Public hearings, after reasonable public notice, must be held before final council action is taken to:

(1) adopt annual operational and capital budgets;

(2) make appropriations, including supplemental appropriations;

(3) adopt building, housing, electrical, plumbing, gas and all other regulatory codes involving penalties;

(4) adopt zoning and subdivision regulations;

(5) levy taxes;

(6) sell, lease or contract to sell or lease real property owned by the county.

The council may adopt any standard code or technical regulations authorized under Section 6-9-60 by reference thereto in the adopting ordinance. The procedure and requirements governing the ordinances shall be as prescribed for ordinances listed in (1) through (6) above.

Copies of any adopted code of technical regulations shall be made available by the clerk of council for distribution or for purchase at a reasonable price.

Not less than fifteen days' notice of the time and place of such hearings shall be published in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county.

To meet public emergencies affecting life, health, safety or the property of the people, council may adopt emergency ordinances; but such ordinances shall not levy taxes, grant, renew or extend a franchise or impose or change a service rate. Every emergency ordinance shall be designated as such and shall contain a declaration that an emergency exists and describe the emergency. Every emergency ordinance shall be enacted by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members of council present. An emergency ordinance is effective immediately upon its enactment without regard to any reading, public hearing, publication requirements, or public notice requirements. Emergency ordinances shall expire automatically as of the sixty-first day following the date of enactment.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 14-3710; 1975 (59) 692; 1982 Act No. 351, Section 1.