§ 2-53. Public addressing the council, generally.

(a)

Taxpayers or residents of the city, or their authorized legal representatives, may address the council at a regularly-scheduled meeting on any item of business listed on the meeting agenda, in accordance with this division.

(b)

Requests to address the city council shall be submitted in writing to the city clerk prior to the start of the council meeting. The city manager or designee shall prepare and distribute a form for this purpose. Only those persons that have complied with this requirement will be permitted to speak at the meeting.

(c)

Each person addressing the council shall step up to the microphone and shall give his name and address in an audible tone of voice for the record. Such person shall be entitled to speak one time only at the meeting on any item of business, for three minutes, unless further time is granted by the presiding officer after consultation with the council. All remarks shall be addressed to the council as a body and not to any member thereof. No person other than the council and the person with the floor shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, either directly or through a member of the council, without permission of the presiding officer after consultation with the council. No questions shall be asked a councilor except through the presiding officer.

(Code 1966, § 1-1.8; Code 1982, § 2-25; Ord. No. 1528, § 9, 8-12-1974; Ord. No. 2889, § 1, 8-15-2005; Ord. No. 3704, § 3, 8-31-2009; Ord. No. 3110, § 2, 9-20-2010)