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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/04/2019 14 Amendments to Council's Policy for Audience Comments $6 ++++,t l�oRpoR.Ev•,$ J 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. 2 BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: ATTACHMENTS: Description Upload Date Type ❑ reso 5113r2019 Cotter Memo 3 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 4 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