(A) While the City Commission is in session, the members thereof and the public present in the Commission chambers shall not, by conversation or otherwise, delay or interrupt the proceeding nor the peace of the Commission.
(B) No person shall willfully interrupt, delay or disturb the proceedings or meeting of the City Commission or any city board.
(C) Only those individuals recognized by the Mayor are authorized to speak to the Commission or to a city board. All other speech, remarks, or comments are unauthorized.
(D) Unauthorized speech, remarks, comments, stamping of feet, whistles, yells and similar actions or demonstrations constitute an interruption to public meetings, and are prohibited.
(E) All persons attending any city meeting shall render inaudible any beepers, cellular telephones, or other mechanical or electronic devices while such meeting is in session.
(F) The Mayor shall preserve strict order and decorum at all meetings.
(G) The Chief of Police or such member or members of the Police Department as the Chief may designate shall be sergeant-at-arms at the regular and special meetings of the City Commission or board. The sergeant-at-arms shall carry out orders and instructions given by the Mayor officer or by a majority of the City Commission or board present for the purpose of maintaining order and decorum at the city commission meetings.
(H) Public participation at the city commission meetings shall be in the following manner:
(1) Members of the public may speak only at times designated by the mayor. Public speaking at City Commission workshops shall be permitted at the discretion of the Mayor.
(2) If a member of the public is designated to speak on an item by the Mayor, the member of the public shall step to the floor microphone and state her/his name and address in an audible tone for the Clerk's record.
(3) Remarks shall be limited to the question(s) under discussion, unless such remarks come during the public participation section of the meeting pursuant to § 30.15(D) of the city's Code of Ordinances. Speakers will be limited to three minutes during this time. The Mayor may further reasonably limit the time period provided for public comment, as necessary, in order to ensure that all members of the public seeking to speak are afforded an opportunity to do so in a timely manner. Members of the public are permitted and encouraged to submit written testimony to the City Clerk, which shall become part of the official public record.
(4) Public hearings consist of those agenda items where the public may participate. The public shall speak only on the agendized subject. Speaking time for members of the public is limited to three minutes for any particular topic. Additional time may be added by the City Commission. Members of the public shall not delegate or give their time, or any portion there of, to another party. For a public hearing, the City Commission may set an aggregate time limit for public comment. When an issue has been designated as quasi-judicial, public remarks shall only be heard during a quasi-judicial hearing that has been properly noticed for that matter.
(5) During public participation any member of the public may speak to any issue that is not on the agenda for public hearing during the City Commission meeting, pursuant to § 30.15(D) of the city's Code of Ordinances.
(6) Any person making disruptive, impertinent or slanderous remarks, or who shall become boisterous while addressing the City Commission and refuses to stop may be requested to leave the meeting by the Mayor, pursuant to divisions (I)(1) and (I)(2).
(7) Persons whose allotted time to speak has expired shall be so advised by the Mayor to conclude. Cumulative and repetitive testimony should be avoided on any matter. Persons of the same position as the previous speaker may simply state their names, address and the positions with which they agree. Members of the public are permitted and encouraged to submit written testimony to the City Clerk in advance of a City Commission meeting, which shall become part of the official public record.
(I) Any person who causes a delay or interruption of the meeting shall be warned by the Mayor that the conduct is interfering with the order of the meeting and shall be given the opportunity to cease the conduct that constitutes a delay or interruption.
(1) If the individual fails to cease the offending conduct and continues interrupting the meeting, the individual shall be removed from the meeting room if the sergeant-at-arms is so directed by the Mayor, and such person shall be barred from further audience for the remainder of the meeting.
(2) In case the Mayor shall fail to act, any member of the City Commission may move to require the Mayor to act to enforce the rules, and the affirmative vote of the majority of the City Commission or board shall require the Mayor to act.
(J) Any person who, at a City Commission or board meeting, willfully interrupts or disturbs a City Commission or board meeting in violation of F.S. § 871.01, entitled "Disturbing Schools and Religious and Other Assemblies," is subject to arrest by those law enforcement officers present.
(`69 Code, S 2-33) (Ord. 162, passed 5-1-67; Am. Ord. 1717, passed 5-16-12)