(a) Generally. Reasonable seating facilities shall be provided for the public at each legislative session or meeting of the County Council, and the public is encouraged and invited to attend. At each legislative session and public hearing a reasonable amount of time shall be provided for members of the public to address the County Council on pertinent matters of public business not otherwise provided for. Special hearings on pending legislation or the budget are convened for the express purpose of obtaining public participation and comment. The public shall maintain order and decorum in keeping with the dignity of the governmental process, and shall refrain from interfering with the process. Discussions of the County Council may be recorded, provided the recording device does not generate excessive noise, use excessive artificial light, interfere with County recording devices or disturb County Council members or individuals in attendance.
(b) Addressing the Council. Each member of the public who wishes to speak at invitation to the audience or on agenda items may testify before the County Council provided they sign up to speak before the meeting at the designated area for speaker registration and, after being recognized by the presiding officer, shall come forth and state the following information:
(1) name;
(2) home address;
(3) person or organization represented, or that the individual is speaking as a private citizen; and
(4) subject matter and the remarks.
(c) Relevance. The presiding officer may temporarily suspend any testimony that is not relevant to the subject of the hearing and advise the speaker to that effect. The presiding officer may stop taking further testimony from and vacate any remaining time allocated to a speaker who, after being so advised, continues to offer irrelevant testimony.
(d) Time limitation. Each member of the public who speaks to the County Council shall be limited to the amount of time specified by the Chair.
(e) Copy of Rules available. A copy of these Rules and a copy of the County Code shall be accessible to the public in the County Council office.
(Res. No. 6-86; Res. No. 38-89; Res. No. 28-93; Res. No. 8-03; Res. No. 42-13)