HomeMy WebLinkAbout040-R-19 Amending City Council Rule 6, “Citizen Participation,” By Providing Guidelines for Public Comment at Standing Committees of the City Council4/10/2019
40-R-19
A RESOLUTION
Amending City Council Rule 6, 'Citizen Participation," By Providing
Guidelines for Public Comment at Standing Committees of the
City Council
WHEREAS, the City Council amends the City Council Rules and
Organization of the City Council of the City of Evanston ("City Council Rules") from time
to time; and
WHEREAS, the business of the City is to be conducted in an orderly and
efficient manner to facilitate sound City Council and public deliberation and decision
making; and
WHEREAS, the Rules Committee of the City Council requested at its April
1, 2019 meeting, that the City Council Rules should be amended to provide parameters
for public comment at the standing committee meetings of the City Council,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
SECTION 1. Rule 6.2 of "Citizen Participation" of the City Council Rules
is hereby amended to read as follows:
6.2 The Council shall provide a period for Citizen Comment. Interested persons shall
sign their name, address and the agenda item or other topic to be addressed on a
designated citizen participation sheet. A speaker may address the Council for no more
than three minutes, and only once per Council meeting. The maximum time limit for each
speaker is a single three minute time limit applied to any and all topics the speaker
addresses. The maximum time period for citizen participation is forty-five minutes. If
there are more than 15 speakers, the Mayor will allocate time among the speakers to
ensure that citizen comment does not exceed forty-five (45) minutes. Speakers will not
be permitted to cede time to another speaker. The business of the City Council shall
commence no later than forty-five (45) minutes after the beginning of Citizen Comment.
40-R-19
City Council standing committees shall provide opportunities for citizen comment at the
beginning of each meeting. For all of the standing committees of the City Council, except
Planning and Development, a period of twenty minutes shall be provided for all public
comment, and no individual may speak longer than two (2) minutes and cannot cede time
to another speaker. For Planning and Development Committee, a period of forty-five
minutes (45) shall be provided for all public comment and no individual may speaker
longer than two (2) minutes and cannot cede time to another speaker. The committee
chair of the standing committees will allocate time among the speakers to ensure that
Public Comment does not exceed the allotted time provided above. The business of the
committee shall commence after the specified time above expires.
SECTION 2. That this Resolution 40-R-19 shall be in full force and effect
from and after its passage and approval in the manner provided by law.
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Attest:C7� MWA Approved as to form:
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Devon Reid, City Clerk Michelle L. Masoncup, Corporation
Counsel
Adopted: 4 rrl 1319,t , 2019