Guadalupe Municipal Code Ch. 2.02 City Meetings

The Council finds and determines that meetings of the City Council, commissions, committees and agencies of the City of Guadalupe (hereinafter individually referred to as a "Public Body") will be administered most expeditiously and most effectively if a code of personal conduct is implemented to govern the manner of addressing a Public Body, reasonable restrictions on the content of comments, expected decorum and enforcement for violation of this section.

(Ord. 2002-353 §1)

A. Permission. Each person wishing to speak at a meeting of a Public Body must obtain the permission of the presiding officer. Whenever members of a group of persons wish to address a Public Body on the same subject, the presiding officer may require that the group designate a spokesperson to speak for the group so as to limit repetitious testimony.

B. Preference. Subject to waiver by the presiding officer of the meeting, members of the public seeking to speak on an item shall submit a request to speak form before the staff report on the item is completed.

C. Time Limit. Public comments shall be limited to 3 minutes, unless additional time is granted by the presiding officer.

(Ord. 2002-353 §1)

A. Manner. Any person desiring to address a Public Body shall first obtain permission pursuant to Section 2.02.020(A). Upon recognition by the presiding officer, the person shall approach the designated location for public comment and shall announce their name in an audible voice for the public record. All comments shall be addressed to the Public Body, as a body and not to a specific member of the Public Body, City staff or other members of the public. Members of the Public Body and City staff shall not enter into any discussion with public comment speakers without the permission of the presiding officer.

B. Content of Comment(s). Comments must be confined to matters of municipal business or over which the City in general and the specific Public Body in particular, have control.

(Ord. 2002-353 §1)

A. All persons, including members of the Public Body and City staff, shall maintain decorum and no one may, by conversation, gesture or other means, delay or interrupt the proceedings or the peace of the meeting.

B. Any person, including members of the Public Body and City staff, making personal, impertinent, insulting, profane or slanderous remarks, or who becomes loud, boisterous or belligerent while addressing the Public Body, or otherwise disturbs the peace of the meeting, may be removed from the meeting by the order of the presiding officer, unless permission to remain is granted by a majority vote of the Public Body.

(Ord. 2002-353 §1)

A. Enforcement of Decorum. The Chief of Police, personally or through a deputy, shall be the exofficio sergeant at arms of the meeting for the purposes of maintaining order and carrying out the orders of the presiding officer as to these matters.

B. Violation. Anyone guilty of violating the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Ord. 2002-353 §1)