Addressing Council

121.14 ADDRESSING COUNCIL

(a) Persons desiring to address Council may do so in the following manner:

Oral Communications Any person or their authorized representative may address Council on any matter of City business at the proper time provided in the agenda at any regular or special meeting of Council or a meeting of its Committee of the Whole by providing their name, address and subject matter to be discussed on a City provided sign in sheet to the Clerk of Council no later than five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the meeting and thereafter by raising and securing the permission of the presiding officer. Campaigning for individual candidates for political office does not constitute a matter of “City business”.

Such persons shall state their name and address and the name and address of the person or group they may represent, if applicable, in an audible tone of voice for the record, and unless further time is granted by the presiding officer or upon motion of Council, shall limit their address to three (3) minutes.

All remarks should be addressed to Council as a body. No person shall attempt to engage any Council member or officer of the City in debate although Council members may respond to remarks. No person other than Council members and the person having the floor shall be permitted to enter into any discussion without the permission of the presiding officer. No question shall be asked of a member of Council or municipal officer except through the presiding officer. No person shall be entitled to the floor a second time upon the same subject at one meeting.

(b) Disturbing a Lawful Meeting:

No person, with purpose to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting of Council or the Committee of the Whole, shall do either of the following:

(1) Do any act which obstructs or interferes with the due conduct of such meeting;

(2) Make any utterance, gesture, or display which outrages the sensibilities of the group.

(c) Whoever violates this Section 121.14(b) shall be prosecuted under M.C.O. Section 509.04 – Disturbing a Lawful Meeting. (ref. ORC 2917.12)