19-2864ORD1NANt;r No. 19-2864
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OP DENTON AMENDING THE CI"I�Y OF DENTON
CODE OF ORDINANGES (CODE) S�GTION 2-29(�(4) (CITY COt1NClL RULES OF
PROCLDURE) SUBSECTION (4) (PRFSENTATIONS FROM MEMBERS OT TI-IE PUBLIC)
ALLOWING UP TO SEVEN (7) MEMBERS OP THE PliBLIC TO ADDRESS THE BODY
THROUGII ANY COMBINATION OF PRIOR REGISTRATION AND OPEN
MICROPHONE PR�SENTATIONS; PROVIDING T'OR A SEVCRABILITY CLAUSE; �ND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATF.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Denton desires to conduct the City Council
meeti�l�s of the City of Denton in the most efficient and time effective rnanner; and
WHER�AS, the City Council also desires to allow open dialo�ue by citizens of the
community regarding the business of city government; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to increase the number of residents participatin� in
the "Presentations fl•om Members of the Public" portion of City Council meetings; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to allow for flexibility in the number of Prior
Registration and Open Micrc�phone presentations made during each meetin� with a tnaximum
combined total of seven (7) speakers;
WHEREAS, Dcnton City Council meetings are canducted in accordance with the
C.ouncil Rules of Proceciure set forth in Section 2-29 of the Dentan City Coc�e of Ordinances;
NOW TI-ICREPORE,
"T'HE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON HF.REBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. That Section 2-29(�(4) of the Gity Code, known as the Denton City
Cc�uncil Rules c�f Procedure, is hereby amended to read as follows:
(4) Presentations,frofr� rrren�ber•.s of lhe public:
a. Repor7s,fi�n�rr rr�embei:s oftl�e>>a�blic: Reports from members of the public shall be
received through two (2) m�thods: l) prior registration or 2) open microphanc. A
total of up to seven (7} speakers are permitted to provide public comment and may
include any combination of prior registration and open microphone speakers. Public
comment is provided during regular mcetings of the city cauncil, which typically
oeeur on the tirst and third 1'uesday of each month.
I) Pr•inr• �•egistration. Any peyson who wishes to place a subject an the council
agenda at re�;ular council meetin�s shaNE advise the city mana�er's ofiice of that
fact and the specified subjcct mattet• which he or she desires to place on the
agenda no later than 12:00 p.m. Tliursday prior to the caw�cil meetii�g at which he
or she ���ishes the designated subject to be considered. Such reports shall be heard
at the beginning of the regular meeting of the city council pt�rsuant to an a�enda
posting allowi��g a period of public comment.
Each s�eaker providing a report shall speak for no longer than four (4)
minutes. �t the conclusion of each report, council may pose questions io the
speakec• concernin�; his or her report. Council may also engage in discussion
concerning each report. If the city council bclieves that a speaker's report
requires a more detailed review, the council will give the city manager or city
staff direction to place the item on a futut•e work session or regular meeting
agcnda and advise staff as to the background materials to be desired at such
meeting.
2) „ Ol�en �i7icrophone. At the beguining of the regular meeting of the city
council, persons who have not registered to speak as abovc described may
make coinments through the open microphone procedure. Such person(s) shall
have filed a"Blue Card" requesting to speak dr�ri���, this period prior to the
calling of this agenda item. At the time the city council calls the Open
Microphone comment period, a person may present himsclf or herself and
make pubiic comments regarding public business; providec) however, such
persons shall not be allowed to speak to items on the current agenda in light of
other established proccdt►res for taking such comments as specified in these
rules.
No person may till aut a"request to speak" form in order i� s��ak or carnt�ent
on another person's report, which is �iven at the same council meeting. An
announcement may be made, prior to the time for reports from members of the
public on the agenda, summarizin� the main portions of the rules and the "code
of conduct" as they may apply ta membe�•s of the public speaking to tlle
council. Any speaker pravidi�ig a report shall speak for no longer than four (4)
minutes on all items that he o�• she may bring before the council at each
meeting.
SECTION 2. The provisions of this Ordiizance are severable, and the invalidity of any
phrase, clause, or part of the Ordinance shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of the
remaind�:�° of the nrdinanc�.
SECTiON 3. This ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its passage and
approval
The motion to approve this ordinance was made by ���� ��✓"� µT
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and seconded by �LY ��/C7�� _, tl�e ordinance was passed and
approved by the follo �in�[� - �] :
Aye Nay Abstain Absent
Chris Watts, Mayor: ✓
Gerard Hudspcth, District 1: �
Keely Briggs, District :�:
Jesse navis, District 3:
Ja11n Ryar�, District 4:
Deb Aj•mintor, At Large Place 5:
Paul Meltzer, nt Large Place 6:
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PASSED AND APPROVED this the ��`�� day af _���, 2020.
CHRIS WATTS, MAYOR
ATTEST:
ROSA RIOS, CITY SECRETARY
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APPROVED AS TO LECiAL FORM:
AARON L�AL, CITY ATTORNEY
BY:
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