(A) (1) Public hearings required by law or deemed advisable by the Council shall be organized by a special order (adopted by a majority vote) that sets forth the subject, date, place and time of the hearing as well as any rules regarding the length of time allotted for each speaker, and other pertinent matters.
(2) The rules may include, but are not limited to, rules:
(a) Fixing the maximum time allotted to each speaker;
(b) Providing for the designation of spokespersons for groups of persons supporting or opposing the same positions;
(c) Providing for the selection of delegates from groups of persons supporting or opposing the same positions when the number of persons wishing to attend the hearing exceeds the capacity of the hall (so long as arrangements are made, in the case of hearings subject to the open meetings law, for those excluded from the hall to listen to the hearing); and
(d) Providing for the maintenance of order and decorum in the conduct of the hearing.
(B) All notice and other requirements of the open meetings law applicable to Council meetings shall also apply to public hearings at which a majority of the Council is present; such a hearing is considered to be part of a regular or special meeting of the Council. These requirements also apply to hearings conducted by appointed or elected committees of the Council, if a majority of the committee is present. A public hearing for which any notices required by the open meetings law or other provisions of law have been given may be continued to a time and place certain without further advertisement. The requirements of § 30.02(C) shall be followed in continuing a hearing at which a majority of the Council is present.
(C) The Council may vote to delegate to city staff members, as appropriate, the authority to schedule, call and give notice of public hearings required by law or the Council. The Council shall provide adequate guidelines to assist staff members in fulfilling this responsibility, and it shall not delegate the responsibility in cases where the Council itself is required by law to call, schedule or give notice of the hearing.
(D) At the time appointed for the hearing, the Mayor or his or her designee shall call the hearing to order and then preside over it. When the allotted time expires or when no one wishes to speak who has not done so, the presiding officer shall entertain or make a motion to end the hearing.
(Ord. passed 12-9-2013)