WS - D - Council Procedure Rules - DRAFT

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. Public Comments to Be Germane. Public comments must relate directly to the subject under consideration. 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. 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. Arguing with the Presiding Officer about any determination will be considered per se disruptive. Citizen comments must be directed to the subject under consideration. The presiding officer shall rule on the germaneness of citizen comments. 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. Without limitation, arguing with the presiding officer about any determination will be considered per se disruptive. Persons who make or attempt to make non-germane remarks during any portion of the meeting shall not be recognized by the presiding officer during the remainder of the meeting. Rule 23. Rules of Conduct. The following rules are adopted for the conduct of those attending Council meetings: • Only persons recognized by the Presiding Officer will be allowed to speak. The Council wishes to hear from members of the public as part of respectful, civil debate and ensure that members of the public do not feel bullied or intimidated. These rules are intended to promote an orderly and dignified system of conducting a public meeting, to give every interested person an opportunity to be heard without being chilled from doing so, and to ensure that no individual is deprived of their right to petition their government. Applause is permitted following proclamations and special recognitions. • All remarks must be addressed to the Council as a body, and not toward any City employee or Council Member individually. • Public comment is intended so that members of the public may be heard by Council. In order to comply with open meetings laws and proper meeting procedure, Council cannot engage in discussion or debate until the appropriate time for Council discussion. However, once the commenter has left the podium, Council may ask staff to respond to a concern or question posed by the public, or to follow up with the speaker. • Persons may address each agenda item only once. • Organized groups that wish to make a presentation longer than the public comment period time allows may consolidate the speaking time of persons who are present and 4