Title VII — CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES

72.205. Three-year limit on elections on petition of citizens. — No election may be required to be held as a result of petition by citizens of an affected municipality if the petition is filed within three years of the date of unsuccessful election for consolidation. Where an ele…

72.210. Two or more cities may consolidate — procedure. — When two or more cities in this state, each containing a population of less than five hundred thousand inhabitants, adjoining and contiguous to each other in adjoining counties shall be desirous of being consolidated, it s…

72.220. Procedure — form of ballot to be used. — 1. Whenever twenty-five percent of the voters of such adjoining cities in adjoining counties shall petition their respective county commissions to order the submission of the question on the consolidation of such cities into one ci…

72.300. Absorption of municipalities authorized (certain third class counties). — Any two or more municipalities which are adjoining or contiguous to each other on two or more sides and which are located in a county of the third class having a population of not less than twenty-f…

72.305. Resolution to absorb, contents of. — The governing body of each of the municipalities involved in the proposed absorption shall adopt a resolution which sets forth: (1) The name of each municipality which is to be absorbed; (2) The name of the municipality which will abso…

72.310. Election, how ordered. — Upon adoption of the resolution setting forth the plan of absorption, the governing body of each municipality involved shall order the submission of the question of absorption to the voters of each municipality involved. ­­-------- (L. 1976 H.B. 1…

72.320. Form of ballot. — 1. The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form: Shall the municipality of ______ absorb the municipality of ______? 2. If a majority of the voters voting on the proposition in each of the municipalities involved vote for the absor…

72.325. Procedure for, and effect of absorption. — Upon approval of the question in each of the municipalities involved, the absorption shall be accomplished on the date contained in the resolutions by the municipality specified in the resolution as the one which is to absorb the…

72.330. Liabilities or legal actions, effect on. — The municipality which absorbs the other municipalities shall assume and be responsible and liable for all the liabilities and obligations of each of the municipalities being absorbed. Any claim existing or action or proceeding p…

72.335. Bonded indebtedness, effect on — notice of indebtedness required in resolution and election notice. — The bonded indebtedness of each municipality being absorbed at the time of the absorption which was incurred for the purpose of purchasing, constructing or repairing loca…

72.340. Ordinances, effect on — corporate existence to cease, when. — All ordinances including all ordinances adopted at elections by a vote of the people of the municipality which absorbs the other municipalities shall remain in full force and effect and shall govern in the terr…

72.345. Notice of approval of absorption, who to send and receive. — Upon the approval of the question of absorption by the voters in each of the municipalities involved, the governing body of the municipality which is absorbing the other municipalities shall send notice containi…

72.350. Courts to take judicial notice of absorption. — After the effective date of the absorption, the courts of this state shall take judicial notice of the absorption and of the new corporate boundaries of the municipality which absorbed the other municipalities. ­­-------- (L…

72.400. Definitions. — As used in sections 72.400 to 72.423, the following terms mean: (1) "Boundary adjustment", an adjustment of a boundary between two municipalities or a municipality and the unincorporated area of the county involving all or part of one or more residential pa…

72.401. Law to be exclusive for boundary changes if commission established (St. Louis County) — procedure for boundary change — commission members, qualifications, appointment, vacancies — notice of ordinance establishing commission — list of appointees — terms — succession — con…

72.402. Rules and regulations, commission shall promulgate — procedure. — The commission shall enact and adopt all rules, regulations and procedures that are reasonably necessary to achieve the objectives of sections 72.400 to 72.423 no sooner than twenty-seven calendar days afte…

72.403. Powers and duties of commission to review all boundary changes — no changes submitted to commission until April 15, 2001, exceptions, procedures — plan of intent — notice, publication of — approval of change, factors to be considered — commission may provide advice to pro…

72.405. Boundary changes, approval or disapproval — commission may modify proposal — minor corrections allowed, when — simplified boundary change, procedure — noncontiguous boundary changes, required proposals — prohibited boundary changes, exception — proposing agent may modify …

72.407. Adoption of boundary change by voters, procedure — unincorporated pocket defined — cost of election, how paid — proposal concerning annexation and incorporation not to be submitted at same election, election void, when. — 1. Boundary changes may be adopted by the voters i…

72.408. Limitation on resubmission — void petition, when. — 1. If a boundary change is disapproved by the voters, no boundary change which contains more than sixty percent of the area of the disapproved boundary change shall be submitted to or processed by the commission any soon…

72.409. Boundary change, effective when — transition committee established, members, how selected — to disband when delay in declaring new incorporated municipality, when — conflict of laws, this section to prevail. — 1. If a proposed boundary change is approved by the voters, su…

72.412. Commission independent of county — budget request, appropriation level — application fee for annexation, use. — 1. The commission, once established, shall not be a county commission but shall act as an independent commission. The commission may hire such staff and acquire…

72.414. Approval of change, governing body to declare a municipality and designate metes and bounds — first officers designated by governing body. — If the approval of the boundary change creates a new municipality, the governing body of the county shall declare such municipality…

72.416. Civil actions against commission, who may bring, cost and attorneys fees paid to commission, when. — The county, an interested municipality, or any other interested party may bring an appropriate civil action against the commission regarding a proposed boundary change, un…

72.418. New city not to provide fire services, when — annexation, continuation of services — city to pay fire protection district, amount — voting provisions. — 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no new city created pursuant to sections 72.400 to 72.42…

72.420. Consolidation of multiple municipalities and unincorporated areas, must be contiguous — procedure, petition content — costs of election — ballot form — effective when — transition committee, how selected, duties. — 1. The provisions of this section shall apply to the cons…

72.422. Petition to remain unincorporated — unincorporated area proposal, procedure for creating established unincorporated areas — no boundary change to affect established unincorporated area prior to expiration. — 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of sections 72.400 to 72.…

72.423. Five-year planning cycle, procedures, map plans, review. — 1. In any county in which a boundary commission has been established pursuant to section 72.400, all boundary changes and unincorporated area proposals shall be subject to the five-year planning cycle mandated in …

72.430. Standing for proposed boundary change. — A county or any other interested municipality or person may bring an action against the commission established pursuant to section 72.400 contesting a proposed boundary change or other commission action. ­­-------- (L. 1999 S.B. 1,…

77.010. Third class cities, incorporation and powers of. — Any city of the third class in this state may become a body corporate under the provisions of this chapter, in the manner provided by law, under the name of "The city of ______", and by that name shall have perpetual succ…

77.020. City limits may be altered, how. — The mayor and council of such city, with the consent of a majority of the legal voters of such city voting at an election thereof, shall have power to extend the limits of the city over territory adjacent thereto, and to diminish the lim…

77.030. Division of city into wards — council members, terms. — 1. Unless it elects to be governed by subsection 2 of this section, the council shall by ordinance divide the city into not less than four wards, and two councilmen shall be elected from each of such wards by the qua…

77.040. Election of officers — option to appoint certain officers — terms. — A general election for the elective officers of each city of the third class shall be held after the organization of the city under the provisions of this chapter and on municipal election days every two…

77.042. City administrator, employment authorized. — The governing body of any city of the third class, except those organized under the provisions of sections 78.430 to 78.640, and any fourth class city may by ordinance provide for the employment by the governing body with the a…

77.044. Qualifications, compensation of administrator. — 1. The governing body shall provide, as minimum qualifications, that the city administrator be at least twenty-one years of age, and that he devote his full time to the performance of the duties of his office. The governing…

77.046. Other officers, appointment, discharge, regulations concerning. — 1. Upon the adoption of a city administrator form of government, the governing body of the city may provide that all other officers and employees of the city, except elected officers, shall be appointed and…

77.048. Other powers of mayor and council retained. — Except as provided in sections 77.042 to 77.048, the mayor and city council of any third class city and the mayor and board of aldermen of any fourth class city which adopts the city administrator form of government shall reta…

[Repealed or reserved.]

77.060. Councilman, qualifications. — No person shall be councilman unless he is at least twenty-one years of age prior to taking office, a citizen of the United States, and an inhabitant of the city for one year next preceding his election, and a resident of the ward from which …

77.070. President pro tem. — At the first regular meeting of the city council after the election in each year--which meeting shall occur at the time fixed by ordinance, but shall not be later than the fourth Tuesday in April--the council shall elect one of its members president p…

77.080. Style of ordinances — procedure to enact. — The style of the ordinances of the city shall be: "Be it ordained by the council of the city of ______, as follows:" No ordinance shall be passed except by bill, and no bill shall become an ordinance unless on its final passage …

77.090. Proceedings of, how kept. — The council shall cause to be kept a journal of its proceedings, and the ayes and nays of the members shall be entered on any question at the desire of any two members. The council may prescribe and enforce such rules as may be necessary to sec…

77.100. Powers of council — witnesses, papers. — The council shall have power to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers relating to any subject under consideration in which the interest of the city is involved, and shall have power to call on the proper o…

77.105. Budget and expenditures, approval by ordinance, motion, or resolution required. — The budget or any authorization to expend funds shall be approved by an ordinance, motion, or resolution that is approved by a majority of all the members elected to the governing body. ­­--…

77.110. Council to publish semiannual statements. — The council shall publish a full and detailed statement of the receipts and expenditures and indebtedness of the city at the end of each fiscal year and six months after the end of each fiscal year in a newspaper of general circ…

77.120. Council may acquire land for and maintain cemetery. — The city council shall have power to purchase, receive and hold real estate, as herein mentioned, for public cemetery purposes, either within the city or within three miles thereof; provided, that no such cemetery shal…

77.130. Cemetery lots, how conveyed. — The cemetery lots shall be conveyed by certificates, signed by the mayor and countersigned by the clerk, under the seal of the city, specifying that the purchaser to whom the same is issued is the owner of the lot or lots described therein b…

77.140. May control watercourses, establish water reservoirs, market houses, city hall and parks. — The council may establish, alter and change the channel of watercourses, and wall them and cover them over, and prevent obstructions thereon, and may establish, make and regulate p…

77.150. Cities may acquire property for dams, flood protection, bathhouses. — In addition to other powers, the mayor and council of cities of the third class are hereby authorized and empowered to acquire by gift, devise, purchase or condemnation, within such cities or within a m…

77.160. Payment for property acquired — issuance of bonds. — The mayor and council of said cities are authorized to accept gifts and grants and to borrow money and execute, issue and negotiate bonds or other securities, for the purpose of paying the cost of acquiring said propert…