(A) It is the policy of the Council to permit limited presentation by members of the public on nonpublic hearing agenda items. The amount of time allocated to speakers on a particular item shall be established by presiding officer, but in no event shall be in excess of three minutes unless a greater time limit is approved by the City Council. Unless further time is granted by majority vote of the Council, the speaker shall limit his/her remarks to the time limit established by the presiding officer.
(B) Any person desiring to address the Council on a matter not formally scheduled for public hearing must file a written request for permission to address the Council which must be filed with the City Clerk/Deputy City Clerk in advance of the Council's consideration of that item. The presiding officer, with the consent of the Council, may allow a person who has not filed such a request to address the Council.
(C) Each person desiring to address the Council shall approach the podium, state his/her name and address or area of the city in which he/she lives for the record, and state whom he/she is representing if he/she represents an organization or other persons. All remarks shall be addressed to the Council as a whole and not any member thereof. No questions shall be asked of a council member or a member of the city staff without obtaining the permission of the presiding officer. The presiding officer shall not permit any communications oral or written, to be made or read where it does not bear directly on the agenda item then under discussion.
(D) No person shall address the Council without first securing the permission of the presiding officer.
(E) After a motion has been made, no member of the public shall address the Council from the audience on the matter under consideration without first securing permission to do so from the presiding officer which permission shall be subject to approval by a majority vote of the City Council.
(Ord. 1205, passed 11-6-96; Am. Ord. 1358, passed 12-17-03)