Department: Legal
Staff Contact: Ron Shaver; Daniel Yoza
Subject: Consideration of Resolution No. 20-1024 regarding Time Allocations and Rules of Conduct at City Council Meetings.
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Item Description: Amendments to City Council Policy CC-3 - Time Allocations for Speakers at Public Meetings of the Olathe City Council.
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Summary:
This item was presented as a Discussion Item on the March 3, 2020 City Council agenda.
Staff was requested to update City Council Policy CC-3 (Resolution 16-1008) (the “Policy”) regarding Time Allocations for Speakers at Public Meetings of the Olathe City Council.
The proposed amended Policy (Attachment A) include re-naming the Policy “Time Allocations and Rules of Conduct at City Council Meetings”. The amendments to the Policy are designed to create a fair, efficient, and civil process for members of the public to address the Governing Body. Staff has amended the Policy to 1) distinguish between speaking at public hearings and speaking on general issues or concerns, and 2) establish rules of conduct for speakers and audience members.
Section One describes the process for signing up to speak at public hearings on the Governing Body’s agenda. Individual speakers must sign up at least 1/2 hour prior to the meeting and will be afforded up to 5 minutes to address the Governing Body regarding the subject of the public hearing.
Section Two describes the process for signing up to speak regarding general issues or concerns. Speakers must sign up at least 1/2 hour prior to the meeting. Speakers will be called in the order they sign up and will be afforded up to 3 minutes to address the Governing Body. The total time is limited to 30 minutes. If many people sign up to speak, the time will be allocated fairly within the 30 minutes allotted by the Governing Body.
Section Three establishes rules of conduct for speakers and audience members. Subsection (A) states the Council expectation that speakers will be civil and respectful and should avoid personal attacks, name calling, and inflammatory language. Subsection (B) describes conduct which may result in being removed from the meeting. This includes obscene language or gestures which disrupt the meeting, noisemaking which disrupts the meeting, or use of signs or placards of any kind which disrupt the meeting.
At the request of the City Council, additional language was added after this item was presented as on the March 3, 2020 City Council agenda to add “speaking over a member of the Governing Body or other recognized speaker” in subsection (B)(2).
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Financial Impact:
None
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Action Needed:
Approve Resolution No. 20-1024 regarding Time Allocations and Rules of Conduct at City Council Meetings
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Attachment(s):
Attachment A. Resolution No. 20-1024 - Policy CC-3 - Time Allocations and Rules of Conduct at City Council Meetings.