Rule 12. Public Participation
At regular and special meetings of the Council and of Council committees, citizens shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard under such rules and regulations as the Council may prescribe.
Any person desiring to address Council during a public meeting shall first secure the permission of the Presiding Officer to do so. Priority in speaking shall be given to those presenting to the Clerk or Designee a written request to address Council.
Each person addressing Council shall rise, give their name and address in an audible tone of voice for the record and, unless further time is granted by Council, shall limit their address to five minutes. All remarks shall be addressed to Council as a body, to any Member thereof or to the administration or any Member thereof. Speakers shall be courteous in their language and avoid personalities.
No person, other than Council, the administration and the person having the floor, shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, either directly or through a Member of Council, without the permission of the Presiding Officer. No questions shall be asked of a Member of Council or by a Member of Council except through the Presiding Officer.
Any person desiring to be heard by a committee of Council on any matter then under consideration may, by consent of such committee, be given an opportunity to be heard, for a limited time, as determined by the chair of said committee at each meeting. The process for public participation at a committee meeting shall follow the process for Council meetings.