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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution - 2014-R0320 - Set Rules-Sign Up To Speak During Citizen Comment Period Of City Council Meeting - 09/11/2014RESOLUTION WHEREAS, on January 23, 2014, the Lubbock City Council approved Resolution No. 2014-80025, establishing a policy regarding citizen appearances before the City Council, and the broadcast of such appearances on the city television channel; and WHEREAS. the Lubbock City Council values public participation in the governmental process, considering citizen appearances a vital source of information to the deliberations of the Lubbock City Council; and WHEREAS, state law does not mandate that the Lubbock City Council provide for citizen comments, but allows that a governing body may provide such a comment period, if the body desires to do so, and further may adopt reasonable rules concerning sante, and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to promote the most efficient and orderly 'transaction of City Council business possible, and finds that such a goal is furthered by (encouraging permitted citizen comments to be sharply focused on agenda items, including those items requested by the citizen speaker to be on the public comment portion of the agenda; and I W111'Ri:AS, the City Council urges the public to continue to express opinions and concerns on matters unrelated to items on the business agenda of the City Council by utilizing the myriad altcrnative lbrins of contact available, including personal meetings with individual members, direct telephone contact, traditional or electronic mail, and town hall niecting participation; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds it to be in the public interest and in the best interest of orderly business meetings of the Lubbock City Council to repeal Resolution No. 2014-ROO25 and establish revised procedures f'or citizen comment periods at regular meetings of the City Council: NOW THEREFORE: BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LUBBOCK: I. THAT any citizen wishing to appear before any regular meeting of the City Council to speak shall, using the form provided, an exemplar of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "A": a) notify the City Manager's Office of that fact, and of the subject matter that will be addressed, no later than seventy-five (75) hours before the meeting at which the citizen wishes to appear; or b) sign up to speak at the City Council meeting regarding any item posted on the City Council agenda. 2. THAT any citizen who complies with the rules set forth above shall be given the opportunity to address the City Council during the "Citizen Comment Period" of the meeting. 3. THAT Resolution No. 2014-R0025 is hereby repealed in its entirety. by the City Council on September 11.2014 RTSON, MAYOR Garza, AS TO CONTENT: iis, City Manager APPROVED AS TO FORM: PUBLIC COMMENT SIGN-UP FORM Regular Meeting Date: u UDl ** Please PRINT all information ** Name: Phone: Address: Email: Comments: WRITTEN ORAL Comments will be presented for AGENDA ITEM # FOR WRITTEN COMMENTS, PLEASE USE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW: COMMENTS CONTINUED ON ATTACHED DOCUMENT OF PAGE(S) FOR ORAL COMMENTS: 1. YOU MUST SIGN UP PRIOR TO THE SCHEDULED MEETING (At the City Manager's Office during regular business hours, or at the Council chambers beginning 30 minutes prior to the meeting.); 2. YOU WILL HAVE ONE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK; and 3. YOU MUST OBSERVE THE 3 -MINUTE TIME LIMIT. (Time cannot be transferred to another speaker.) 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. See reverse side for additional rules. MAIL, FAX, OR EMAIL COMPLETED FORM TO: City of Lubbock City Manager's Office - City Hall 1625 13" Street, Lubbock, Texas 79401 Fax:806-775-xxxx EXHIBIT Email: RULES FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS Public Comments/Regular and Consent Agendas: The City Council welcomes written and oral comments from the public at regular meetings. Individuals wishing to speak on matters posted on the regular or consent agendas, or in the City Council's jurisdiction but not otherwise posted on the regular or consent agendas, must submit a completed form to the City Manager's Office at City Hall in advance of the seventy-five (75) hour deadline. Individuals wishing to speak to matters posted on the consent or regular agendas only, must submit a completed form to the City Council meeting attendant thirty (30) minutes prior to the beginning of the meeting. Speakers will have one opportunity to speak during the allotted time period, and they must observe the three-minute time limit. Time cannot be transferred. When a speaker yields the floor, he/she waives any remaining time, but that remaining time does not get added to another speaker's time. Written Comments / Handouts: Individuals may use the comment sheets provided online, or in the City Manager's Office at City Hall. Comment sheets submitted at the City Council meeting thirty (30) minutes or more prior to its start will be copied and distributed to the Council Members. An individual who wishes to submit other written material should submit 10 copies to the City Manager, in advance, or to the attendant at the meeting for distribution to Council Members and senior staff. Public Hearings: Registering to speak at a Public Hearing is by the same method as for a regular agenda item. After a Public Hearing is closed, there shall be no additional public comments. If Council needs additional information from the general public, some limited comments may be allowed at the discretion of the Mayor. Rules for Speakers: 1. Members of the public may address the City Council at the following times during a meeting: • During a public hearing on an agenda item. • During Consent and Regular Agenda items with the permission of the presiding officer. • During Work Session Agenda items with the permission of the presiding officer. 2. Speakers must state their name and address for the record. 3. Speakers must address all comments and questions to the presiding officer. 4. Speakers must limit their comments to three minutes. 5. Speakers may not employ tactics of defamation, intimidation, personal affronts, profanity, or threats of violence.