G-06-04-13-9A1 - 4/13/2006ORDINANCE NO. 6- 06-011-13-q01
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES (1995
EDITION), CITY OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS, CHAPTER 1, SECTION
1.1008 AMENDING THE TIME LIMITS FOR CITIZEN
COMMUNICATION AND ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES AND TIME
LIMITS FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS; AND PROVIDING FOR A SAVINGS
CLAUSE AND REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES OR
RESOLUTIONS.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK,
TEXAS:
I.
That Chapter 1, Section 1.1008, Code of Ordinances (1995
Edition), City of Round Rock, Texas, is hereby amended to read as
follows:
1.1008 AGENDA AND RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS
(2) Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Council Meetings
(e) Citizen Communication
(iv) Procedure for Citizen Addressing Council When Item Not on Agenda
Any person wishing to address the city council concerning a matter not on
the agenda under "Citizen Communication" may do so provided that he
or she limits such presentation to three (3) minutes, and provided that he
or she has previously delivered to the city secretary a registration card
identifying the topic on which the person desires to address the city
council.
The registration card shall include the following information: (1) full
name; (2) business or residential address; (3) business or residential
telephone number; (4) representation; (5) agenda item or topic; (6) brief
statement of position, e.g. for or against an agenda item or summary of
communication.
Persons properly and timely submitting registration cards will be heard
after the items on the agenda have been heard.
Persons addressing the city council concerning a matter not on the agenda
shall be limited to no more than three (3) minutes. However, the Mayor
may expand the time limit set forth up to one additional three (3) minute
period if the presenter requests an extension and if no council member
objects. If a council member objects to the presenter's request for an
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extension, then the city council shall vote to approve or disapprove the
request for extension.
If the number of persons signing up to address the Council during Citizen
Communication exceeds a total of ten (10) the Mayor may limit the time
for each person to less than three (3) minutes unless a council member
objects. If a council member objects to the time limitation, then the city
council shall vote to approve or disapprove the time limitation.
Either the city secretary or the city attorney shall serve as timekeeper for
any presentation made to the city council.
The Mayor may deny any presenter the opportunity to address the city
council if the presentation made or offered is substantially repetitive of a
presentation previously made.
(v) Procedure for Citizens Addressing the Council During Public Hearings
Any person wishing to address the city council concerning a Public
Hearing may do so provided that he or she limits such presentation to
three (3) minutes, and provided that he or she has previously delivered to
the city secretary a registration card identifying the Public Hearing on
which the person desires to address the city council.
The registration card shall include the following information: (1) full
name; (2) business or residential address; (3) business or residential
telephone number; (4) representation; (5) the topic of the Public Hearing;
(6) brief statement of position, e.g. for or against an agenda item or
summary of communication.
Persons addressing the city council concerning a Public Hearing shall be
limited to no more than three (3) minutes. However, the Mayor may
expand the time limit set forth up to one additional three (3) minute period
if the presenter requests an extension and if no council member objects.
If a council member objects to the presenter's request for an extension,
then the city council shall vote to approve or disapprove the request for
extension
If the number of persons signing up to address the Council during a
Public Hearing exceeds a total of ten (10) the Mayor may limit the time
for each person to less than three (3) minutes unless a council member
objects. If a council member objects to the time limitation, then the city
council shall vote to approve or disapprove the time limitation.
Either the city secretary or the city attorney shall serve as timekeeper for
any presentation made to the city council.
The Mayor may deny any person the opportunity to address the city
council if the presentation made or offered is substantially repetitive of a
presentation previously made or is not relevant to the matter for which the
Public Hearing is held.
II.
A. All ordinances, parts of ordinances, or resolutions in
conflict herewith are expressly repealed.
B. The invalidity of any section or provision of this
ordinance shall not invalidate other sections or provisions
thereof.
C. The City Council hereby finds and declares that written
notice of the date, hour, place and subject of the meeting at which
this Ordinance was adopted was posted and that such meeting was
open to the public as required by law at all times during which
this Ordinance and the subject matter hereof were discussed,
considered and formally acted upon, all as required by the Open
Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, as amended.
Alternative 1.
By motion duly made, seconded and passed with an affirmative
vote of all the Council members present, the requirement for
reading this ordinance on two separate days was dispensed with.
READ, PASSED, and ADOPTED on first reading this day
of , 2006.
Alternative 2.
READ and APPROVED on first reading this the day of
, 2006.
READ, APPROVED and ADOPTED on second reading this the _
day of , 2006.
3
AT .E T:
LL, •ayor
ity of Round Rock, Texas
CHRISTINE R. MARTINEZ, City Secre
4
DATE: April 6, 2006, 2006
SUBJECT: City Council Meeting - April 13, 2006
ITEM: 9.A.1. Consider an ordinance amending Chapter 1, Section 1.1008 of the
Round Rock Code of Ordinances amending the time limits for Citizen
Communication and establishing procedures and time limits for public
hearings. (First Reading)
Department: Administration
Staff Person: Jim Nuse, City Manager
Justification:
This ordinance is an effort to have consistent procedures for both Citizen Communication and
Public Hearings. In drafting this ordinance, area cities were polled and Austin, Pflugerville, and
Georgetown all had three (3) minute limits. College Station and Plano also have a three-minute
limit for Public Hearings.
To be consistent, staff is recommending that the Council adopt a three minute limit for
presentations during both Citizen Communications and Public Hearings. It is believed that this will
afford an ample opportunity for the citizens wishing to address the Council and that it will allow
time for all persons to be heard without causing an undue delay in the Council meetings.
Funding:
Cost: N/A
Source of funds: N/A
Outside Resources: N/A
Background Information:
Many years ago, the City Council adopted an ordinance setting out the procedures for addressing
the Council during "Citizen Communication". This included filling out a registration card as well as
limiting the time for presentations.
However, the ordinance did not address any procedures for citizens addressing the Council during
Public Hearings. This has sometimes led to confusion on the part of the citizens addressing the
Council.
Public Comment: N/A