Title
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 220.03(g) OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES TO REDEFINE THE PROCESS AND RULES FOR ADDRESSING COUNCIL DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
Brief Description: This amendment expressly broadens the categories of individuals who may be recognized to address City Council during the Public Comment to include City residents, landowners, and certain authorized representatives of businesses with a physical location in the City.
Body
Legislative History
None
Purpose & Explanation
Section 3.02 of the City Charter provides that any resident of the City shall have the right to speak at City Council meetings where legislative action is to be taken. The Charter is silent on whether other members of the public may speak and has historically been understood to allow only residents to address Council.
In addition, Section 220.03(g) of the Codified Ordinances currently provides that no person shall address Council until recognized by the chair, asks all speakers to limit their presentations to five minutes, permits a speaker to be heard for an additional two minutes subject to the ruling of the chair, and provides that a person exhibiting disorderly behavior may be asked by the Mayor to be seated or removed from the meeting. The current rule does not identify which members of the public may be recognized to address Council.
This legislation makes two changes to the rule. First, it provides that the members of the public who may be recognized to address Council include City residents (individuals whose principal place of residence is in the City), landowners, and authorized representatives of businesses with a physical location in the City. Second, it replaces the reference to the “Mayor” with the “chair,” consistent with the existing requirement that speakers be recognized by the chair, so that whoever is presiding over the meeting, whether the Mayor or another presiding officer, may address disorderly behavior.
To be clear, because the amendment preserves the right of every resident to speak, as guaranteed by Section 3.02 of the Charter, while extending the opportunity to address Council to landowners and representatives of businesses located in the City, it is consistent with the Charter.
Legal Authority for Proposed Legislation
Pursuant to Charter Section 6.04:
Competitively bid and advertised for three consecutive weeks; bid tab attached: [Yes/No/NA])
Joint or Cooperative Purchase Program
Professional Services
X Other [provide explanation] N/A
Fiscal Impact
Currently Budgeted (Account #, $)
Supplemental Appropriation Required (Account #, $)
X Appropriation Not Required.
Does this legislation require use of an emergency clause?
Yes [if so, explain why]
X No
Recommendation
Suggested Action
Council Member Weinstein recommends that City Council approve this Ordinance amending Section 220.03(g) of the Codified Ordinances to identify the members of the public who may be recognized to address Council during public comment.
Submitted by,
Amanda Weinstein, Council Member