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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Protests raised over shorter limits on public comments at Flint City Council meetings
Ron Fonger | rfonger1@mlive.com By Ron Fonger | rfonger1@mlive.com
on April 04, 2014 at 5:26 PM
FLINT, MI -- Emergency manager Darnell Earley has issued an executive order cutting back the time citizens can air their grievances at City Council meetings and restricting those comments until the close of future meetings.
"This order is for the purpose of ensuring the business of the city of Flint conducted at City Council meetings occurs in an orderly, dignified and efficient manner, reflecting the level of professionalism deserved by council members, city officials, staff and the public," Earley's April 1 order says.
The council hasn't met since the order was issued, but the citizen group Democracy Defense League protested the change inside City Hall today, April 4.
"The change to (move) public comments from the beginning to after the business has already been conducted doesn't make sense," said Paul Jordan, who wore masking tape across this mouth as part of the silent protest.
Early said during a press briefing today that his latest order will allow everyone to speak and is designed to produce more efficient meetings that don't stretch on for unneeded hours.
"This is consistent with the prevalent practice of similar municipalities, and is intended to ensure that members of the public who sacrifice their free time to attend meetings are give a reasonable opportunity to address council without having to wait an unnecessarily extensive period of time to do so," the order says.
"It provides the public with the chance to express themselves," Earley said. "These are not normal times in the city of Flint ... Our first priority is to take care of the business of the city of Flint."
This week's changes in the council meetings are the second time in a month that Earley has used an order in an effort to streamline council meetings.
In early March, he signed an order limiting city council members to five minutes each to speak at the end of council meetings in order to make referrals, respond to public comment or to discuss city issues.
Councilman Eric Mays said Earley's latest order is flawed because it keeps residents from speaking on issues that council members are preparing to vote on.
"Who cares how long we listen to the public? Why would he care?" Mays asked. "You should let people chime in before we take a vote ... These people have the right to chime in, and I have the right to hear them."
Mays said he may ask other council members to help him at the next council meeting Monday, April 7, as he tries to use Robert's Rules of Order to allow residents to speak before votes by council.
Before he was elected to the council, Mays was cited for "disrupting a meeting of a public body" in 2012 after he refused to stop speaking at a public hearing at City Hall.
MLive-The Flint Journal could not immediately reach council President Scott Kincaid for comment. |
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Sat Apr 05, 2014 12:04 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Council previously made their own council rules. Each council person decided whether or not to follow their own rules and if it suited a councilman, they violated the rules to castigate their critics.
Most council persons have their minds made up before they get to the meeting. Decisions should be made on facts and ethical considerations, and not emotions. What Flint really needs is a strong ethics policy and a mechanism for enforcement of that policy. |
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Sat Apr 05, 2014 12:09 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Tacoma Washington
Citizen Presentation Guidelines for City Council Meetings
You may not promote or oppose any candidate for public office or any ballot proposition.
You may not use this time to advertise. Announcements of public events can be made through the Council’s proclamations process.
Speakers who disturb the orderly conduct of the meeting may forfeit their right to address the Council and be asked to leave the Council meeting.
Meetings will follow the Rules of Procedure of the Council of the City of Tacoma and/or Robert’s Rules of Order.
Procedures for speaking at a regular City Council Meeting:
The Public Comment period is reserved for citizen testimony on items on the agenda.
Comments will not be accepted on ordinances or communication items forwarded to the Council by the Hearing Examiner for which a public hearing has already been held. The Clerk will announce these items at each meeting prior to Public Comment.
Comments will be limited to five minutes, unless otherwise announced by the presiding officer.
Speakers may address the Council once during the Public Comment period.
Please write your name on the sign-in sheet on the table at the back of the Council Chambers.
The Mayor or presiding officer will begin the Public Comment period by calling names from the sign-in sheet. If you did not place your name on the sign-in sheet, you may approach the podium following those that signed in.
You should approach the podium and identify yourself and topic(s) on the agenda you will address for the public record. Please address all remarks to the Council as a whole.
The Council may allow testimony on a resolution or ordinance at a time other than the Public Comment period if the item is new or has substantially changed.
You also may provide the Council with written comments or materials (10 copies).
You may also address the Council under Citizens’ Forum at the Council meeting on the second Tuesday of each month or at any public hearings.
Procedures for speaking at Citizens’ Forum
Citizens’ Forum occurs during the regular business meeting on the second Tuesday of each month and provides an opportunity for citizens to speak on items under the City Council’s jurisdiction that are not on that evening’s agenda.
You may speak up to three minutes or the time limit determined by the Mayor or presiding officer.
Please write your name on the sign-in sheet on the table at the back of the Council Chambers.
The Mayor or presiding officer will begin the Citizens’ Forum period by calling names from the sign-in sheet. If you did not place your name on the sign-in sheet, you may approach the podium following those that signed in.
You should approach the podium and identify yourself and topic(s) you will address for the public record. Please address all remarks to the Council as a whole.
Your comments during the Public Comment period or any public hearing do not preclude you from speaking during Citizens’ Forum.
Contact Us
City Clerk’s Office
(253) 591-5505
City Council Rules of Procedure
Individuals can submit written testimony at City Council meetings, public hearings or Council Committees, Boards, and Commissions. |
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Sat Apr 05, 2014 12:13 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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San Marcos Texas
Citizen Comments
The City Council welcomes written and oral comments from Citizens at regular meetings.
Written Comments
Citizens may use the comment sheets provided in the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall. Comments sheets submitted to the City Clerk by 5:45 p.m. on the day of the Council meeting will be copied and distributed to the Council Members. A Citizen who wishes to submit other written material should submit the material to the City Clerk for distribution to Council Members and designated Staff.
30-Minute Citizen Comment Period
Citizens wishing to speak must sign in at the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall during regular business hours, or from 8:00 am – 5:45 pm prior to the meeting. Speakers will have one opportunity to speak during the time period, and they must observe the three minute time limit. If a Citizen speaks during the Citizen Comment Period on a topic listed on the agenda, including a public hearing topic, they cannot speak again on the public hearing item. Inquires from speakers about matters not listed on the agenda will either be directed to the Staff or placed on a future agenda for Council to consider.
Or your form maybe:
Emailed to citizencomment@sanmarcostx.gov
Or
Faxed to 855.246.9100 and will be accepted up to the meeting date at 5:45 pm.
Forms for speaking during City Council Meetings:
Speaking during 30 Minute Citizen Comment Period
Speaking by during a Public Hearing item
Rules of Decorum for City Council Meetings
Rules of Decorum
City Code Section 2.045 establishes Rules of Decorum for City Council Meetings. Copies of this section are available in the City Clerk’s Office.
Purposes
The purposes of the Rules of Decorum are as follows:
To ensure that meetings of the City Council are conducted in a way that allows the business of the City to be effectively conducted.
To ensure that members of the public who attend meetings of the City Council can be heard in a fair, impartial and respectful manner.
To ensure that meetings of the City Council are conducted in a way that is open to all viewpoints, yet free from abusive, distracting or intimidating behavior.
To ensure that the rules governing decorum at meetings of the City Council are understood by persons attending the meetings.
Rules for Speakers
Members of the public may address the City Council at the following times during a meeting:
During Citizen Comment Period, if such a period is on the agenda for the meeting.
During a public hearing on an agenda item.
At other times with the permission of the presiding officer.
Speakers must address all comments and questions to the presiding officer.
Speakers must limit their comments to three minutes.
Inquiries from speakers about matters not listed on the agenda will either be directed to the Staff or placed on a future agenda for Council consideration.
Rules for Members of the Public
Members of the public shall not engage in any of the following in the meeting room during a City Council meeting:
Shouting, unruly behavior, distracting side conversations, or speaking out when another person is talking.
Defamation, intimidation, personal affronts, profanity, or threats of violence.
Audible use of phones, pagers, radios, computers or other electronic equipment.
Booing, hissing, foot stomping, parading, singing or other similar behavior that impedes or disrupts the orderly conduct of the meeting.
Enforcement of Rules
The Rules of Decorum will be enforced in the following manner:
The presiding officer will request that a person who is violating a rule cease the violation.
If the violation continues, the presiding officer will warn the person that he or she will be required to leave the meeting room if the violation continues.
If the violation continues, the presiding officer will order the person to leave the meeting room.
If the person does not leave the meeting room, the presiding officer may order any peace officer at the meeting to remove the person from the meeting room.
It is unlawful for any person to intentionally or knowingly resist removal from a meeting room by a peace officer in the course of enforcing the rules.
Any person violating any provision of the Rules of Decorum commits a misdemeanor and is subject to a fine of up to $500 as provided in Section 1.015 of the San Marcos City Code upon conviction. |
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Sat Apr 05, 2014 12:17 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Scottsdale Arizona
Meeting Procedures
In 2011, the Scottsdale City Council adopted “Rules of Council Procedure” to provide a written process for conducting official Council business. The adopted rules may be downloaded here (pdf/232kb/17pp).
Meeting Decorum
Citizens attending Council meetings are required to observe the same rules of order and decorum applicable to members of the Council and staff. Unauthorized remarks or demonstrations from members of the audience, such as personal remarks, applause, yells, outbursts, and/or other disruptions are not permitted.
Public Participation
The Council values citizen input and, unless otherwise noted on the agenda, provides opportunities for citizens to speak on Consent, Regular, and Mayor and Council items during public meetings. Persons wishing to speak at a Council Meeting must complete a Request to Speak card and submit it to the City Clerk before public testimony begins on the item. Citizens who do not wish to address the Council in person may submit written comments by completing a Written Comment card.
There are two opportunities for citizens to address the Council regarding items that are not listed on the agenda (Public Comment). Public Comment is limited to a total of 15 minutes at the beginning and 15 minutes at the end of the meeting. The Council will listen to your remarks, but state law prohibits the Council from discussing or taking action on an item that is not listed on the agenda.
Citizen Petitions
Citizen petitions may be submitted by a citizen of the City at any Regular Council meeting during the first or the second Public Comment period. A Request to Speak card must be submitted to the City Clerk, together with the original, signed petition(s), before the Mayor announces the second Public Comment period. There is no limit on the number of petitions a citizen may submit; however, each citizen is limited to a total time of three minutes to present and speak to his/her petition(s).
Requests for Accommodation
Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (480) 312-2412. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange accommodation.
The Scottsdale Mayor and Council thank you for your interest in Scottsdale City government. If you have questions about the Council Meeting agendas or schedule, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 480-312-2412. |
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Sat Apr 05, 2014 12:21 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Public Comment at Council Meetings
All meetings are open to the public and citizens are encouraged to attend, observe, record and comment on Council actions. Typically, Council meetings are either Regular Sessions or Committees of the Whole. The type of meeting governs the type of public comment a citizen may make.
Regular Sessions
Most Public Comment that is general in nature occurs during Regular Session. During Regular Sessions, the Council takes formal action on a piece of legislation - such as reading a measure into the record and issuing a final vote. During a Regular Session, the public may make comments to the Council in two distinct ways: first, the public may comment during the "Public Comment" sections of the Agenda only on items not listed on the Agenda; secondly, the public may comment on Agenda items listed for final vote. Regular Sessions occur on 1st & 3rd Wednesdays.
► When Making a Public Comment --
Each person addressing the Council shall first give her/his name for the record. Each person making a public comment is limited to
five minutes. Kindly keep comments business-like & avoid foul language.
Bloomingdale Indiana
Committee of the Whole Discussions
After a piece of legislation is read into the record during a Regular Session, it is referred to a Council Committee of the Whole wherein the Council discusses the legislation and makes a recommendation. The recommendation is then forwarded to a Regular Session for a final vote. During a Committee discussion, the public is invited to speak on only those items listed on the Agenda. Committee discussions occur on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays.
Citizen feedback is a vital part of our democracy and the Council invites all citizens to participate during public comment period.
Improving the quality of life for residents is a team effort. Thank you for all you do to make our community a better place! |
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Sat Apr 05, 2014 12:25 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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RULES OF THE LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL AS ... - City Clerk
http://cityclerk.lacity.org/cps/pdf/CouncilRules.pdf - - Cached - Similar pages
Dec 19, 1986 ... The requirement of public comment on individual agenda items shall not ..
CHAPTERV
page 8
COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND TIME LIMITS
31. Members requesting to address the Council shall cause their requests to be tabulated on
the Council's computerized record keeping system; however, a member may rise and
address the Chair if recognized by the Presiding Officer. When two or more members rise
at once, the Presiding Officer shall name the member who shall be first to speak and may
consult the Council's computerized record keeping system for assistance. The members
shall confine their remarks to the question under debate and shall avoid personalities.
32. Members may address the Council according to the following order and time limits:
a. The Committee Chair or acting Chair may open debate if the member so desires;
the maker of the original motion which initiated the matter under consideration
shall be allowed to speak next, if that member desires; and the member calling
the matter "special" may speak next, if that member so desires; this shall
constitute the first opportunity for a member to speak.
Whichever of the above members opens debate, he or she shall have up to six (6)
minutes to so open debate. Each of the remaining Councilmembers may then
speak up to three (3) minutes.
b. After all members desiring to speak on a question have had an opportunity to be
heard once, the time for each member desiring to speak again, or subsequently
for the first time, shall be limited to a maximum of three (3) minutes.
c. The maker of the original motion, then the member calling the matter "special" if
such call caused the matter to be debated, and finally the appropriate Committee
Chair, in that order, shall thereafter each have up to three (3) minutes additional
time to close debate if there has been an intervening speaker before said member
last spoke.
d. A motion calling the "previous question" (to close debate) is not debatable. The
maker of the motion calling the "previous question" must specify if the motion
applies to the entire matter or portions thereof. Notwithstanding the vote on the
previous question, the maker of the original motion and/or the Chair(s) of the
involved Committee(s) may be recognized by the Presiding Officer to make
closing arguments. If such motion is made after each Councilmember desiring to
speak has twice had the opportunity to speak on a question, the call for the
previous question may be adopted by eight votes, otherwise ten votes shall be
required.
33. Not used
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a. Rules of Decorum. During a meeting of the Council, there is the need for civility and
expedition in the carrying out of public business in order to ensure that the public has a
full opportunity to be heard and that the Council has an opportunity for its deliberative
process. While any meeting of the Council is in session, the following rules of decorum
shall be observed.
1. All remarks shall be addressed to the Council as a whole or to the Presiding
Officer and not to any single member, unless in response to a question from a
member.
2. Persons addressing the Council shall not make personal, impertinent, unduly
repetitive, slanderous or profane remarks to the Council, any member of the
Council, staff or general public, nor utter loud, threatening, personal or abusive
language, nor engage in any other disorderly conduct that disrupts, disturbs or
otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of any Council meeting.
3. No person in the audience or addressing the Council at a Council meeting shall
engage in disorderly, contemptuous or insolent behavior toward the Council or
any member thereof, which disrupts, disturbs or otherwise impedes the due and
orderly course of the meeting.
4. . No person in the audience at a Council meeting shall engage in disorderly, violent
or boisterous conduct, including the utterance of loud, threatening or abusive
language, whistling, stamping of feet or other acts that disrupt, disturb or
otherwise impede the orderly conduct of any Council meeting. COUNCIL RULES
4
5. All persons attending a Council meeting shall obey any lawful order of the
Presiding Officer, which shall include an order to be seated or to refrain from
addressing the Council.
6. Signs, placards, banners or similar items shall not be permitted at any time in the
Council Chamber.
7. Unless addressing the Council or entering or leaving the Council Chamber, all
persons in the audience shall remain seated in the seats provided.
8. No person shall stand or sit in the center aisle without the permission of the
Presiding Officer, nor shall the doorways be blocked. The Presiding Officer of the
Council, with the assistance of the Sergeant-At-Arms, shall be responsible for
maintaining the order and decorum of meetings, as set forth more fully below.
b. Enforcement of Decorum. The Rules of Decorum shall be enforced as follows:
1. Warning - The Presiding Officer shall request that a person who is breaching the
Rules of Decorum and disrupting the meeting be orderly and silent. If the person
continues to disrupt, disturb or otherwise impede the orderly conduct of the
Council meeting, the Presiding Officer shall order that person to leave the
meeting. If such person does not remove herself or himself from the meeting, the
Presiding Officer may order the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove him or her from the
meeting.
2. Exclusion from the remainder of the meeting - Any person so removed pursuant
to Subsection b.1. above shall be excluded from further attendance at the
meeting from which he/she has been removed, unless the decision of the
Presiding Officer is overruled by a majority vote, pursuant to Rule 15. Such
exclusion shall be executed by the Sergeant-at-Arms upon being so directed by
the Presiding Officer. These enforcement provisions are in addition to the
authority held by the Sergeant-at-Arms to maintain order pursuant to Rule 80 and
pursuant to his or her lawful authority as a peace officer.
c. Penalties. Any person who has been ordered removed from a meeting may be charged
with a violation of Penal Code Section 403, or other appropriate Penal Code or Los
Angeles Municipal Code sections. COUNCIL RULES
5 |
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Sat Apr 05, 2014 12:26 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Using Bing for city council public comment period- I found many examples .
There is no reason for Flint citizens to believe they can act like militants. Flint council has e-mail addresses and phone messages can be left.
When I first went on line I was surprised to see other communities laughing at Flint over this article. Haven't our actions brought enough disgrace on our city? |
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Sat Apr 05, 2014 12:39 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Darnell:
Don't know if you read your emails or someone else filters them for you! I understand that Order #10 allows the Public to speak only 3 minutes before the adjournment of the Council meeting. Not only is this order not justifiable, it's an affront to the people. We don't receive agendas until the start of meeting and we can't give our opinions before a vote takes place. We want our elected offucials to hear what we have to say before the VOTE! We want to give our input!
AC Dumas
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Good point as the agendas were once on line and the media used to comment on the more controversial items. |
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Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:36 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Flint manager limits public comment at meetings
By
Associated Press
Saturday, April 5, 2014
FLINT, Mich. (AP) - Got something to say at a Flint City Council meeting? The clock is ticking.
Emergency Manager Darnell Earley has set a three-minute limit on each speaker. The remarks will come near the end of meetings, not before votes. Critics said he’s stifling democracy.
About 10 protesters turned out Friday at City Hall with tape over their mouths.
“Who cares how long we listen to the public? Why would he care?” Councilman Eric Mays told The Flint Journal (http://bit.ly/1iaXHQH ). “These people have the right to chime in, and I have the right to hear them.”
Earley, appointed by the state to run Flint and fix its poor finances, said the policy gives people an opportunity to talk without being burdened by unscripted, long-winded speakers.
He said other cities have similar restrictions.
“These are not normal times in the city of Flint. Our first priority is to take care of the business of the city of Flint,” Earley said.
In March, he signed an order limiting council members to five minutes each to speak at the end of meetings.
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Information from: The Flint Journal, http://www.mlive.com/flin
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/5/flint-manager-limits-public-comment-at-meetings/#ixzz2yNynW9eJ
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter |
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Wed Apr 09, 2014 6:02 am |
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