SECTION 2105. RULES OF CONDUCT FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
Conduct at City Council meetings shall be in accordance with the following rules:
(a) Unless addressing the City Council or entering or leaving the Council Chambers or other meeting place, all persons in the audience shall remain seated in the seats provided. No person shall stand or sit in the aisles or along the walls, unless permitted by the Mayor. No person shall block any doorways.
(b) All demonstrations, including cheering, yelling, whistling, handclapping and foot stomping which disrupts, disturbs or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the Council meeting are prohibited.
(c) No placards, signs, posters, packages, bundles, suitcases or other large objects or trash shall be brought into the Council Chambers or other meeting place if doing so would disrupt, disturb or otherwise impede the orderly course of the meeting.
(d) Smoking is prohibited in the Council Chambers or other meeting place.
(e) It is requested that all persons wishing to speak to the Council at the time designated for oral communications shall state their name, address, and the subject matter upon which they wish to speak for the record. All speakers who wish to address members of the City Council or staff must do so through the Mayor. No person shall address the Council until he or she has first been recognized by the Mayor. The decision of the Mayor to recognize or not recognize a person may be changed by order of the Council.
(f) There will be one (1) oral communication section near the beginning of the City Council Closed Session Agenda. During this time, members of the public may address the Council on closed session items. Each person speaking shall be limited to three (3) minutes. Members of the public may submit comments on closed session items in writing to the City Clerk prior to the closed session meeting which may be read during the comment period at the discretion of the Mayor. For good cause, the Mayor may extend or limit the time for individual speakers or the maximum time for oral communications.
(g) During formal public hearings, all interested parties will be allowed to address the Council. The Mayor shall request persons wishing to address the Council to signify their interest and may limit the time allowed and otherwise coordinate the hearing proceedings. The applicant shall speak after the staff report and shall have the opportunity for rebuttal. The applicant shall not be limited by the three (3) minute time limit, but shall not be repetitious nor digress from the issues before the Council. In the interest of facilitating the business of the Council, all persons addressing the Council shall be limited to three (3) minutes unless such time is extended or limited by the Mayor for good cause.
(h) There will be one (1) oral communication section near the beginning of the City Council Agenda placed after public hearings. During this time, members of the public may address the Council on any agenda, non-agenda and consent calendar items. Each person speaking shall be limited to three (3) minutes and the maximum time allowed for oral communication shall be thirty (30) minutes. Members of the public may submit comments on agenda, non-agenda and consent calendar items in writing to the City Clerk prior to the meeting which may be read during the comment period at the discretion of the Mayor. For good cause, the Mayor may extend or limit the time for individual speakers and/or the maximum time for oral communications. The Mayor may rearrange the order of items on the agenda to ensure the orderly conduct of the meeting.
(i) At the end of the regular City Council meeting, staff and members of the City Council may present any other business that is appropriate for City Council consideration. Unless permitted by the Brown Act, the Council may not discuss such items or act upon them, but an individual Council Member may request that any such item be placed upon a future agenda for consideration by the Council. The procedures for placing an item on a future agenda may be set by resolution of the City Council.
(j) Members of the audience shall respect the rights of others and shall not create noise or other disturbances so as to disrupt or disturb persons who are addressing the City Council, Council Members who are speaking, or otherwise impede the orderly conduct of the meeting. All persons addressing the City Council shall speak in a civil and courteous manner and shall not yell, scream, or use foul language. Speakers shall address the agenda topic to which they are speaking on and shall not be repetitive.
(k) Photographs, audiotapes and videotapes may be taken from any seat within the Council Chamber or other meeting place or from the rear of the Council Chamber or other meeting place. Except when presentations are being made, photographs, audiotapes and videotapes may not be taken from the side or middle aisles or from the front of the Council Chambers as such practices disrupt and disturb the audience, public speakers and Council Members, and interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting. Photographs, audiotapes and videotapes shall not be taken in any manner which disturbs or disrupts the audience, speakers or Council Members or otherwise disrupts the Council meeting.
(l) The City Council may direct that City Council meetings be viewed by members of the public utilizing video live stream, video conferencing software or similar technology. Public access instructions shall be included with the posted agenda.
(m) Animals are prohibited in the Council Chambers, except for trained K-9 police dogs and trained service animals as defined under State and Federal law. (Added by Ord. 872, adopted 12-6-88; amended by Ord. 906, adopted 6-26-90; Ord. 1168, adopted 11-09-04; Ord. 17-1377, adopted 5-9-17; Ord. 19-1416, adopted 8-27-19; Ord. 20-1437, adopted 2-25-20; Ord. 21-1473, adopted 12-14-21; Ord. 21-1475, adopted 12-14-21; Ord. 22-1502, adopted 12-13-22)