BILL NO. 4087 ORDINANCE ________
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF WEST PLAINS, MISSOURI SETTING FORTH POLICIES AS TO PUBLIC ADDRESSES TO THE CITY COUNCIL RELATING TO EXISTING AGENDA ITEMS AND AMENDING SECTION 2-40 PUBLIC ADDRESSES TO COUNCIL.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST PLAINS, MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: Chapter 2, Article II. City Council, Section 2-40 (a) Public addresses to council is hereby amended as follows:
(a) The public shall be allowed to address the City Council only as provided for in this Section and in Section 2-41. Any person wishing to be added to the agenda to address the City Council must first request this in writing (EXHIBIT A) to the City Administrator or the City Clerk by noon of the Wednesday preceding the Monday Council meeting. Each such request shall set forth the issue or issues to be discussed, the date that the person proposes to appear before the City Council, and include documentation if any. No person shall be denied the right to speak due to the nature of an issue to be discussed so long as the issue relates to the City’s business or a matter over which the Council has control and is not repetitive. Priority for speaking will be given in the order that completed written requests are received.
Section 2: A new section 2-41 shall be added to the West Plains City Code, to read as follows:
(a) In addition to persons approved for addressing the council in accordance with Section 2-40, the public shall be allowed to address the City Council regarding existing agenda items only as provided for in this Section.
(b) Repetitive, irrelevant or abusive remarks from
the public, or matters not concerning the City’s business may be closed off at
any time by the Presiding Officer or by the majority vote of the Council
members present.
(c) Each speaker shall be limited to five (5) minutes time period for each topic unless given additional time by the Presiding Officer. Persons directly involved with a proposed ordinance may be granted more time.
(d) The identity and number of people speaking for or against a proposed ordinance or other agenda item will be limited and determined by the presiding officer.
(e) Each person addressing the City Council shall maintain a civil attitude and decorum and shall give his name and home address or place of business in an audible tone of voice for the record. Loud or boisterous conduct will not be tolerated or allowed.
(f) All remarks shall be presented to the City Council as a whole and not to any individual member thereof. This is a procedural requirement and is not intended to limit the content of any remarks. No person other than members of the City Council, city staff and the person having the floor shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, either directly or through a member of the City Council, without the permission of the Presiding Officer. No question may be asked of a Council member or a member of the City staff without the permission of the Presiding Officer.
(g) The Presiding Officer at each meeting of the
City Council shall have the responsibility to rule out of order any person
violating these rules and may direct such individual to conduct him or herself
in a manner that complies with these rules of conduct. Any failure to abide by the order of the
Presiding Officer may result in forfeiture of the remaining time allocated for
the address, or in extreme cases, removal from the Council chambers. Additionally, any Council member may request
a ruling on whether any individual appearing before the Council is out of order
and the Council may, by majority vote, direct that an individual who is out of
order be ordered to cease his presentation and be seated or be ejected from the
Council chambers.
Section 3: This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the City Council and approval by the Mayor of the City of West Plains, Missouri or as provided by law.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 25th DAY OF AUGUST 2008.
CITY OF WEST PLAINS, MISSOURI
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MAYOR JOE PAUL (J. P.) EVANS
ATTEST:
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CITY CLERK MALLORY PREWETT