Board Meeting Notes

g n i t e e M s e t No Understanding

City of Little Rock Board Meetings

www.Lit tleRock.gov

The Basics The Little Rock Board of Directors is made up of 10

directors, one elected from each of the City’s seven wards

and three at-large members elected by Citywide vote, along with the Mayor. The Mayor presides over the Board and

ONLY votes to break ties. This gives us a total of 11 elected officials.

The Board meets twice a month (typically, the first and third Tuesdays) to vote on ordinances and resolutions.

- Ordinances are permanent, and could be additions to the law like a new speed limit.

- Resolutions are generally authorizations for the City to

take a one-time action, such as spend money or agree to a contract.

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Quorum A quorum is the minimum number of elected officials

required to conduct business. At least 6 out of 11 elected officials must be present.

If only 5 Directors + Mayor are present quorum IS

established. HOWEVER, NO ordinances, resolutions, or

orders can be passed because these actions require 6 votes from Directors, and the Mayor can only vote to break a 5-5 tie.

Quorum scenarios 4 Directors

+ Mayor = Quorum unmet / Cannot pass measures

5 Directors

+ Mayor = Quorum met

/ Cannot pass measures

6 Directors

+ Mayor = Quorum met

/ Can pass measures

6 Directors

- Mayor = Quorum met

/ Can pass measures

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Voting Pt. 1 Simple Majority

Super Majority

The following require at

The following require at

Directors:

Directors:

least 6 votes from the 10

least 8 votes from the 10

- Pass an ordinance

- Override the Mayor's veto

- Pass a resolution

- Adopt an emergency

clause on an ordinance

- Pass an order

- Suspend the rules

- Adopt bylaws

- Close or limit debate

- General legislative actions

- Amend or rescind a

previous action (without prior notice)

These majorities reference the total number of officials (11), not just the number present. Therefore, these measures always need the listed minimum number of votes to pass.

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Voting Pt. 2 When Does The Mayor Vote?

The Mayor votes ONLY in case of a TIE among Directors.

With 10 Directors, the only possible tie is 5-5. The Mayor

cannot vote on 8-vote supermajority requirements because a 5-5 tie would only result in 6 votes even with the tie-breaking vote.

Suspending The Rules

Arkansas law requires each ordinance to be read in three different meetings before a vote.

Often, Board members will suspend the rules to read an

ordinance three times in the same meeting and take a vote.

It takes a supermajority to suspend the rules.

It takes 30 days before ordinances go into effect, so the Board sometimes enacts an emergency clause for an

ordinance to take effect immediately. That, too, takes a supermajority.

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Quick Reference ACTION

VOTES NEED TO PASS

CAN THE MAYOR VOTE?

Pass ordinance / resolution / order

6

Only in 5-5 tie

Rescind previous action (prior notice at a public meeting)

6

No

Override Mayor's veto

8

No

Adopt emergency clause

8

No

Suspend rules

8

No

Close debate

8

No

Limit debate

8

No

Amend previous action (no notice)

8

No

Rescind previous action (no notice)

8

No

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Quick Notes Pt. 1 QUORUM VS. VOTING REQUIREMENTS: Quorum (6

members present including Mayor) allows the meeting to be called to order, but at least 6 DIRECTOR votes are

required to pass ordinances, resolutions, or orders. If only 5 Directors + Mayor are present, quorum is met but no legislative action can be taken.

ABSTENTIONS: If a Director abstains, that Director is

not counted as voting. The vote requirements remain the same (6 or 8 votes needed).

MAYOR'S VETO POWER: The Mayor can veto any

ordinance, resolution, or order passed by the Board. The Board can override this veto with 8 votes.

VICE MAYOR: When the Mayor is absent, the Vice

Mayor presides over the meeting. The Vice Mayor retains full voting rights as a Director (unlike the Mayor) and does NOT have veto power.

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Quick Notes Pt. 2 ROBERT'S RULES: For procedural matters not covered

by statute or ordinance, the Board follows Robert's Rules of Order (Newly Revised), as adopted by LRMC § 2-48.

FIXED VS. FLEXIBLE REQUIREMENTS: 6-vote

requirement (ordinances, resolutions, orders) = FIXED;

8-vote requirement (supermajority matters) = FIXED. These do NOT change based on attendance.

WHY THE MAYOR CANNOT VOTE ON 8-VOTE

MATTERS: With only 10 Directors, the maximum tie is 5-5. Even if the Mayor breaks this tie, it only creates 6

votes, which is insufficient for the 8-vote supermajority requirement.

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Legal Authorities Cited Ark. Code Ann. § 14-47-140(b) – Mayor votes only to

break ties; Mayor counts toward quorum (Act 978 of 2019) Ark. Code Ann. § 14-55-203 – Simple majority requirement (6 votes)

Ark. Code Ann. § 14-61-114(d)(2)(A) – Veto override procedure

Arkansas Constitution, Art. 5, § 1 – Emergency clause requirements

Lit tle Rock Municipal Code § 2-48 – Adoption of Robert's Rules

Lit tle Rock Municipal Code § 2-50(c) – Quorum includes Mayor

Lit tle Rock Municipal Code § 36-109 – 30-day appeal limitation

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www.Lit tleRock.gov

Got Questions?

City of Little Rock

Office ofthe City Attorney (501) 371-4527

Last Updated: December 2025