(A) Privileges of the floor. This portion of the City Council meeting is set-aside for members of the public to address the City Council on any item of business that is not formally scheduled on the agenda or scheduled as a public hearing. A privilege of the floor is not a right under Kentucky law.
(1) Citizens and guest statements are generally permitted at the beginning of the regular City Council meeting, as specified on the agenda. Persons wishing to address the City Council should either contact the City Clerk in advance of the meeting or make such a request before the beginning of the meeting. Comments shall be limited to three (3) minutes each, but may be extended for an additional two (2) minutes with approval of a majority of the City Council.
(2) When called upon, the person shall come to the podium state his/her name and address for the record, and, if speaking for an organization or other group, identify the group represented.
(3) All remarks should be addressed to the City Council as a whole, not to individual members and made through the Mayor.
(4) Questions, if any, should be directed to the Mayor who will determine whether, or in what manner, an answer will be provided.
(5) Citizens and other visitors attending City Council meetings shall observe the same rules of propriety, decorum and good conduct applicable to members of the City Council. Any person making personal, impertinent, profane or slanderous remarks or who becomes boisterous while addressing the City Council or while attending the City Council meeting shall be removed from the room if the sergeant-at-arms is so directed by the Mayor, and the person shall be barred from further audience before the City Council during that session of the City Council. If the Mayor fails to act, any member of the City Council may move to require enforcement of the rules, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the City Council shall require the Mayor to act.
(6) Unauthorized remarks or disruptive behavior from the audience such as, clapping, stamping of feet, whistles, yells, and similar demonstrations shall not be permitted by the Mayor, who may direct the sergeant–at-arms to remove offenders from the room. Aggravated cases shall be prosecuted on appropriate complaint signed by the Mayor. In case the Mayor shall fail to act, any City Council member of the City Council may move to require enforcement of the rules, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the City Council shall require the Mayor to act.
(7) No placards, banners, or signs will be permitted in the city council chamber or in any other room in which the City Council is meeting. Exhibits, displays, and visual aids used in connection with presentations to the City Council, however, are permitted. Video presentations requested by citizens as visual aids may not be broadcasted over cable television.
(8) No council deliberations. In compliance with the Kentucky Open Meetings Act, the City Council may not deliberate or vote on any matter raised by guests, except for the purpose of determining whether such matter should be placed on a future City Council agenda. The Mayor, however, may request the City Administration to provide additional information on a matter of general interest to the full City Council, the public at large and to the citizen making the comment.
(B) Enforcement. The Chief of Police, as chief law enforcement officer, shall act as sergeant-at-arms for the City Council and shall furnish whatever assistance is needed to enforce the rules of the City Council. Upon instruction from the Mayor or by a majority vote of the Council, it shall be the duty of the Chief of Police or designated law enforcement officer to remove a person from the Council chamber. It is then under the discretion of the law enforcement officer whether to place any person who violates the order and decorum of the meeting under arrest, and cause him or her to be prosecuted under the provisions of applicable law.
(C) Public written statements. Individuals who do not wish to or cannot verbally address the City Council during a meeting may submit public written statements. A person may indicate his/her comments and support or opposition for an agenda item in writing to the Mayor. During the public testimony regarding the item, the Mayor will indicate that the City Council has received written comments from (name of persons) in support of the project or issue and from (name of persons) in opposition. The minutes will reflect the City Council's receipt of written comments in support or opposition of the project or issue.
(D) Repetitious comments prohibited. A speaker shall not present the same or substantially the same items or arguments to the Council repeatedly or be repetitious in presenting their oral comments. Nothing in the foregoing precludes submission of comments to the City Council in writing, for such action or non-action as the Council, in its discretion, may deem appropriate. In order to expedite matters and to avoid repetitious presentations, the designation of a spokesperson is encouraged. Whenever any group of individuals wishes to address the Council on the same subject matter, those individuals are encouraged to designate a spokesperson to address the City Council. With the consent of the City Council, the Mayor may extend the time allocation for a designated spokesperson.
(E) Waiver of rules. Any of the foregoing rules (except those required under state law) may be waived or suspended by a majority vote of the Council members present when it is deemed that there is good cause to do so, based upon the particular facts and circumstances involved.
(F) Non-exclusive rules. The rules set forth are not exclusive and do not limit the inherent power and general legal authority of the City Council, or of the Mayor, to govern the conduct of City Council meetings as may be considered appropriate from time to time, or in particular circumstances, for purposes of orderly and effective conduct of the affairs of the city.
(Ord. 2005-O-04, passed 4-4-05)