Arcadia Municipal Code Div. 6 Public Participation and Conduct

Each person addressing the Council shall step up to the microphone in front of the rail, give his name and address in an audible tone of voice for the record. Unless further time is granted by the presiding officer, each person shall limit his address to five (5) minutes. All remarks shall be addressed to the Council as a body and not to any member thereof. No person, other than a Councilman and the person having the floor, shall be permitted to enter into any discussion without the permission of the presiding officer.

Whenever any group of persons wishes to address the Council on the same subject matter, it shall be proper for the presiding officer to request that a spokesman be chosen by the group to address the Council, and in the event additional related matters are to be presented at the time by any other member of such group, to limit the number of persons so addressing the Council so as to avoid unnecessary repetitions before the Council.

Any person making personal, impertinent or slanderous remarks or who shall become boisterous while addressing the Council shall forthwith be barred by the presiding officer from further audience at such meeting before the Council, unless permission to continue shall be granted by a majority vote of the Council.

The Chief of Police shall be ex-officio sergeant-at-arms of the Council. He shall carry out all orders and instructions given him by the presiding officer for the purpose of maintaining order and decorum in the Council Chamber. Any person in the audience who uses loud, boisterous or profane language at a Council meeting, or language tending to bring the Council or any Councilman into contempt, or any person who persistently interrupts the proceedings of the Council or refuses to keep quiet or take a seat when ordered to do so by the presiding officer shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. Upon instructions of the presiding officer, it shall be the duty of any police officer present to eject any such person from the Council Chamber or place him under arrest, or both.

In all matters coming before the City Council by way of appeal from the decision or recommendation of a City Board, Commission, Committee or Officer, the appellant shall first be permitted to present or argue his case, then persons in support of the position of the appellant, and then all other persons.

In all matters coming before the City Council from any City Board Commission, Committee or Officer other than by way of appeal, testimony shall be received first from persons favoring or in support of the decision or recommendation of such Board, Commission, Committee or Officer, and then from other persons.

In all applications heard initially by the City Council, the reports or recommendations of any City Board, Commission, Committee, Officer or employee relative thereto shall first be received; evidence shall be next received from the applicant; then testimony proffered on behalf of the applicant or in support of the application shall be received; and then testimony from all other persons.

Rebuttal shall be permitted only in the discretion of the presiding officer.

This Section shall not limit the right of the City Council to ask questions or to seek information from any person at any time.

Every person shall be entitled to be represented by counsel in any matter before the City Council. Counsel thus representing a person may direct the presentation of evidence, but shall himself testify only as to matters within his own personal knowledge. No one shall argue a case before the Council prior to the submission of all testimony or evidence to be received concerning the subject matter.

(Part 2, Divisions 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 added to Chapter 1 by Ord. 1263 adopted 10-20-64; effective 11-20-64)