§ 2.6. Citizens' Forum.

For a period of not more than 30 minutes immediately prior to the start of each regular meeting of Council, there will be a citizens' forum where persons will be granted the privilege of the floor as follows:

(a)

Each citizens' forum will begin with a greeting by the Presiding Officer and a brief summary of the Rules of Council related to courtesy and decorum and speaking before Council, after which persons are granted the privilege of the floor for up to two minutes to discuss any topic(s).

(b)

All persons speaking during the citizens' forum are limited to one appearance per citizens' forum.

(c)

All persons who wish to speak during the citizens' forum must complete a speaker card and file it with the Clerk of Council by the scheduled start of the citizens' forum on the day the speaker wishes to speak. Speakers may file a speaker card with the office of the Clerk of Council anytime beginning on Monday of the week they wish to speak until the scheduled start of the citizens' forum. Speaker cards will not be accepted by the Clerk of Council after the scheduled start of the citizens' forum, except in the discretion of the Presiding Officer. Speaker cards must be completed with the speaker's name, address, organization (if applicable) and subject, and submitted along with any material or information to be distributed. On the face of each completed speaker card, the Clerk of Council shall indicate the time of receipt and the order in which the speaker cards are received.

(d)

The Presiding Officer shall recognize and introduce speakers in the order in which their speaker cards were received by the Clerk of Council. Those speakers who promptly submitted speaker cards but are unable to speak within the half-hour period will have first priority to speak at the next citizens' forum. The Clerk of Council will inform those speakers who will have priority to speak at the next citizens' forum prior to the start of the citizens' forum.

(e)

Only the speaker, and the next succeeding speakers are permitted at the speakers' table during the citizens' forum, unless the Presiding Officer or any Member has invited two or more persons to the speakers' table for informational or ceremonial purposes.

(f)

The use of obscene or profane language, personal attack, libel, slander, defamation, physical violence or the threat thereof, as determined by the Presiding Officer, shall constitute a Disturbing a Lawful Meeting.

(g)

The Presiding Officer may order the removal of any person for Disturbing a Lawful Meeting or for failing to comply with any lawful decision or order by the Presiding Officer for the duration of the citizens' forum or such lesser period as the Presiding Officer may determine. The Presiding Officer may order the removal of persons who are Disturbing a Lawful Meeting from Council chambers for the duration of the meeting or such lesser period as the Presiding Officer may determine. In cases of excessive Disturbing a Lawful Meeting, the Presiding Officer may ban individuals from all Council and Committee meetings for a period of 60 days, in addition to any other penalties provided by law.

The Clerk of Council shall be responsible for notifying suspended individuals of the duration of their suspension.

(h)

Beginning at the January 24, 2019 meeting of the Council, the citizen's forum shall be televised. The City Manager is authorized to promulgate and enact rules and regulations necessary to maintain order. The citizens' forum shall not be considered part of the business portion of a Council meeting and will be televised.

(i)

If the Mayor is not present to call the citizens' forum to order five minutes after the scheduled starting time, the Vice-Mayor shall call the meeting to order. If neither the Mayor nor the Vice-Mayor is present for a regular meeting of Council, the President Pro Tem shall call the meeting to order. If the Mayor, Vice-Mayor or the President Pro Tem are not present, a Member may call the meeting to order, as long as a quorum is present.