HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 2836
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ORDINANCE NO. 2836
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AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2 OF THE NORTH
RICHLAND HILLS CODE OF ORDINANCES; INCREASING THE
TIME ALLOWED FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS; PROVIDING FOR
RESPONSES TO COMMENTS BY STAFF; RESTRICTING
COMMENTS CONCERNING LITIGATION; AND PROHIBITING
PERSONAL ATTACKS ON STAFF AND COUNCIL.
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WHEREAS, the City Council desires to increase the time for citizen comments
and to provide for staff responses; and
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WHEREAS, the City Council deems it necessary to establish rules of conduct for
council members concerning comments on litigation related matters to protect the interest
of the taxpayers; and
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WHEREAS, the city council desires to discourage incivility and prohibit personal
attacks in city council meetings; NOW THEREFORE;
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Section 1:
THAT Chapter 2 of the North Richland Hills Code of Ordinance be
amended by adding a new Section 2-33 which shall read as follows:
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"Section 2-33. Statements by public officials regarding litigation.
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When the City of North Richland Hills is involved in litigation or a legal
dispute, council members shall refrain from commenting on settlements,
appeals or other issues related to the subject until the matter is resolved.
The Mayor or City Attorney shall be authorized to provide any public
responses or comments, as needed on matters involving litigation."
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Section 2:
THAT Section 2-67( e )(8) ofthe North Richland Hills Code of Ordinances
be amended to read as follows:
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"(e)(8) The citizen's comments portion of the city council meeting is set
for members of the public to address the city council on any item of
business that is not formally scheduled on the agenda or scheduled as a
public hearing. Members of the public will complete a public meeting
appearance card prior to the item being heard and present it to the city
secretary. Such public appearance cards will state the rules for citizen
presentations and an acknowledgment by citizens that they understand and
will adhere to the rules regarding speaking during citizen's presentation.
Citizens' comments are generally permitted at the beginning ofthe regular
meeting, after ceremonial items, as specified on the agenda.
Presentations shall be limited to three minutes each. Citizens' comments
shall be limited to a cumulative total not to exceed 30 minutes for all
speakers. If such comments exceed such limit the council may extend
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such time or hear them after other business has been completed.
Presentations under citizen's comments are limited to matters within the
subject matter jurisdiction of the city. Citizen comments concerning
matters which are scheduled for consideration by the council or another
city board or commission at a later date will not be allowed. In
compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code
Section 551.001, et seq., the city council may not deliberate or vote on any
matter raised in citizen comments, except for the purpose of determining
whether such matter should be placed on a future city council agenda. The
Mayor, however, may request the city manager to provide additional
information on a matter of general interest to the full council, the public at
large and to the citizen making the comment. If a factual question is asked
and a staff member has ready knowledge of this, the staff member will be
requested to provide immediate response at the Council meeting. If an
inaccurate statement is made and a staff member is aware ofthis, the staff
member is requested to respond immediately at the Council meeting. If
the citizen inquiry is one that is either quite involved, lengthy, and/or
requires research, but is one of general interest to the populace, a follow-
up response to the citizen presentation can be made at a future Council
meeting; it may also be desirable to replay the original telecast of the
citizen's inquiry. Ifthe citizen inquiry is ofa private matter or individual
nature, an individual follow-up may be the approach rather than the
above."
Section 3:
THAT Section 2-67(e) of the North Richland Hills Code of Ordinances
be amended by adding a new subsection (10) which shall read as follows:
"( e)(1 0) No member ofthe public shall be permitted to conduct any verbal
personal attack on the Mayor, any member of the Council, City Staff, or
member of any City Board or Commission. Any such attack or attempted
attack may be challenged with a point of order or the Mayor may interrupt
an offending speaker to enforce this rule."
AND IT IS SO ORDAINED.
Passed on this 27th day of June, 2005.
Ordinance No. 2836
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ATTEST:
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Ordinance No. 2836
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