Title
Resolution to Approve Amendments to the Council Rules
Memorandum
These amendments revise Council Rule 5 and 7 regarding public commentary. All public commentary times during the meeting shall be replaced with a general Public Commentary time near the beginning of the agenda which can be a maximum of 45 minutes, with additional time as needed toward the end of the meeting.
Any person who wishes to speak to the Council during this time shall be required to sign up with the City Clerk’s Office prior to the meeting. Any person who contacts the Clerk’s Office by 1:00 p.m. on the date of a meeting will be placed in random order within one of the following prioritized categories:
1. Persons wishing to address Council on agenda items who have not spoken at the previous two meetings
2. Other persons wishing to address Council on agenda items
3. Persons wishing to address Council on items not on the agenda who have not spoken at the previous two meetings
4. Persons wishing to address Council on any other matter
Those that contact the Clerk’s Office between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. shall be placed in the order received at the end of the entire prioritized list. Speakers shall be called during Public Commentary in order by priority group and then from the remaining list. If all speakers who have signed up cannot be heard within the 45 minutes allowed for Public Commentary then remaining speakers will be heard during Public Commentary - Continued near the end of the agenda.
This amendment also eliminates Councilmember Communications at the end of the agenda and revised the maximum time for this communication at the beginning of the agenda from two to three minutes.
These Council Rule amendments were recommended by the Council Administrative Committee on October 11, 2022.
Staff
Prepared by: Kevin McDonald, Chief Deputy City Attorney
Reviewed by: Atleen Kaur, City Attorney
Body
Whereas, It is a goal of the City Council to improve the way Council works together as a body, modeling civil discourse for our community, building trust in local government, and ensuring meetings are accessible to the public; and
Whereas, The Council Administrative Committee has recommended revisions to City Council Rule 5 and Rule 7 regarding public comment;
RESOLVED, That the City Council adopts the attached amendments to the Council
Rules.
Sponsored by: Council Administration Committee