The governing body of the city shall consist of the mayor and five councilmembers to be elected as set out in chapter 6 of this code.

(Code 2025)

All powers exercised by cities of the third class or which shall hereafter be conferred upon them shall be exercised by the governing body, subject to such limitations as prescribed by law. All executive and administrative authority granted or limited by law shall be vested in the mayor and council as governing body of the city.

(K.S.A. 12-103; Code 2025)

(a)   Regular meetings of the governing body shall be held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 6:00 p.m. In the event the regular meeting day shall be a legal holiday, the governing body shall meet on the next regular working day at the same place and time.

(b)   Special meetings may be called by the mayor at any time upon written request of no fewer than three members of the council. The request shall state the matters to be discussed at such special meeting and no other matters may be considered at such meeting.

(c)   Regular or special meetings of the governing body may be adjourned for the completion of its business at such subsequent time and place as the governing body shall determine in its motion to adjourn.

(K.S.A. 15-106; K.S.A. 25-2120; Ord. 2021-24; Code 2025)

At all meetings of the governing body, a majority of the councilmembers-elect shall constitute a quorum to do business.

(K.S.A. 15-106; Code 2025)

The mayor shall preside at all meetings of the governing body. The mayor shall have the tie-breaking vote on all questions when the members present are equally divided. The mayor shall:

(a)   Have the superintending control of all officers and affairs of the city;

(b)   Take care that the ordinances of the city are complied with;

(c)   Sign the commissions and appointments of all officers elected or appointed;

(d)   Endorse the approval of the governing body on all official bonds;

(e)   From time to time communicate to the city council such information and recommend such measures as he or she may deem advisable;

(f)    Have the power to approve or veto any ordinance as the laws of the state shall prescribe;

(g)   Sign all orders and drafts drawn upon the city treasury for money.

(Code 2025)

The city council shall elect one of its own body as president of the council. The president of the council shall preside at all meetings of the council in the absence of the mayor. In the absence of both the mayor and the president of the council, the council shall elect one of its members as “acting president of the council.” The president and acting president, when occupying the place of mayor, shall have the same privileges as other councilmembers.

(K.S.A. 15-310; Code 2025)

The governing body may designate whether the administration of a policy or the carrying out of any order shall be performed by a committee, an appointive officer, or the mayor. If no administrative authority is designated it shall be vested in the mayor.

(Code 2025)

(a)   Should a vacancy in a seat of the City Council occur by means of resignation, death, health concerns, being relocated from the City of The Highlands, or removal from office, a resident shall be impartially and without favoritism be nominated by the mayor. Upon a majority vote of approval by the City Council, the appointee shall hold that office for the remainder of the original term of the person that created the vacancy.

(b)   Should a vacancy in the Office of Mayor occur, the President of the Council shall fill that position and remaining original term of the mayor. A vacancy in the Council shall have been created and the office filled according to the provisions herein.

(K.S.A. 12-104a; K.S.A. 15-201; K.S.A. 15-311; C.O. No. 10; Code 2025)

There is hereby incorporated by reference for the purpose of establishing a code of procedure for the conduct of city council meetings of the City of The Highlands, Kansas, that certain code known as the “Code of Procedure for Kansas Cities,” Fourth Edition (2017), prepared and published in book form by the League of Kansas Municipalities, Topeka, Kansas, save and except such articles, sections, parts or portions as are hereafter omitted, deleted, modified or changed. At least one copy of said Code of Procedure for Kansas Cities shall be marked or stamped “Official Copy as Incorporated by the Code of the City of The Highlands, Kansas,” with all sections or portions thereof intended to be omitted or changed clearly marked to show any such omission or change and to which shall be attached a copy of this section, and filed with the city clerk to be open to inspection and available to the public at all reasonable hours.

(Ord. 2020-14; Code 2025)