HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.3 - 1387 Rules of Conduct
Page 1 of 2
STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
DATE: April 4, 2017
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM:
Christopher L. Foss, City Manager
SUBJECT:
Rules of Conduct for Meetings of the City Council
Prepared by: Caroline P. Soto, City Clerk/Records Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Council will discuss the Rules for the Conduct of Meetings of the City Council
to address time limits on speakers based on number of speakers, close of acceptance
period of speaker slips, and posting of Rules at City Council meetings.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Discuss Rules for the Conduct of Meetings of the City Council, and provide direction, as
appropriate.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.
DESCRIPTION:
At its March 21, 2017 meeting, the City Council requested Staff bring back a report to
discuss the length of time speakers have to comment on items, based on number of
speaker requests per item, at City Council meetings, and also, at what point speaker
requests are no longer accepted. The current language in Resolution No. 9-16
Amending and Restating the Rules for the Conduct of Meetings of the City Council
(Attachment 1), states:
3. AGENDA (Page 2 of 8)
The agenda prepared by the City Clerk shall, at a minimum, include:
e. Specified period of time for members of the public to address the City Council
on items of interest to the public that are within the jurisdiction of the City
Council, including a statement that no person may speak longer than three (3)
minutes, or such shorter period as may be established by the City Council
based on number of speakers, and including language that the City Council
Page 2 of 2
can only briefly respond with questions, refer to Staff, or place on a future
agenda.
14. MANNER OF ADDRESSING CITY COUNCIL (Page 6 of 8)
On each agenda item, each member of the public shall be given a specified
amount of time to address the City Council during the public comment period, and
the time limits shall be reasonably and uniformly applied to all speakers, so far as
is possible, with the exception of formal applicants for approvals from the City who
will be allotted additional time. Unless determined otherwise by a majority vote of
the City Council, the time limits shall be as follows based on the number of speaker
slips submitted to the City Clerk prior to the commencement of the public comment
period.
1-9 speaker slips – 3 minutes
10-14 speaker slips – 2 minutes
15+ speaker slips – 1 minute
The City Council also requested that the Rules be posted in the Council Chamber, and
the time limits be printed on the speaker slips. This will be completed at a later date,
including revisions, if needed.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
None.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 9-16 Amending and Restating Rules for the Conduct of Meetings of
the City Council
RESOLUTION NO. 9 - 16
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
AMENDING AND RESTATING THE RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF
MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
WHEREAS, from time to time the City Council amends and restates the Rules of Conduct of
Meetings of the City Council, and the Rules were last restated by Resolution No. 154-13; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to amend and restate the Rules in order to specify the
length of time for public comment, specify the manner of producing the agenda, and make other
changes to ensure compliance with applicable law.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rules for the Conduct of Meetings of the City
Council are amended to read as follows in their entirety:
1. REGULAR MEETINGS
a. Time Regular meetings of the City Council shall be held on the first and third
Tuesday of each month at the hour of 7:00 p.m., except that Closed Session Items shall be
held at 6:30 p.m. Whenever the day fixed for any regular meeting of the City Council falls upon
a day designated as a holiday, such meeting will be held at the same hour on the next
succeeding day not a holiday.
b. Place All regular meetings of the City Council shall be held at the Civic Center,
as designated by Ordinance.
c.Public All meetings of the City Council shall be open to the public; provided,
however, the City Council may hold closed sessions as provided by the laws of the State of
California.
2. SPECIAL MEETINGS
A special meeting may be ordered at any time by the Mayor whenever in his/her opinion the
public business may require it or upon the written request of any three members of the City
Council. Whenever a special meeting shall be called, written notice of such meeting shall be
delivered personally or by any other means by the City Clerk to each member of the City
Council and to each local newspaper of general circulation and radio/television station
requesting notice in writing. Such notice must be delivered at least twenty-four (24) hours
before the time of such meeting as specified in the notice. The notice shall specify the time and
place of the special meeting and the business to be transacted or discussed. No other
business shall be considered at such meetings by the City Council.
The agenda for special meetings shall contain the information set forth in Section 3.a. - f.
below. At least twenty-four (24) hours before each special meeting, the City Clerk shall post a
copy of the agenda, including the call and notice of the special meeting at the same location
identified in Section 3 below.
Page 1 of 8