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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 2488 ORDINANCE NO. 2488 WHEREAS, this Ordinance amending the Council Rules of Procedure (Ordinance No, 984) was duly received by the City Council at its regular meeting of June 26, 2000; and WHEREAS, it was ordered by the Council on June 26, 2000 that this Ordinance be placed on the July 10, 2000 Agenda for consideration and/or approval. THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICH LAND HILLS, TEXAS, that: 1, Section 5,5 of the Council Rules of Procedure is hereby amended and shall hereafter read as follows: 5.5 Presentations by the Public 5,5,1 Any person desiring to present a subject for City Council consideration shall advise the City Manager's office of the fact not later than 5:00 p,m., on Wednesday preceding the meeting at which he wishes to have the subject to be considered, Said person shall make himself available for a conference with the City Manager a the Manager's request at some time prior to said Council meeting. 5,5.2 Any person wishing to speak at a Public Hearing scheduled on the agenda shall complete a Public Meeting Appearance Card and present it to the City Secretary prior to the matter being reached. Upon being recognized by the Mayor, the person may speak or present evidence relevant to the matter being heard. No person may speak without first being recognized by the Mayor. All persons wishing to speak on the matter shall be limited to three minutes each and there is a cumulative limit of sixty minutes for all those speaking in favor of an item and a like limit for those speaking in opposition. The time limit may be extended by a majority vote of the Council. The Mayor may also, with the concurrence of the City Council, alter any of the enumerated time allocations based on the complexity of the item and the number of persons wishing to speak on the item. 5.5,3 In order to expedite matters and to avoid repetitious presentations, the designation of a spokesperson is encouraged. Whenever any group of individuals wishes to address the Council on the same subject matter, those individuals are encouraged to designate a spokesperson to address the City Council. A spokesperson speaking for ten or more individuals present in the Council Chambers shall be limited to a ten-minute presentation. Other members of the group cannot speak. The Mayor or City Secretary must be advised prior to the start that a group presentation will be made. The Mayor may ask group members to stand to confirm ten individuals are present. 5.5.4 During Public Hearings, no person will be permitted to speak about matters or present evidence which is not germane to the matter being considered. A determination of relevance shall be made by the Mayor, but may be appealed to the full City Council. 5.5.5 Public Meeting Appearance Cards may be used by members of the public who do not wish to or cannot verbally address the City Council during a meeting. A person may indicate his/her comments and support or opposition for an agenda item on a Public Meeting Appearance Card. During the public testimony regarding the item, the Mayor will indicate that the City Council has received written comments from (name of persons) in support of the project or issue and from (name of persons) in opposition. The minutes will reflect the City Council's receipt of written comments in support or opposition of the project or issue. 5,5.6 A speaker shall not present the same or substantially the same items or arguments to the Council repeatedly or be repetitious in presenting their oral comments. Nothing in the foregoing precludes submission of comments to the City Council in writing, for such action or non-action as the Council, in its discretion, may deem appropriate, No person may speak twice to the same item until all persons wishing to speak have been recognized, A person will only be allowed to speak a second time when there is new evidence to present and the Mayor, with the concurrence of the City Council, rules that there is good cause to do so. 5,5.7 Any of the foregoing rules may be waived or suspended by a majority vote of the Councilmembers present when it is deemed that there is good cause to do so, based upon the particular facts and circumstances involved. 5,5,8 The Citizens' Comments portion of the City Council meeting is set aside 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 should complete a Public Meeting Appearance Card prior to the item being heard and present it to the City Secretary. Citizens' comments are generally permitted at the end of the regular City Council meeting, 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 fifteen minutes for all speakers. Presentations under citizens' comments are limited to items within the subject matter of the jurisdiction of the City. In compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, the City Council may not deliberate or vote on any matter raised in citizens comments, except for the purpose of determining whether such mater 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 City Council, the public at large and to the citizen making the comment. Ordinance No. 2488 Page 2 of 3 5,5,9 The Mayor should announce at public hearings involving more than ten individuals the need to maintain proper decorum in order to hear all view points and to refrain from speaking while others are speaking, clapping, etc. to express support or opposition to comments made, 2. These amendments in this Ordinance shall become a part of the Council Rules of Procedure from and after the date of passage of this ordinance. PASSED AND APPROVED this 10th day of July, 2000. APPROVED: ATTEST: Øâlfliðtd~ Patricia Hutson - City Secretary Ordinance No. 2488 Page 3 of 3