§ 2-35. Rules of courtesy for persons attending.

(a)

Addressing the city council.

(1)

General rules.

a.

Those signed up to speak shall be called upon in the order that they have registered.

b.

No personal attacks shall be allowed by any speaker.

c.

The mayor or presiding officer may, at any time and at his/her discretion, increase or reduce the time a person has to address the city council. At any time during a presentation of the speaker, any councilmember may request the presiding officer to extend the time limit of the speaker.

d.

A person signed up to speak has three (3) minutes to speak, with a nine-minute maximum time limit for any one (1) meeting.

e.

Organizations have a total of nine (9) minutes to address the city council. Three (3) persons must register on behalf of an organization in order for the organization to be allotted nine (9) minutes to speak.

f.

Persons registering on behalf of or standing with an organization may not be permitted an additional three (3) minutes to speak if the organization has already been allocated nine (9) minutes to address the city council.

g.

Persons/organizations must sign in person by the specified deadline in order to be recognized to speak.

h.

Persons registered to speak must be present in order to give their time to another registered speaker. No time may be given to a person not registered to speak.

i.

In each instance in which a person or organization is provided an opportunity to address the city council, said person or organization may submit written testimony in support of or opposition to a particular agenda item or on a topic that could be discussed during "Citizens to be Heard" in lieu of presenting verbal testimony, provided that such written testimony is submitted by the deadlines and could otherwise be read into the record during the timeframes provided in this Code.

(2)

Regular meetings (Thursdays). Any person wishing to address the council on one or more items on the agenda must sign the register provided by the city clerk no later than 9:00 a.m. of the day of the council meeting, indicating the item(s) the person wishes to address.

(3)

Work sessions (Wednesdays)—Citizens to be heard. Following the work session, persons may address the city council on any topic related to city business. Any person wishing to do so must sign the register provided by the city clerk no later than 6:00 p.m. of the day of the work session, indicating the subject the person wishes to address. Online registration is available from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on the day of the meeting.

(4)

[Ceremonial items.] Ceremonial items will be presented at the time specified on the city council agenda.

(b)

Disturbances. No person attending any council meeting shall delay, interrupt or disrupt the proceedings or refuse to obey the orders of the chair. Persons attending shall remain seated except the person at the floor microphone with permission of the chair.

(c)

General conduct. Persons in attendance shall refrain from smoking or eating or drinking while in the council chamber, however, council members and staff shall be allowed to drink beverages during council meetings. Persons in attendance shall not carry signs, placards or other items which block the view of those behind them.

(d)

Fire safety. Citizens are welcome and invited to attend council meetings. However, the number admitted shall be limited to the fire safety capacity of the council chamber. Overflow crowds may follow the proceedings via television in adjacent facilities provided by the city.

(Ord. No. 80172, § 2, 5-12-94; Ord. No. 87687, § 1, 4-16-98; Ord. No. 93921, §§ 1, 2, 5-10-01; Ord. No. 97760, § 1, 6-12-03; Ord. No. 100280, § 1, 1-13-05; Ord. No. 101069, § 3, 6-23-05; Ord. No. 2008-08-21-0726, § 1, 8-21-08; Ord. No. 2011-01-20-0046, § 1, 1-20-11)