(A) Members of the public shall be allowed to address public officials at any regular or special meeting of a public body of the city only under the public participation rules as set forth herein. Public participation shall be permitted during the following portions of any meeting:
(1) Public Comment;
(2) Public Hearing; and
(3) Invited speakers.
(B) Public participation shall not be permitted during any meetings or portions of meeting which are deemed closed sessions under the Open Meetings Act, ILCS Ch. 5, Act 120, §§ 1 et seq., as amended.
(C) The presiding officer may impose reasonable limitations on public participation at public meetings, such as barring repetitious, irrelevant, immaterial, or inappropriate comments or testimony. The presiding officer shall have the authority to halt or suspend the public communications/hearing to a later date due to the duration of the public forum/hearing or lack of compliance with this section. In addition to those portions of a meeting set aside for public participation, the presiding officer shall have the discretion to extend the time allowed for public comment and/or permit public comment at any other time during a meeting, subject to a vote of the majority of City Council and the provisions of this section.
(D) All items must pertain to city business. All speakers shall comply with this section and rulings of the presiding officer. Speakers must be called upon by the presiding officer prior to addressing the public body.
(E) Speakers shall identify themselves before beginning their comments or questions, and provide any supporting documentation and/or evidence they may wish to submit to the City Clerk. Speakers shall refrain from engaging in debates, directing threats or personal attacks at the presiding officer, council, city staff, other speakers or members of the audience. The presiding officer and other members of the public body shall have no obligation to respond to any comments or questions raised by members of the public.
(F) Members of the audience shall refrain from applauding, cheering, or booing during or at the conclusion of remarks made by any speaker, staff member, board member or presiding officer.
(G) Groups of residents should, whenever possible, consolidate their comments and avoid repetition through the use of representative speakers.
(H) All speakers shall limit their comments to three minutes per speaker, not to exceed a total time limit for public comment of 60 minutes at regular City Council meetings and a total time limit for public comment of 30 minutes at City Council work sessions and special meetings.
(I) The petitioner of an agenda item is a person or entity with a direct interest in a decision. The petitioner may proceed with a brief presentation of the petition for no more than ten minutes.
(1) Thereafter, other speakers may comment or ask questions on the agenda item after the presentation of the petition provided they comply with all the applicable provisions of this section.
(2) The petitioner shall have no more than five minutes to reply to comments or questions. Public participation after the petitioner’s reply shall be prohibited unless the presiding officer directs otherwise.
(3) The presiding officer and council may, but need not ask questions of the petitioner and speakers at the conclusion of their comments.
(4) The council may then deliberate upon the petition. No additional comment may be made by the public or the petitioner except upon the express permission of the presiding officer.
(J) The above rules shall generally apply to public hearings and meetings of the Galesburg City Council, and all subsidiary boards, commissions and committees of the City of Galesburg.
(K) Any citizen may address the Council by invitation of the presiding officer or a majority of the Council present. Speakers invited to participate shall be subject to such limitations as the presiding officer or majority of the Council shall prescribe. In the absence of other restrictions, such speakers shall be governed by the same rules which govern the public forum.
(Ord. 14-3463, passed 10-20-2014; Ord. 22-3674, passed 6-20-2022; Ord. 23-3700, passed 6-5-2023)