(A) The following guidelines ensure that the public's business is efficiently and effectively carried out during public meetings:
(1) Public comments shall be limited to topics that are within the City Council's subject matter jurisdiction;
(2) Public comments are limited to three minutes;
(3) The City Council supports the public's right to voice opinions and disagreement, and encourages civil discourse on matters of public importance. Personal attacks, or statements of a racist, hateful, or bigoted nature, are strongly discouraged.
(4) The public does not have a right to make obscene, defamatory, fraudulent, or threatening statements, or to make statements that incite violence or criminal conduct. These categories of speech, which are not protected by the First Amendment, are not allowed at City Council meetings.
(B) Pursuant to Cal. Gov't Code § 54957.95, the presiding officer may cause a person or persons to be removed for disrupting the meeting as follows:
(1) Prior to removal, the presiding officer or designee will warn the person or persons that their behavior is disrupting the meeting and that their failure to cease the behavior may result in removal; unless the behavior entails a use of force or a true threat, in which case no warning is necessary prior to removal.
(2) If the disruption does not cease after warning, the presiding officer shall request that the sergeant-at-arms remove the person or persons from the chambers so that public business may resume.
(3) The presiding officer may call a recess to determine, in consultation with staff and the sergeant-at-arms, whether a violation of this policy has occurred.
(4) Under limited circumstances, removal of all persons in attendance may be necessary; if this is the case, members of the press will be allowed to remain in the meeting.
(C) Persons disrupting the meeting may be cited for violation of Cal. Penal Code § 403.
(Ord. 2834, passed 4-19-60; Am. Ord. 323-C.S., passed 8-3-82; Am. Ord. 682-C.S., passed 7-6-04; Am. Ord. 812-C.S., passed 6-2-15; Am. Ord. 944-C.S., passed 3-21-23)