During the recent Council Budget Retreat the Council discussed proposed changes to the Rules.  First, the Council gave Staff direction that they would prefer to have the same rules for public speakers in the context of agendized non-public hearing items as for speakers during public hearings. This change will remove the discretion of the Chair to allow or disallow public speakers on these topics and instead require the Chair to allow public speakers.

Second, the Rules should be amended to allow removal of citizens from the meeting only for public disturbances as required by a ruling of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Third, the Rules relating to public hearings should be clarified to indicate that the public hearing opens immediately before the Staff presentation, if there is such presentation, and closes immediately after the final required vote of Council.  This rule will also be amended, consistent with direction given to Staff, to allow additional public comment on a topic if the substance of the matter has been significantly changed during the hearing.

None.

Improve effectiveness of notification, communication, and engagement with residents, neighborhoods and businesses and about City services, programs, policies, projects and developments

Yes.  Direction was given to Staff  at the recent Council Budget Retreat.

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1) Approve the Rules of Procedure as drafted
2) Propose different language to amend the Rules of Procedure
3) Take no action

The proposed amendment to Rule 9.02 would have the effect of allowing public speakers  to comment once during a public hearing, which will include the first and second read of an ordinance.  Public speakers would be allowed additional comments if there was a substantial change to the proposed action.  Currently our practice is to allow members of the public to repeat comments even when there is no change to the proposed action between the first and second read of an ordinance, even though this is not allowed under the current Rules.