[Amended 3-23-1998 by Ord. No. 10-1998; 6-24-2002 by Ord. No. 29-2002; 1-26-2004 by Ord. No. 1-2004; 1-23-2006 by Ord. No. 6-2006; 1-23-2012 by Ord. No. 6-2012; 4-9-2012 by Ord. No. 43-2012; 8-26-2013 by Ord. No. 35-2013; 1-27-2014 by Ord. No. 6-2014; 1-27-2016 by Ord. No. 2-2016; 7-26-2021 by Ord. No. 56-2021; 4-24-2023 by Ord. No. 38-2023]
These rules are intended to promote an orderly system of public comment, to give every person an opportunity to be heard, and to ensure that no individual is embarrassed by exercising his right of free speech. Public comment is permitted at the regular meetings of Council which occur on the second and fourth Mondays of each month and public hearings. Public comment is not permitted at the City Council work sessions, committee meetings or Committee of the Whole meetings.
A. Regular meetings. Except as otherwise set forth in Section D. below, citizens desiring to address the Council at its regular meetings may do so by providing notice verbally or in writing by providing their name, address and the subject matter to be discussed to the City Clerk any time before 5:00 p.m. on the day of the scheduled meeting or by printing their name, address and the subject matter to be discussed on a sign-up sheet found on the podium in Council Chambers between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the day of the scheduled meeting. Citizens may also choose to submit written public comment via letter or email by sending a letter or email clearly marked “public comment” by 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
B. Special meetings. Except as otherwise set forth in Section D. below, citizens desiring to address the Council at its special meeting may do so by providing notice verbally or in writing by providing their name, address and the subject matter to be discussed to the City Clerk any time before 5:00 p.m. on the day of the scheduled meeting or by printing their name, address and the subject matter to be discussed on a sign-up sheet found on the podium in Council Chambers before the special meeting is called to order. Citizens may also choose to submit written public comment via letter or email by sending a letter or email clearly marked “public comment” by 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
C. Public hearings. Except as otherwise set forth in Section D. below, citizens desiring to address the Council at a public hearing may do so by providing notice verbally or in writing by providing their name, address and the subject matter to be discussed to the City Clerk any time before 5:00 p.m. on the day of the scheduled hearing. Any person who fails to sign in with the City Clerk shall not be permitted to speak until all those who signed in have done so. Those testifying must limit their comments to three minutes. No person who has previously spoken during the public hearing on a particular item may speak again unless all other persons desiring to give testimony at the public hearing have spoken. A person speaking for a second time shall limit his comments to not more than one minute. Citizens may also choose to submit written public comment via letter or email by sending a letter or email clearly marked “public comment” by 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
D. Public Comment Rules for Regular Meetings, Special Meetings and Public Hearings.
(1) Residents and/or taxpayers of the City who wish to make or submit public comment must preregister utilizing one of three (3) following options:
(a) By calling (610-655-6205) or emailing (council@readingpa.gov) the City Clerk's Office by 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting/hearing with your name, address and the subject matter or topic to be discussed. If you are not able to attend in-person, instructions to access the virtual meeting/hearing app or dial-in telephone number will be provided.
(b) By submitting written public comment to be read into the record at the meeting/hearing by submitting an email to council@readingpa.gov by 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting/hearing. The email message must clearly be marked as Public Comment.
(c) By registering in-person at the Council Chambers on the sign-up sheet found on the podium in Council Chambers on the day of the scheduled meeting/hearing, with your name, address and the subject matter or topic to be discussed.
(2) No person shall be permitted to speak who is not a resident or taxpayer of the City, except upon permission of the President of Council or a majority of City Council.
(3) Public comment will occur only during the Public Comment period listed on the meeting/hearing agenda at which time the Presiding Officer will recognize speakers and written comment that properly registered in the order received.
(4) All public comment shall be delivered from the podium and speakers may not approach the Council tables at any time.
(5) Those individuals registered to speak on agenda matters will be allotted no more than 5 minutes and those individuals registered to speak on non-agenda matters will be allotted no more than 3 minutes. The City Clerk will control a timer to monitor these time periods. When the alarm rings, a speaker must immediately end their comment. If a speaker refuses to comply, the microphone at the podium will be turned off and the next speaker will be given the floor. These time periods also apply to written comments that are being read into the record such that any written comment may only be read into the record for a 5-minute period for agenda items and a 3-minute period for non-agenda items. The President of Council or a majority of Council may grant an additional period of time in their discretion.
(6) No speaker shall register for an "agenda" matter and then utilize the extra-allotted time for "non-agenda" matters. If a speaker registers for both "agenda" and "non-agenda" matters, the individual will be allotted no more than 3 minutes.
(7) If anyone is present in a group or association, each such group should designate a spokesperson to address the City Council on the group's collective behalf in order to avoid repetitive public comments.
(8) Comments posted in Zoom Chat and on Facebook are not considered public comment and will not be read into the record of the meeting/hearing or addressed by City Council.
(9) All public comment must be directed to Council as a body and not to any individual Council member or public or elected official in attendance. Public comment is an opportunity to make a statement only. It is not designed for questioning and there is no guarantee or requirement for a question presented during public comment to be answered or responded to.
(10) Each speaker shall speak clearly and slowly so that accurate minutes may be recorded.
(11) No speaker shall register or speak more than once at a meeting.
(12) A speaker shall not comment in a manner that is disruptive, scandalous, impertinent, redundant, rude, unruly, personally offensive, irrelevant to the registered topic, done for the purpose of preventing the conduct of the business of the meeting or promotion of candidates at an upcoming election, or otherwise in disregard to the rules of order or decorum. Any such comment will not be accepted or read into the record.
(13) In the event that a speaker or written comment violates any of these rules, that speaker or written comment will be deemed to have forfeited their right to public comment and the President of Council or a majority of City Council may direct the City Clerk to turn off the microphone or cease reading the comment into the record, recess the meeting/hearing, have the individual removed from Council Chambers and/or cited.
(14) All persons in attendance are expected to conduct themselves in a responsible and respectful manner that does not disrupt the meeting. Clapping, calling out, cheering or interrupting speakers or the discussions of City Council during or after a public comment is not permitted. Those wishing to have conversations should do so in the hall outside Council Chambers in a low speaking voice.