19-2863ORDINANCE NO. 19-2863
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON TO AMEND THE CITY OF DENTON CODE
OF ORD[T�ANCES (CODE) SECTION 2-29(�(4)(d) (CITY COUNCIL RULES OF
PROCEDURE) RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS BY ALLOWING SPEAKERS WHO
HAVE PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED INPUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A
REBUTTAL AFTER HEARING THE APPLICANT'S REBUTTAL; PROVIDING FOR A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DA�ti,I?.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Denton desires to conduct the City Council
meetings of the City of Denton in the most efficient and time effective manner; and
WHEREAS, the C'ity Council also desires to allow open dialogue by citizens of the
community regarding the business of city government; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to allow residents who provide initial remarks on a
Public Hearing item the ability to provide additional feedback after hearing the applicant's
rebuttal; and
WHEREAS, Denton City Council meetings are conducted in accordance with the
C�uncil Rules af Procedure set forth in Section 2-29 of the Denton City Code of Ordinances;
NOW THEREFORE,
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. That Section 2-29(�(4)(d) of the City Code, known as the Denton City
Council Rules of Procedure, is hereby amended to read as follows:
d. Public hearings:
1) Any person who wishes to address the council at a public hearing is encouraged
to complete a"request to speak" form and return it to the city secretary before the
applicable hearing. The mayor will call upon the person to speak. Speakers will be
allowed up to four (4) minutes per speaker as to speak on any public hearing item.
However, if numerous speakers desire to comment on an item, council may limit
speakers to three (3) minutes per speaker. Only those speakers who previously
provided input on a specific item wil& be permitted to provide a final rebuttal of up to
two (2) minutes per speaker. Applicants and their agents on public hearing items shall
be allowed to speak for no longer than ten (10) minutes per speaker with a total of
twenty (20) minutes for all speakers representing the applicant. Speakers will have
the opportunity to make a single, final rebuttal after hearing the applicant's rebuttal as
set forth in Section 2-29(�(4)(d)(2)(g).
2) To facilitate the public hearing process in zoning cases the following procedure
will be used:
a) The mayor reads the zoning case caption, and then opens the public hearing.
b) The city manager introduces the city staff for presentation.
c) City staff presents facts relevant to the matter.
d) The applicant presents his or her case, with potential questions of the
applicant from the city council.
e) The council receives input from the public, with potential questions of
speakers from the city council.
fl The applicant will be given an opportunity to make rebuttal comments.
g) Members of the public who previously provided input on a specific item will
have the opportunity to make a single, final rebuttal.
h) The city staff and/or the applicant will answer any questions of the city
council.
i) Upon conclusion of these questions and answers, the mayor will continue or
close the public hearing.
SECTION 2. The provisions of this ordinance are severable, and the invalidity of any
phrase, clause, or part of the ordin����� shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of the
remainder of the ordinance.
SECTION 3. This ordinance shall become effective immediatelr� upon its passage and
approval.
The motion to approve this ordinance was made by eJ �"�55� .�,� V��
and seconded by ��-"�" ���°�,�'�„,� � , the ordinance was passed and
approved by the following vote [!S -�:
Chris Watts, Mayor:
Gerard Hudspeth, District 1:
Keely Briggs, District 2:
Jesse Davis, District 3:
John Ryan, District 4:
Deb Armintor, At Large Place 5
Paul Meltzer, At Large Place 6:
Aye Nay
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✓
✓
Abstain Absent
0
PASSED AND APPROVED this the �/���� day of �, ������'���'�'����`�'�, 2020.
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� e CHRIS ATTS, MAYOR
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ATTEST:
ROSA RIOS, CITY SECRETARY
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APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
AARON LEAL, CITY ATTORNEY
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BY: