Laserfiche WebLink
19 <br /> <br />Be mindful that you are speaking in a recorded public setting. Even the most harmless <br />humor can be easily misinterpreted after the fact. Never say things near a microphone <br />you do not want to be heard. <br /> <br />PUBLIC PARTICIPATION <br />No one shall be denied the right to present grievances or offer suggestions for the <br />betterment of municipal affairs at any regular meeting of the Council. (Section 335, <br />City Charter) <br /> <br />The public is guaranteed the right to speak at any regular or special meeting on any <br />subject which will be considered by the City Council before its consideration of the <br />item. (§ 54954.3(a) of the Brown Act) <br /> <br />COUNCIL CHAMBERS EXPECTATIONS OF DECORUM <br />A. We respect your right to participate as citizens, but we expect you to be <br />courteous and polite to the Council, City staff, and other members of the <br />public. <br />B. We respect your right to disagree, but we expect you to express your <br />disagreement only at the podium, or when called and only at the appropriate <br />time. <br />C. We respect your right to dispute the recommendations of the City staff, and <br />we value our employees and the work they do. We ask you to discuss facts <br />and not attack personalities. <br />D. We have zero tolerance for inflammatory, racist, or similar hateful comments <br />from the public. We also have zero tolerance for any displays of support or <br />opposition from the audience as a whole. We expect the public to respect <br />the right of the Council to deliberate in a responsible and purposeful fashion. <br />E. Some examples of behavior that will not be tolerated include: <br />disruptive behavior that interrupts proceedings, threats of harm, use of <br />bull horns or sound amplification equipment, waving signs that block <br />other audience members views. <br /> <br />The Mayor, at their discretion, may remind the audience of the Expectations of <br />Decorum and have anyone removed from the Chambers who does not <br />comply and commits acts that disrupt the meeting. <br /> <br />COUNCIL ACTIONS <br />Actions of the Council shall be taken by ordinance, resolution or motion. Actions of the <br />Council require the affirmative votes of a majority of the entire Council membership. <br />The membership of the Council is comprised of a Mayor and six Councilmembers. The <br />Council shall pass ordinances and resolutions only by taking the ayes and nays by an <br />open vote, which shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting. The ayes and nays <br />shall be taken and recorded on all motions. Abstentions shall also be recorded. (SLMC, <br />Title I, Chapter 1, Article 3)