(a) Any person desiring to address Council shall first secure the permission of the presiding officer to do so; provided, that under the following headings of business, unless the presiding officer rules otherwise, any qualified person may address Council without securing such prior permission.
(1) Interested parties or their authorized representatives may address Council by written communications in regard to matters then under discussion.
(2) Taxpayers or residents of the City, or their authorized legal representatives, may address Council by oral communications on any matter concerning the City’s business, or any matter over which Council has control; provided, that preference shall be given to those persons who may have notified the City Clerk in advance of their desire to speak in order that the same may appear on the agenda of Council.
(3) Interested persons or their authorized representatives may address Council by reading of protest, petitions or communications relating to zoning, sewer and street proceedings, hearings on protests, appeals and petitions, or similar matters in regard to matters then under consideration.
(b) After a motion is made by Council, no person shall address Council without first securing the permission of Council to do so.
(c) Each person addressing Council shall step up before the Council table, within the rail, shall give his name and address in an audible tone of voice for the records, and unless further time is granted by Council, shall limit his address to five minutes. All remarks shall be addressed to Council as a body and not to any member thereof. No person, other than Council and the person having the floor, shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, either directly or through a member of Council, without the permission of the presiding officer. No question shall be asked a Councilman except through the presiding officer.
(1978 Code Sec. 2-12.)