(A) Regulations and protocols for public participation during Council meetings. The following rules and protocols shall apply to public participation at meetings of the City Council and any committees thereof.
(1) Public participation at City Council or Council Committee meetings is encouraged. A period of time at any such meeting shall be made available on the agenda for each meeting.
(2) A person who desires to make a comment to the Council shall provide no less than three days’ notice of their intent to address the Council at any particular meeting. They should also identify the subject of their address and they shall (on the day of the meeting) print and sign their name and provide their residential address on a sheet of paper provided for such purpose. Preference will be given to the person who has given the three day notice. Additional preference will be given to residents and/or property owners in the city.
(3) The mayor will determine the order of persons wishing to address the Council. The Mayor shall preserve order and decorum. Conversational tone and non-vulgar language shall be used by any speaker. The Mayor shall decide all questions of order.
(4) All speakers shall address their remarks to the Mayor.
(5) All speakers shall confine their comments to three minutes, unless additional time is granted by the Mayor. No speaker shall repeat comments made by a prior speaker. No speaker shall malign, impugn or make contentious statements. Doing so may subject the speaker to immediate sanction by the Mayor, up to and including termination of the speaker’s allocated time. Termination of the speaker’s time may be had at the discretion of the Mayor or a vote by two thirds of the Council members present at the meeting.
(6) Any speaker who intends to use visual aids (photo graphics, charts, documents, etc.) shall provide nine copies of said items to the City Clerk in advance of the meeting.
(B) Guide to addressing the City Council. The following shall be posted on the city’s website and on the door leading to the Council Chambers.
Citizens’ Guide to Addressing the City Council:
Anyone wishing to address the Mayor or City Council at the agenda item “Public Comment” shall adhere to the following guidelines, rules and/or protocols:
A. Provide your name, address and signature on the sign-up sheet provided. (Preference will be given to any person who advises the clerk(s) in City Hall of their intention to make an address at least three days prior to the meeting.)
B. You may stand and speak upon being recognized or given permission to address the Council or Mayor after being recognized or given permission.
C. Address any and all comments to the Mayor.
D. The mayor shall preserve order and decorum. Refrain from maligning, impugning or making contentious statements. Speak in a conversational tone and do not use vulgar language.
E. After the termination of the “public comment” portion of the agenda, no person shall be allowed to address the Mayor or Council except with the permission of the Mayor.
F. Any speaker wishing to use a visual aide (photographs, charts, documents, etc.) shall provide nine copies of said items to the City Clerk in advance of the meeting.
(Ord. 1835, passed 9-3-2019)