The City Council determines its own rules, order of business, conduct of public meetings, and shall provide for keeping a journal of its proceedings. The City Council Rules and Procedures were last amended on March 23, 2023, via Resolution No. 5675. The Council Rules and Procedures currently outlines opportunities for scheduled and unscheduled public appearances during Council meetings and residents have the opportunity to connect with members of council through in-person, phone and email contact. Residents may also submit online comments to the City on particular issues, items or problems. Per the City Council Rules and Procedures, City Council work sessions and subcommittee meetings are forums to discuss policy issues, obtain progress updates and convey direction to the City Manager. A group of Chandler residents have recently brought forward the idea of expanding public comment to City Council work sessions and subcommittee meetings. As the Presiding Officer, the Mayor has the purview to set City Council work session and subcommittee meeting agendas. On June 13, 2024, Mayor Hartke instituted the inclusion of a public comment agenda item on City Council work sessions and subcommittee meetings, effective immediately. Public comment is limited to 15 minutes with up to three minutes per speaker, and must be related to an item on a published meeting agenda. Councilmember Matt Orlando has requested the Council Rules and Procedures be updated to include this policy change. The proposed verbiage is below:
"Each City Council work session and subcommittee meeting will include a Public Comment agenda item. Public comments will be heard only for the item(s) on that published meeting agenda. Up to 15 minutes will be allotted for public comments on the agenda item(s) and each speaker will be allocated three minutes at the discretion of the Presiding Officer."
The current Council Rules and Procedures are attached for reference. A Resolution and updated version of the City Council Rules and Procedures would need to be drafted at the Council's direction to update the attached document. |