§ 30.03 PUBLIC MEETING SPEAKING RULES.
   Public comment. Pursuant to the city’s rule-making authority set forth in the Illinois Open Meetings Act, the rules governing public comment at all Council meetings of the Mayor and Aldermen of this city shall be as follows:
   (A)   There shall be a public comment period listed as a “Public” item on each meeting agenda for all Council meetings of the Mayor and Aldermen of the city;
   (B)   All persons wishing to address the Council and comment upon city business during that public comment period at such Council meetings shall complete the sign-in sheet available at the meeting;
   (C)   Only those persons who have filled out such a speaker’s sign-in sheet will thereafter be called to the podium, or other location as designated by the Mayor, during the public comment period to address the Council and comment upon city business although the Mayor may call on others as he or she deems appropriate;
   (D)   All those speakers called to speak shall first identify themselves, and if they choose, give their residential address by street, town, village or city, before they offer any comment to the Council;
   (E)   Speakers shall limit their commentary to five minutes. Should any speaker wish to offer further comment to the Council beyond the time allotted, they may tender such further comments to written form to the Deputy Clerk;
   (F)   The Mayor shall have the authority, in his or her sole discretion, to extend the time to speak;
   (G)   The City Council, upon motion, second and approval, shall have the authority to extend the time to speak as provided in said motion;
   (H)   Speakers shall relate their commentary to matters of city business;
   (I)   Speakers shall at all times address the Council, not the audience;
   (J)   Speakers shall offer their commentary only from the podium;
   (K)   Speakers shall confine their remarks to commentary;
   (L)   Speakers shall not use their commentary in an attempt to interrogate Council members nor in an attempt to force the body to engage in debate;
   (M)   Speakers shall return to their seat or leave the meeting room at the end of their remarks;
   (N)   Speakers shall refrain from unduly repetitious commentary;
   (O)   Speakers shall not employ profane or threatening language nor shall they engage in any personal attacks;
   (P)   Speakers shall respect both the decorum of the public meeting and the authority of the Mayor as the Council’s presiding officer; and
   (Q)   Speakers whose behavior disrupt the conduct of the public meeting or threaten the public safety are subject to removal from the meeting by the Sergeant at Arms or individual designated by the Mayor upon a finding by the Mayor that the speaker’s behavior has violated this rule.
(Ord. 18-13, passed 7-2-18)