111.09 READING OF MINUTES.

   Unless a reading of the minutes of a Council meeting is requested by a member of Council, such minutes may be approved without reading if the Clerk has previously furnished each member with a synopsis thereof.

(1978 Code Sec. 2-10.)

111.10 RULES OF DEBATE.

   (a)   The Mayor or such member of Council as may be presiding may move, second and debate from the chair, subject only to such limitations of debate as are by these rules imposed on all members and shall not be deprived of any of the rights and privileges of a Councilman by reason of his acting as the presiding officer.

   (b)   Every member desiring to speak shall address the chair, and, upon recognition by the presiding officer, shall confine himself to the question under debate, avoiding all personalities and indecorous language.

   (c)   A member, once recognized, shall not be interrupted when speaking unless it be to call him to order, or as herein otherwise provided. If a member, while speaking, be called to order, he shall cease speaking, until the question of order be determined, and, if in order, he shall be permitted to proceed.

   (d)   The Councilman moving the adoption of an ordinance or resolution shall have the privilege of closing the debate.

   (e)   A motion to reconsider any action taken by Council may be made only on the day such action was taken. It may be made either immediately during the same session, or at a recessed or adjourned session thereof. Such motion must be made by one of the prevailing side, but may be seconded by any member, and may be made at any time and have precedence over all other motions or while a member has the floor; it shall be debatable. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent any member of Council from making or remaking the same or any other motion at a subsequent meeting of Council.

   (f)   A Councilman may request, through the presiding officer, the privilege of having an abstract of his statement on any subject under consideration by Council entered in the minutes. If Council consents thereto, such statement shall be entered in the minutes.

   (g)   The Clerk may be directed by the presiding officer, with consent of Council, to enter in the minutes a synopsis of the discussion on any question coming regularly before Council.

(1978 Code Sec. 2-11.)

111.11 ADDRESSING COUNCIL.

   (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.)

111.12 SILENCE CONSTITUTES AFFIRMATIVE VOTE.

   Unless a member of Council states that he is not voting, his silence shall be recorded as an affirmative vote.

(1978 Code Sec. 2-13.)

111.13 DECORUM AT MEETINGS.

   (a)   While Council is in session, the members must preserve order and decorum, and a member shall neither, by conversation or otherwise, delay or interrupt the proceedings or the peace of Council nor disturb any member while speaking or refuse to obey the orders of Council or its presiding officer, except as otherwise herein provided.

   (b)   Any person making personal, impertinent or slanderous remarks or who shall become boisterous while addressing Council shall be forthwith, by the presiding officer, barred from further audience before Council, unless permission to continue be granted by a majority vote of Council. (1978 Code Sec. 2-14.)

111.14 SERGEANT-AT-ARMS.

   The Chief of Police, or such member or members of the Police Department as he may designate, shall be sergeant-at-arms of Council meetings. He, or they, shall carry out all orders and instructions given by the presiding officer for the purpose of maintaining order and decorum at Council meeting. Upon instructions of the presiding officer, it shall be the duty of the sergeant- at-arms, or any of them present, to place any person who violates the order and decorum of the meeting under arrest, and cause him to be prosecuted under the provisions of the Codified Ordinances, the complaint to be signed by the presiding officer.

(1978 Code Sec. 2-15.)

111.15 PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO BE WITHIN RAIL.

   No person, except City officials, their representatives and newspaper reporters, shall be permitted within the rail in front of the Council Chamber without the express consent of Council.

(1978 Code Sec. 2-16.)