(a) Councilmembers. While the Council is in session, the members shall preserve order and decorum, and a member shall neither, by conversation or otherwise, delay or interrupt the proceedings nor disturb any member while speaking nor refuse to obey the orders of the presiding officer.
(b) Employees. City staff shall observe the same rules of order and decorum.
(c) Persons addressing the Council. Any person making impertinent or slanderous remarks or who becomes disruptive while addressing the Council, shall be called to order by the Mayor and if such conduct continues, may, at the discretion of the Mayor, be ordered barred from the Council Chamber during that meeting.
(d) Members of the audience. Any person in the audience who engages in disorderly conduct, such as hand clapping, stamping of feet, whistling, using profane language, yelling and similar demonstrations, which conduct disturbs the peace and good order of the meeting, or who refuses to comply with the lawful orders of the Mayor, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon instructions from the Mayor, it shall be the duty of the sergeant-at-arms to remove any such person from the Council Chamber and to place him/her under arrest.
(e) Decorum guidelines. At the Mayor's discretion, the following guidelines should be followed until decorum is observed:
Person(s) addressing the Council.
1. State: "Please speak to matters within the City's jurisdiction."
2. Turn off public lectern.
3. Quickly bang gavel loudly 2-3 times.
4. State: "Please speak to matters within this jurisdiction. Outbursts or disruptions will not be tolerated. If this behavior continues, this meeting will be recessed until decorum is observed.”
If disruption continues:
5. State: "We have a member(s) of the public who are being disruptive, therefore, I will call a recess until decorum is observed."
6. City Council and Staff exit to Conference Room.
7. Once decorum is observed.
8. Return to Chambers.
Member(s) of the audience.
1. Quickly bang gavel loudly 2-3 times.
2. State: "Outbursts or disruptions will not be tolerated. Please cease and desist. If this behavior continues, this meeting will be recessed until decorum is observed."
If disruption continues:
3. State: "We have a member(s) of the public who are being disruptive, therefore I will call a recess until decorum is observed."
4. City Council and Staff exit to Conference Room.
5. Once decorum is observed.
6. Return to Chambers.
If behavior continues after calling a recess, the individual(s) may be removed. If disruption continues, order the meeting room cleared and continue in session. Ask the sergeant-at-arms to clear the public from the Chambers. Representatives of the press or other news media, except those participating in the disturbance, shall be allowed to attend any session held pursuant to this section.
(f) Persons authorized to be within the City Council/staff dais area. No person, except members of the Council and the City staff, shall be permitted within the City Council/staff dais area without the consent of the Mayor.
(§ 1, Ord. 868-NS, eff. September 18, 1984, as amended by § 5, Ord. 1711-NS, eff. 5-5-2023)