems, power plants, transportation systems, heating plants, incinerating plants, and any other public utility or works or ways local in use, and everything required therefor for the use of said City and the inhabitants thereof. Any such systems, plants, works or ways, or any contracts in relation or connection therewith which may exist and which said City may desire to purchase in whole or in part, may be purchased by proceedings at law or in equity by right of eminent domain, and said City shall have the power to issue bonds upon the vote of the tax paying electors at any special or general election in any amount necessary to carry out any of said powers or purposes, said amount being alone limited by the constitution and the laws of the State of Oklahoma.

Section 58. - Basis for charge of service. In the operation of any public utility or business owned by the City, if the funds invested therein be the proceeds of the sale of bonds issued by the City, the rate of toll or charges for the commodity and service furnished shall be based on not less than the cost of production of such commodity and service furnished plus three percent per year on the investment; provided, that in determining the cost of such commodity and service, a sufficient deduction must first be made from the annual gross earnings to pay, (1) the annual interest on said bonds; (2) to create a sinking fund sufficient to retire said bonds at maturity; (3) to create depreciation reserve fund sufficient for the maintenance of the plant or plants occasioned by exhaustion, wear and tear of the physical property. It

is intended by this Section that the mayor and council and the city manager shall institute and put into effect the system herein described as soon as it may be practicable, and it is the belief of the freeholders that such system should be and can be put into effect gradually and in the course of three to five years the system should be fully installed.

Section 59. - Accounts of municipally owned utilities. Accounts shall be kept for each public utility owned or operated by the City, distinct from other City accounts and in such manner as to show the true and complete financial result of such City ownership or ownership and operation, including all assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Such accounts shall show the actual cost to the City of each public utility owned; the cost of all extensions, additions and improvements; all expenses of maintenance and renewals; the amounts set aside for sinking fund purposes; and, in case of City operation, all operation expenses of every description. The accounts shall show as nearly as possible the value of any service furnished to, or rendered by, any such public utility, by or to any other City or government department. The accounts shall also show proper allowance for depreciation, insurance and interest and the investment and estimates of the amount of taxes that would be chargeable against the property if privately owned. The mayor and council shall annually cause to be made and printed for public distribution a report showing the financial result of such City ownership and operation, which report shall give the information specified in this Section and such other information as the mayor and council shall deem expedient.

Article XV – Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 60. - Compensation of officers.

The mayor and council shall fix the compensation of the city attorney and city manager, subject to the other provisions of this Charter. The city manager shall fix the number and salaries, or compensation of all other officers and employees, with the approval of

the mayor and council. The salaries or compensation so fixed shall be uniform for like service in each grade of the service as it shall be graded or classified by the city manager. Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, all fees or money collected by officers and employees shall be paid to the city clerk and receipts therefor taken; said receipts to show on their face the purpose for which said money was collected, and no police or other officer shall be paid any fee whatever for making the arrest of any person. All activities or functions of the City or a trust of which the City is beneficiary must make full financial reports to the mayor and council monthly. (Amended General Election, April 7, 2009).

Section 61. - No compensation except salary. No elective or appointive officer or other person shall under any circumstances receive any further compensation than that specified in the salary attached to his position at the time of his election or appointment, except as herein otherwise specifically provided.

Section 62. - No appointment for definite time. No appointment to an office or place in the City shall be made for any definite time.

Section 63. - Officers and employees to have no interest in any City contract.

No officer or employee of the City, elective or appointive, shall be interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract or job for work or for materials or supplies or the profits thereof, or any purchase made or sales made by, to or with the city, or to own stock in any corporation having any contract or subcontract for doing any contract, job or ware, and all such contracts with such City officers or employees shall be void, and the violation of this clause shall be deemed a cause for removal from office or employment of such officer or employee. For the purposes of this Section the depositing of any funds in a bank or other depository shall not be considered the making of a contract. (Amended General Election, April 5, 1977).

Section 64. - Bribery prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any candidate for office or for any officer or employee of the City, directly or indirectly, to give or promise to give, to any person or persons, any office or position, employment or anything of value, for the purpose of influencing or obtaining support, political or otherwise, aid or influence of any persons or person; the doing of any of which things shall be ground for removal from office of such officer, employee or candidate if elected.

Section 65. - Nepotism prohibited.

No person who is a relative by blood or marriage within the third degree of the mayor, any of the councilmen or the city manager shall be appointed to any city office or head of any department.

Section 66. - Mayor and councilmen cannot accept newly created office.

Neither the mayor nor any councilman shall be appointed to any office, created by the mayor and council during his term of office, until the expiration of one year after his connection with the office shall have been severed.

Section 67. - Officer may administer oaths.

The mayor, the municipal judge, and the city clerk shall have the power to administer oaths.

Section 68. - Claims against the City.

Within 90 days after the adoption of the Amended Charter, the Mayor and Council, by ordinance shall adopt and prescribe rules and regulations pertaining to how claims against the City are to be submitted. (Amended Election, November 3, 1998).

Section 69. - Individual liability of officers. Every officer who shall approve, allow or pay any demand on the treasury of the City not authorized by law, ordinance or this Charter, shall be liable to the City individually and on his official bond for the amount of the demand so illegally approved, allowed

or paid. The City Council may by ordinance indemnify City officials, whether elected or appointed, on such a basis as they may deem appropriate. (Amended General Election, April 5, 1977).

Section 70. - Auditing of accounts and publications of same.

At the end of each fiscal year and at such other time as deemed necessary, the mayor and council shall cause a full and complete examination and audit of all books and accounts of the City, including those of municipally owned utilities, to be made by a certified and bonded accountant and cause said audit to be published in a local newspaper of general circulation in the City of Edmond. (As amended in 1937).

Section 71. - Exemption for taxation.

The mayor and council when authorized by a majority vote of the qualified electors of the City, are hereby empowered and authorized to exempt from municipal taxation for a period not to exceed five years, manufacturing establishments and public utilities as an inducement to their locating in the City; provided, however, the provisions of this Section shall not apply to manufacturing establishments and public utilities located in the City on the date of the approval of this Charter by the governor of the State.

Section 72. - Amendment and repeal.

This Charter may be amended at any time, by initiated petition as provided by the constitution and laws of the State of Oklahoma, at an election at which the proposed amendment is submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of the City, by a majority vote of such electors voting at such election on such proposed amendment. The mayor and council may propose and submit any amendment to this Charter to a vote of the qualified electors of the City at any general or special election. At such election the general election laws of the State shall govern. All references to male gender in this Charter shall be deemed to include both male and female gender. (Amended General Election, April 5, 1977).

Section 73. - Mayor to submit Charter.

After this Charter has been completed and signed in duplicate, one copy thereof being returned to the mayor of the City who is chief executive thereof, and one copy filed with the county clerk (register of deeds), said mayor shall call a special election and submit this Charter to the qualified electors of said City for their adoption or rejection, and as provided for by the constitution of this State.

Section 74. - Saving Clause.

If any section or part of a section of this Charter is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid it shall not invalidate or impair the force or effect of any other section or part of a section of this Charter, except in so far as such other section or part of a section is dependent for its operation upon the section so held invalid.

Article XVI - Elections

Section 75. - Primary election.

On the sixth Tuesday after this Charter shall have been adopted, and approved by the governor, there shall be held in the City of Edmond, a primary election for the nomination of candidates for the office of mayor, and four councilmen provided for by this Charter, to be nominated by the qualified electors of the City of Edmond and the respective wards thereof as provided for in this Charter and by the laws of this State. (Amended General Election, April 7, 2009).

Section 76. - Mayor to call election.

It shall be the duty of the mayor or chief executive officer of the City of Edmond to legally call the primary election and the election of officers herein provided for, and he shall give at least sixty (60) days’ notice of each such election. (Amended Election, November 3, 1998).

Section 77. - Special election for mayor and four councilmen.

There shall be held on the tenth Tuesday after this

Charter shall have been adopted and approved by the governor, a City election in the City of Edmond for the purpose of electing the mayor, and four councilmen provided for by this Charter, who when elected, shall be and become the officers of said City of Edmond with terms of office as provided in this Charter.

The term of office of the City officers elected prior to and in office at the time this Charter takes effect shall terminate at eight p.m., or as soon thereafter as possible, on the first Monday following said election. It shall be the duty of the officers so elected under this Charter to take over their respective offices and assume full power and responsibility at that time. Thereafter such officers and their successors shall be, and they are, hereby vested with full power and authority to conduct the business and affairs of said City as provided for by the constitution and laws of the State of Oklahoma and by this Charter. (Amended General Election, April 7, 2009).

Section 78. - Nonpartisan ballots.

All primary and general elections hereafter held in the City of Edmond shall be free and equal to all qualified electors. Primary ballots and ballots for the general election in said City for city officers shall be nonpartisan, and such ballots shall contain no emblems, device, mark or sign of any kind indicating to which political party a candidate may belong. The names of the candidates, when there shall be more than one candidate for any office, shall be rotated on such ballots in such manner as to make such ballots fair and equal for all candidates, and so that no candidate may have any advantage over any other candidate for the same office.

Section 79. - Candidates in primary elections.

In all primary elections in said City, when more than two candidates file for any one office, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes at such primary election shall be found and declared to be the candidates for that particular office, and they shall be entitled to the certificates of nomination from the county election board. When two or less

candidates file for any one office, the two or one candidate, as the case may be, shall be found and declared to be the candidates for that particular office, and they or he shall be entitled to the certificate of nomination from the county election board, and no primary election shall be held in that ward. These rules shall apply to candidates for mayor, and councilmen from each of the four wards. (Amended General Election, April 5, 1955; Amended General Election, April 7, 2009).

Section 80. - Candidates in general election. The name or names of such successful candidates in such primary election shall be placed upon the tickets for the general city election, and the candidate receiving the highest number of votes at such general city election shall be found and declared to be duly elected to the office for which he was candidate, and shall be entitled to the certificate of election from the county election board. (Amended General Election, April 5, 1955).

Section 81. - Candidates must file names.

All candidates for office in the primary election shall file their names with the County Election Board, as now provided for by law, except that no candidate shall be required or allowed to state his politics or to what political party he belongs. Any person who is an elected official of the City of Edmond at any time within thirty (30) days prior to the filing period for municipal offices shall be ineligible to file for any elected municipal office other than for reelection to the office so occupied by such official, provided that this Section shall not apply to elected officials whose term of office will expire either by resignation or by expiration of term within four (4) months. (Amended General Election, April 5, 1977).

Section 82. - Time of primary.

On the third Tuesday in March, 1957, and every two years thereafter, there shall be held a primary election in said City at which time candidates for mayor shall be selected. On the third Tuesday in March,

1957, there shall be held a primary election in said City, at which time candidates for councilmen for all four wards shall be selected. On the third Tuesday in March, 1959, and every four years thereafter, there shall be held a primary election in said City at which time candidates for councilman for ward one and councilman for ward two shall be selected. On the third Tuesday in March, 1961, and every four years thereafter, there shall be held a primary election in said City at which time candidates for and councilman for ward three and councilman for ward four shall be selected. On the first Tuesday in March, 1999, and every two years thereafter, there shall be held a primary election in said City at which time candidates for mayor shall be selected. On the first Tuesday in March, 1999, and every four years thereafter, there shall be held a primary election in said City at which time candidates for councilman for ward one and councilman for ward two shall be selected. On the first Tuesday in March, 2001, and every four years thereafter, there shall be held a primary election in said City at which time candidates for city treasurer and councilman for ward three and councilman for ward four shall be selected. The candidates for mayor and shall be nominated by the electors of said City at large. The candidates for councilmen shall be nominated by the electors of the separate wards. Said times for the primary election may be changed if required by the Oklahoma County Election Board. (Amended General Election, April 5, 1955; Amended Election November 3, 1998; Amended General Election, April 7, 2009).

Section 83. - Time of general election. The time of general elections shall be as set forth in Section 11 of this Charter as amended. All candidates at such general city election shall be voted upon by the electors of the City at large, and when elected, they shall assume their duties on the first Monday in May following their election, and shall hold their respective offices for the terms specified in Section 9 of this Charter, as amended, and until their successors are elected and qualified, except as otherwise

provided in this Charter. Said times for the general election may be changed if required by the Oklahoma County Election Board. (Amended General Election, April 5, 1955; Amended Election, November 3, 1998; Amended Special Election, May 8, 2001).

Section 84. - General election laws of the State adopted.

In said primary election and in said general and special elections for mayor and four councilmen, and in all notices, canvass of returns, and all other proceedings whatever relating to said elections, the general laws of the State applicable to municipal elections are hereby adopted and put in full force and effect, except as the same may be modified herein. (Amended General Election, April 7, 2009).

Section 85. - General laws.

The Mayor and Council shall have the power to adopt ordinances related to campaign disclosures of contributions, contributors and expenditures related to municipal elections. (Added General Election, April 7, 2009).

Article XVII – General Laws

Section 86. General laws.

In all matters where this Charter is silent the constitution and general laws of the State of Oklahoma shall prevail. (Amended General Election, April 7, 2009).

CERTIFICATE OF FREEHOLDERS

State of Oklahoma ) ) ss: Oklahoma County )

BE IT KNOWN, That the City of Edmond, Oklahoma County, State of Oklahoma, containing a population of more than two thousand inhabitants, at an elec-

tion held on the seventeenth day of March, 1925, under the provisions of Section 3a of Article 18 of the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma, did pursuant to law, elect a board of freeholders, two being elected from each of four wards of said City, to frame a Charter for the City of Edmond, to be executed in duplicate and filed within ninety days from the date of said election, one copy of which is to be filed with the chief executive officer of said City, and the other to be filed with the county clerk (register of deeds) of said County.

We, the undersigned members of said board of freeholders, do hereby certify that in pursuance of the Constitution and laws of the State of Oklahoma, we did meet and organize and in perfecting said organization, did unanimously elect C. E. Tool to act and preside as Chairman of said board, and did at the same time unanimously elect R. C. Gosset to act as Secretary of said Board, and from time to time have held meetings, and have proposed, formulated and filed a proposed Charter within ninety days from the date of our election, consisting of the various Articles and Sections embraced and contained within and upon the foregoing and preceding twenty-nine pages, as the Charter of the City, which we and each of us, do hereby sign in duplicate as and for the Charter of the City of Edmond, Oklahoma.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands in duplicate this 25th day of March, 1925.

WARD ONE: E. M. Castleberry, W. C. Jamieson.

WARD TWO: C. E. Tool, P. M. Holmes.

WARD THREE: R. C. Gossett, Geo. E. Paas.

WARD FOUR: W. A. Chitwood, G. B. Walters

CERTIFICATE OF CHAIRMAN

I, C. E. Tool, Chairman of the Board of Freeholders, elected on Tuesday, March 17, 1925, to serve as a Board of Freeholders to prepare and propose a Charter for the City of Edmond, Oklahoma County, State of Oklahoma, do hereby certify that the within and foregoing is the original of the said proposed Charter executed in duplicate, and the several articles and sections thereof, and the propositions to be submitted to the qualified electors of said City, as regularly and properly adopted by the said Board of Freeholders of said City, to be submitted to the electors of the City of Edmond for ratification or rejection, and within the time and in the manner prescribed by the constitutional provisions applicable thereto, and do hereby certify that the same and all parts thereof were written, enacted and proposed within ninety days after and from the date of the election of said Board of Freeholders, as provided for by law, and that all the interlineations therein contained and all the erasures and words stricken out were made and done before the same were signed by the said freeholders or either of them, and that same is a true, correct and exact Charter as proposed and adopted by the said Board of Freeholders.

Given under my hand this 25th day of May, 1925, at Edmond, Oklahoma.

C. E. Tool

Chairman of the Board of Freeholders of the City of Edmond, Oklahoma.

ATTEST: R. C. Gossett, Secretary