HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-1131 City Code Public Hearing Rules
CITY OF MERIDIAN ORDINANCE NO.
05-ll ?) \
BY THE CITY COUNCIL: BIRD, DONNELL, ROUNTREE, WARDLE
AN ORDINANCE REPEALING TITLE 1, CHAPTER 7, SECTIONS 7 (G) OF
THE MERIDIAN CITY CODE REGARDING THE RULES OF PROCEDURE
FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS; AND PROVIDING FOR A WAIVER OF THE
READING RULES; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
MERIDIAN, IDAHO:
Section 1. That Title I, Chapter 7, Section 7(G), Meridian City Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
1-7-7: RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS:
The following rules are hereby established, shall be observed in the conduct of any public
hearing before the City Council, and shall be known as the "Meridian Rules of Procedure
for Public Hearings":
A. Sign Up To Testify: No person shall be permitted to testify or speak before the City
Council at a public hearing unless such person has printed his name, signed his name
and written his residential address thereafter on sign-up sheets to be provided by the
City. This rule shall not apply to staff or technical witnesses directed by the Mayor to
give evidence or information to the City Council.
B. Recognition By Mayor: No person shall be permitted to speak before the City Council
at a public hearing until such person has been recognized by the Mayor. (Ord. 446, 2-
19-1985)
C. Record Of Proceedings: All public hearing proceedings shall berecorded
electronically or stenographically such that said proceedings are capable of being
transcribed, and all persons speaking at such public hearings shall speak before a
microphone in such a manner as will assure that the recorded testimony or remarks
will be accurate. The Mayor may order at any time that the record be transcribed. If a
party other than an official of the City requests that the record be transcribed, he shall
so request the Mayor to effect such, and all costs of preparing the transcript shall be
paid in advance by the party so requesting.
D. Time Limit For Speakers: In the notice of the public hearing or at the commencement
of the public hearing, the Mayor may establish a time limit to be observed by all
speakers. The time limit shall be established depending on the number of speakers
who sign up for each public hearing and shall apply only to the speaker's comments.
The Mayor may also, either in the notice ofthe public hearing or at the close of the
hearing, indicate that written testimony shall be received and set a date and time when
such written testimony must be submitted in order to be included in the written report.
PROCEDURE FOR MEETINGS AMENDMENT - Page I of 4
E. Interruption Of Speaker Prohibited: The speaker should not be interrupted by members
of the City Council until his time limit has been expended or until he has [mished his
statement. (Ord. 446,2-19-1985; amd. 1999 Code)
F. Questioning Speaker: At the conclusion of a speaker's comments, each City Council
member, when recognized by the Mayor, shall be allowed to question the speaker and
the speaker shall be limited to answers to the questions asked. The question and
answer period shall not be included in the speaker's time limit as established.
G. 8weariflg That TestÌHIoay Is TRle: WheR !fie ]'Iuè1ie heariRg is <¡Iiasi judicial iR aatIIre
or eRe after Wflfeli !fie City Ceoocil is Fe<¡liireà by law te make RRàiags offaøt, eaeli
SfJoaker must swear or aŒFIR that his teatimofty ",>,ill be !me !If!!! 6erreet.
II-. G, Compliance With Rules: Any person not conforming to any of the above rules may
be prohibited ftom speaking during the public hearing. Should any person refuse to
comply with such prohibition, he may be removed fÌOm the room by order of the
Mayor.
I-. H. Suspend Or Amend Rules: The City Council may suspend or amend anyone or
more of these rules by vote of one-half (1/2) plus one of the full City Council.
J-.1. Interpretation Of Rules By Mayor: The Mayor shall have the authority to interpret
and apply the foregoing rules, subject to an appeal to the City Council, whose
decision shall be determined by a majority vote of the Council members present.
&-. 1. Absence Of Mayor: In cases where the Mayor is absent ftom the public hearing or
where the public hearing is before a duly appointed hearing officer, the President of
the Councilor presiding Council member or the hearing officer shall fulfill the duties
ofthe Mayor described hereinabove. (Ord. 446, 2-19-1985)
Section 2. All ordinances, resolutions, orders, or parts thereof or in conflict
with this ordinance are hereby voided.
Section 3. That pursuant to the affirmative vote of one-half (1/2) plus one (I)
of the Members of the full Council, the rule requiring two (2) separate readings by title
and one (1) reading in full be, and the same is hereby, dispensed with, and accordingly,
this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its passage, approval and publication.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Meridian, Idaho, this ~ day
of Fëh?\I\'I\j ,2005.
APPROVED by the Mayor of the City of Meridian, Idaho, this Ê day of
F fh1 11\ XI) . 2005.
PROCEDURE FOR MEETINGS AMENDMENT - Page 2 of 4
APPROVED:
PROCEDURE FOR MEETINGS AMENDMENT - Page 3 of 4