I-2 - Council_Rules_ FINAL 2

K. Motions for Approval L. Reports to be Received/Filed M. Reports from City Personnel N. Closed Session (as needed) O. Adjournment Rule 18. Presiding Officer's Right to Speak Last. The Presiding Officer has the right to close debate and speak last on any item. Section V. Public Participation Rule 19. Public’s Right to Address Council. Persons other than Council Members shall be permitted to address the Council only upon specific Agenda items, and only at Formal Council meetings. No public comment is allowed at Council Work Session meetings unless the person(s) is directly invited by the Mayor or a majority of Council. Rule 20. Manner of Addressing Council. At each Formal Council meeting, a person desiring to address the Council shall step to the podium, state their name, the city or town where they reside, and any group they represent, and speak clearly. They shall also legibly write their full name and city or town of residence on the speaker log. At all public hearings, each speaker who has a special right to object by virtue of their address shall be required to provide their address and group affiliation (if any). Rule 21. Time Limit on Public Comments. Persons wishing to address Council shall be limited to no more than three minutes speaking time on any Agenda item on which the public is allowed to speak, unless additional or less time is determined by the Presiding Officer, based on the number of persons wishing to speak and/or the length of the Council meeting. Total public input on any agenda item can be further limited to a fixed period by the Presiding Officer. A majority vote of the Council may alter the time limitations of this rule. For planning and zoning matters, applicants and/or their representatives shall not be subject to this time limitation but may instead have reasonable time limits imposed by the Presiding Officer. Rule 22. Comments to Be Germane. The Presiding Officer shall rule on the germaneness of public comments. While Council absolutely respects the public’s First Amendment rights when addressing Council, speakers are most persuasive when they make substantive arguments supported by facts. Persons making non-germane remarks during any portion of the meeting or engaging in any action that impedes the orderly conduct of a Council meeting shall not be recognized by the Presiding Officer during the remainder of the meeting. Arguing with the Presiding Officer about any determination will be considered per se disruptive. Citizens making personal, repetitive, slanderous, or disruptive remarks or engaging in any action that otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of a council meeting shall not be recognized by the presiding officer during the remainder of the meeting. To ensure the meeting is conducted orderly and free from interference or interruption, the presiding officer is vested with exclusive discretion to review and determine whether remarks or actions meet any prohibited terms of this rule. Rule 23. Rules of Conduct. The following rules are adopted for the conduct of those attending Council meetings: 1. Only persons recognized by the Presiding Officer will be allowed to speak. The Council 3