(A) All public meetings conducted by any board or commission of the city pursuant to this subchapter shall be conducted in accordance with the following rules and regulations for the conduct of such meetings, unless such rules and regulations are waived by a majority of the members of such a board or commission:
(1) Pursuant to the Open Meetings Act (ILCS Ch. 5, Act 120, § 2.06(g)), any person shall be permitted an opportunity to address any board or commission of the city under the rules set forth in this division (A);
(2) All persons wishing to address a board or commission at a regular or special meeting of such board or commission may do so if the matter relates to an item on the agenda for the meeting, so long as any comments are made only during the time such agenda item is to be discussed;
(3) Any person who is invited to appear before any board or commission, including but not limited to, any consultant, may address the board or commission in accordance with the rules established in this division (A);
(4) Any person wishing to address any board or commission shall state his or her name and address, and shall direct all comments only to the presiding officer;
(5) No person wishing to address any board or commission shall engage in a debate or direct threats or personal attacks at such board or commission, any staff member, or any other speaker or member of the audience present at a meeting;
(6) Members of the audience at a meeting shall refrain from applauding, cheering, booing or other demonstrations during or at the conclusion of remarks made by any speaker addressing any board or commission;
(7) Before any member of the public addresses any board or commission, the presiding officer may impose reasonable limits on the time allowed for each speaker, giving consideration to the probable number of speakers and to the hour; provided that in no event shall any person addressing any board or commission at a meeting be permitted to speak for more than five minutes without the express permission of a majority of such board or commission;
(8) The presiding officer may limit repetitive statements and require that, whenever possible, groups seeking to address a board or commission shall consolidate their comments and avoid repetition by using representative speakers on their behalf;
(9) The presiding officer may limit irrelevant, immaterial or inappropriate comments or statements;
(10) The presiding officer shall have the right to halt or suspend public comments if the rules established in this division (A) are not being followed, or if any ruling of such presiding officer is ignored or violated; and
(11) The public shall have no right to address a board or commission at any regular or special meeting that is closed to the public in accordance with the requirements of the Open Meeting Act.
(B) All public hearings that any board or commission is required by law to conduct on behalf of the city shall be conducted in accordance with the rules for public hearings established in § 38.01.
(Ord. 03-01, passed 5-13-03; Am. Ord. 06-39, passed 1-23-07; Am. Ord. 10-41, passed 2-8-11)