HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/04/2019 14 Amendments to Council's Policy for Audience Comments $6
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 14.
For Meeting of: June 4, 2019
ITEM TITLE: Resolution regarding the Council's policy for audience comments
SUBMITTED BY: Cliff Moore, City Manager
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
At the Council's May 7, 2019 regular meeting, the Council directed the city manager to place a
resolution on the agenda for the May 21, 2019 Council regular meeting regarding potential
changes to the Council's regular meeting public comment policy, which is contained in Section
of the Rules of Procedure of the Yakima City Council (Rules of Procedure). As per Section N of
the Rules of Procedure, amendments to the Rules of Procedure must be adopted by two-
thirds of all members of the Council.
Because two of the seven Council members were going to be absent from the May 21, 2019
Council regular meeting, the resolution regarding the Council's public comment policy has been
placed on the agenda for the Council's June 4, 2019 regular meeting.
Were the proposed resolution regarding the Council's regular meeting public comment policy
adopted, public comment slips would only be accepted by the City Clerk before the consent
agenda is read, if between 10 and 19 public comment slips are submitted for an individual
agenda item, each speaker's time limit for that item would be reduced from three to two minutes,
and if 20 or more public comment slips are submitted for an individual agenda item, each
speaker's time limit for that item would be reduced to one-and-a-half minutes.
ITEM BUDGETED:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL: City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt resolution.
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BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
❑ reso 5113r2019 Cotter Memo
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RESOLUTION NO. R-2019-
A RESOLUTION adopting revisions to Section 1.4 of the Rules of Procedure of the Yakima
City Council on public comment during Council meetings
WHEREAS,Article 1, Section 2 of the City of Yakima Charter provides that the City Council
"shall have power to adopt rules of order and regulations for the conduct of its business"; and
WHEREAS, the City Council previously has adopted Rules of Procedure of the Yakima
City Council; and
WHEREAS, the Rules of Procedure are adopted to clarify the duties and responsibilities
of Council members, how meetings of the Council will be conducted and how Council members
may participate in meetings, types of meetings the Council may conduct, and other formalities
regarding the efficient and effective conduct of the Council's business; and
WHEREAS, under Section N of the Rules of Procedure, the Rules of Procedure "may be
amended at any meeting of the Council held after the proposal to amend the rules has been
properly noticed, upon a two-thirds vote of all the members of the Council"; and
WHEREAS, it is intended that the Rules of Procedure are evaluated periodically and
revised as the Council deems to be appropriate; and
WHEREAS, Article II, Section 5 of the City Charter provides that the rules of the Council
"shall provide that citizens of the City shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard at any
meetings in regard to any matter being considered thereat"; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds it appropriate to revise Section 1.4 of the Rules of
Procedure on public comment during Council meetings and finds that Section 1.4 as revised will
provide a reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard in regard to any matter being
considered at the Council meetings; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
The City Council adopts the revisions to Section 1.4 of the Rules of Procedure of the
Yakima City Council on public comment during Council meetings which are attached to this
Resolution.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 21 n day of May, 2019.
ATTEST: Kathy Coffey, Mayor
Sonya Clear Tee, City Clerk
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3. Special order of business
The Council may at any time on motion supported by a majority vote of the members
of the Council proceed out of order to any item of business.
4. Public comment
Community members are invited to address items which are not listed on the
business meeting agenda under the agenda item "Public Comment", and items
listed on the agenda at the time the item is addressed by the Council. All public
comment slips indicating that the community member wishes to speak on any
agenda item or under "Public Comment" must be submitted before the consent
agenda is read. A guideline of three (3) minutes per speaker is in place in order to
allow as much opportunity as possible for audience participation. However, if there
are more than 10 comment slips submitted on an agenda item, the comment period
for each peaker on that item is limited to two (2) minutes, and if there are more
than 20 comment slips submitted on an agenda item, the comment period for each
speaker on that item is limited to 1 and a half (1%) minutes. The time allowed for
all speakers may be extended or reduced at the discretion of the Chair and/or the
consensus or vote of the Council.
J. PROCEDURE - ADOPTION OF ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS
1. Introduction and form - Workinq copies
Every ordinance and resolution proposed shall be introduced in writing in form for
final passage. The Council at any time may require the City Manager, with the
assistance of the Legal Department or other City staff, to prepare working copies of
proposed ordinances or resolutions showing what changes, if any, will be
accomplished in existing ordinances or resolutions.
2. Passage on first reading
All resolutions and motions and all ordinances, except those appropriating funds,
may be passed upon first reading, and shall take effect as provided by applicable
law and the City Charter.
3. Hearings
In all cases provided by applicable law and in such other cases as the City Council
by resolution may determine, hearings shall be had upon proposed ordinances upon
the giving of proper notice and all persons interested therein shall be given an
opportunity to be heard.
4. Ordinances and resolutions adopted - Signing, deposit and publication
Upon final passage, every ordinance and resolution shall be signed by the Mayor or
his/her designee and attested by the City Clerk under the seal of the City of Yakima
and shall thereupon be deposited in the office of the City Clerk. The City Clerk shall
thereupon cause the title of all ordinances to be forthwith published in the manner
required by applicable law