Explanation
Background:
This legislation will allow for a revision of City Council's speaker rules to ensure that council meetings are conducted in an atmosphere conducive to productive dialogue and debate on the issues before the body.
Fiscal Impact: This legislation has no fiscal impact.
Title
To amend section 111.12 of Columbus City Codes 1959, speaking before city council, and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, Section 9 of the Charter of the City of Columbus directs city council to determine its own rules and order of business, and
WHEREAS, city council proposes to amend Columbus City Codes 1959 section 111.12 to ensure that council meetings are conducted in an atmosphere conducive to productive dialogue and debate on the issues before the body, and
WHEREAS, to ensure detailed and extensive public input on the major legislative issues facing the city council, the members of council reaffirm their commitment to holding at least one public hearing on ordinances that would have a substantial impact on the community, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Council that it is necessary to define the rules for speakers at the beginning of the year and for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare, and now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS
Section 1. That existing section 111.12 of Columbus City Codes 1959 be amended to read as follows:
111.12 Speaking before council.
In all cases the member of council who shall first address the chair shall speak first; but when two (2) or more members of council address the chair at the same time, the president shall name the member of council who is to speak first.
No member of council shall be allowed to speak except from his or her own desk. No member of council shall speak more than twice upon the same subject, nor longer than five (5) minutes at one time without leave. No memb...
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