(A) The purpose of the public comment agenda item for the city’s legislative meetings is to provide the public with the opportunity to bring to the attention of the Board of Commissioners items of interest to the public and within the City Commission's subject matter jurisdiction.
(B) It is the purpose of the standards of conduct for public comment to ensure a safe environment for anyone to comment, provide input, or protest any action, inaction or policy of the city or to simply talk
directly to the governing board.
(C) Every attendee and speaker shall comply with the following standards of conduct:
(1) Do not speak without first being recognized by the presiding officer;
(2) Obey the direction of the presiding officer as to when and how long to speak;
(3) Respect all people, present or watching, and those who agree and those who disagree with the speaker's point of view;
(4) Do not make personal, impertinent, slanderous or profane remarks to any member of the Commission, staff or general public;
(5) Do not verbally or physically threaten, attempt to intimidate or bully elected or appointed officials, staff or members of the public, whether in the meeting or in the entry halls to the meeting chambers;
(6) Refrain from hateful epithets and demeaning language based on hate of a person’s race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or disability;
(7) Do not use profanity or obscenity;
(8) There is to be no applause, cheering, shouting, booing or heckling from the audience; and
(9) Do not attack or question the motives of other people.
(D) This code of conduct shall be posted in the Commission chambers, be located near the speaker sign-up form, and be posted on the podium used by the speakers.
(Ord. O-07-24, passed 4-23-2024)