(a) Recognition to speak. Every Councilmember desiring to speak shall first address the Mayor and be recognized by such. The member shall solely discuss the question under debate, avoiding personalities and indecorous language.
(b) Questions to staff. Every Councilmember desiring to question the City staff, after recognition by the Mayor, shall address the questions to the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Clerk, City Attorney or appropriate department head who shall be entitled either to answer or designate a member of staff for that purpose.
(c) Interruption. A Councilmember, once recognized, shall not be interrupted when speaking unless called to order by the Mayor or a point of order or personal privilege is raised by another Councilmember. If a Councilmember, while speaking, is called to order, the member shall cease speaking until the question of order is determined. Members of the City staff, after recognition by the Mayor, shall hold the floor until the completion of their remarks or until recognition is withdrawn by the presiding officer.
(d) Points of order. The Mayor shall determine all “points of order” subject to the right of any Councilmember to appeal the Mayor’s decision to the Council. If an appeal is taken, the question shall be, “Shall the decision of the Mayor be sustained?” A majority vote of those Councilmembers present shall conclusively determine such question of order.
(e) Point of personal privilege. The right of a Councilmember to address the Council on a question of personal privilege shall be limited to cases in which the member’s integrity, character or motives are questioned. A Councilmember raising a point of personal privilege may interrupt another Councilmember who has the floor only if the Mayor recognizes the privilege.
(f) Privilege of closing the debate. The Councilmember moving the adoption of an ordinance, resolution, or motion shall have the privilege of making the closing remarks during debate.
(g) Limitation of debate. To encourage the full participation of all members of the Council, no Councilmember or Councilmembers shall be permitted to monopolize the discussion of the question. If a Councilmember has already spoken and other Councilmembers wish to speak, the latter Councilmembers should be recognized in preference to the Councilmember who has already spoken. However, if no other Councilmembers seek recognition, the Mayor may recognize the Councilmember who has already spoken.
(§ 1, Ord. 868-NS, eff. September 18. 1984, as amended by § 3, Ord. 1231-NS, eff. April 25, 1995, and § 3, Ord. 1711-NS, eff. 5-5-2023)