HomeMy WebLinkAbout072-R-19 Amending City Council Rule 6 Citizen Participation to Require that Individuals are Physically Present to Participate in Public Comment Unless and to Amend the Section Heading to Public Comment7/10/2019
6/30/2019
72-R-19
A RESOLUTION
Amending City Council Rule 6, "Citizen Participation," to Require that
Individuals are Physically Present to Participate in Public Comment
Unless an Individual is Physically Disabled and Cannot Attend and to
Amend the Section Heading to "Public Comment"
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 ,dune
3, 2019 meeting, that the City Council Rules should be amended to prohibit individuals
from remotely addressing the Council during public comment; and
WHEREAS, the title of the section should more accurately reflect that the
public participation period is not just for citizens and re -title the section to "Public
Comment',
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
SECTION 1. Section 6 of the City Council Rules is hereby re -titled to read
as follows:
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
72-R-19
SECTION 2. Rule 6.2 of "Public Comment" of the City Council Rules is
hereby amended to read as follows:
6.2 The Council shall provide a period for Public Comment. Interested persons
shall sign their name, address and the agenda item or other topic to be addressed on a
designated citizen participation sheet. Only individuals physically present at the meeting
are permitted to participate in Public Comment. No electronic communication methods
will be permitted for persons that seek to participate remotely in Public Comment. If an
individual cannot attend the meeting due to a disability, the person is provided other
alternative channels of communication to provide their comments, including the person
may submit written public comment in advance of the meeting and it will be read during
Public Comment within the time parameters set forth herein. In the event there is not
adequate time to read the entire statement, the balance of the statement will be included
in the record. 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 Public Comment.
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 3. That this Resolution 72-R-19 shall be in full force and effect
from and after its passage and approval in the manner provided by law.
72-R-19
Attest
I
Devon Reicity Clerk--'—,
Adopted: , 2019
mi—,".411WAVOWN"
- - !R UPJ
Approved as to form:
Michelle L. Masoncup, Corpofation
Counsel