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27 <br /> <br />for applicants or others seeking approval from the City or City Council or opponents of such entities or <br />applications outside of an open and public meeting. Such communications are not encouraged when <br />the communication is designed to influence the official decision or conduct of the official in order to <br />obtain a favorable decision or treatment to advance personal or private interests. <br />Councilmembers who have ex-parte communications with a party that will appear or appears before <br />them at a meeting should disclose that he/she had such ex parte communication with the party. <br /> <br />Any written ex-parte communication received by an official in matters where all interested parties <br />should have an equal opportunity for a hearing shall be made a part of the record by the recipient. <br /> <br />AB 1234 – ETHICS TRAINING <br />Assembly Bill 1234 was signed into law and went into effect on January 1, 2006. This state law requires <br />public officials to receive two hours of ethics training every two years. Newly seated officials must <br />receive this training within 12 months of taking their positions. The original Certificate of Completion of <br />this training must be filed with the City Clerk by the deadline. The training covers subjects such as <br />conflicts of interest, personal financial gain, personal advantages and perks, government transparency, <br />and fair processes. <br /> <br />AB 1825 & AB 1661 – SEXUAL HARRASSMENT PREVENTION TRAINING <br />Assembly Bill 1825 became effective in 2007and AB 1661 in 2016. These laws require two hours of <br />sexual harassment training for supervisors, which includes Councilmembers, every two years. <br /> <br />POINTS OF ORDER <br />The Presiding Officer shall determine all Points of Order subject to the right of any member to appeal <br />to the Council. If an appeal is taken, the question shall be, “Shall the decision of the Presiding Officer <br />be sustained?” in which event a majority vote shall sustain or reverse the Presiding Officer’s <br />determination. <br /> <br />DECORUM AND ORDER – COUNCILMEMBERS <br />a) Any Councilmember who wants to speak shall address the Chair and, upon recognition by the <br />Chair, shall confine themself to the question under debate. <br />b) A Councilmember who wants to question a staff member shall address their question to the <br />City Manager, City Attorney, or the City Clerk in appropriate cases, who shall be entitled to <br />answer the inquiry himself/herself or to designate some member of the staff for that <br />purpose. During initial clarifying questions from City Council Members after a staff report, the <br />Presiding Officer shall enforce a 5 minute limit per City Council Member. Once every Council <br />Member has had a chance to ask questions during their initial 5 minute limit, the Presiding <br />Officer may allow additional questions as needed. <br />c) A Councilmember, once recognized, shall not be interrupted while speaking unless called to <br />order by the Presiding Officer; unless a Point of Order is raised by another Councilmember; or <br />unless the speaker chooses to yield to questions from another Councilmember. <br />d) A visual timer shall be posted for all presenters and City Council members during their <br />comments. <br />e) Any Councilmember challenged while speaking, shall cease speaking immediately until the <br />question of order is determined. If ruled to be in order, he/she shall be permitted to proceed. DRAFT