Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, May 07, 2019
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT RULES OF DECORUM FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS (CITY COUNCIL)
Body
I. SUMMARY
In March the City Council requested that the City Manager research and draft rules of decorum for public meetings. This report contains proposed rules for the Council's consideration. The rules promote mutual respect, civility and orderly conduct among City employees, elected officials, and the public. This policy is not intended to deprive any person of his/her right to freedom of expression, but only to maintain, to the extent possible and reasonable, a safe, harassment-free space. Positive communication is encouraged and volatile, hostile or aggressive comments are discouraged. Staff seeks the City Council consideration of proposed rules.
The question of decorum in public meetings has become a matter of concern in many municipalities nationally, and cities have adopted such rules and even full civility policies to try to guide appropriate behavior in such settings, in order to allow for full participation in the process by all members of the public. Other South Bay cities have adopted such policies, and these rules are similar to what has been adopted within the region.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE the following actions:
1. CONSIDER and PROVIDE direction.
2. Should the Council wish to adopt these draft rules, INSTRUCT the City Manager to finalize the draft rules of decorum into a Council Policy Procedure for formal adoption at a future meeting.
Body
III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE no action at this time.
IV. BACKGROUND
The City has numerous public meetings such as City Council meetings, Commission meetings, Board meetings, etc. (hereinafter "Public Meetings"). In order to safeguard participatory democracy in Carson, all persons attending Public Meetings in Carson should strive to:
A. Goals During Public Meetings
* Treat everyone courteously
* Listen to others respectfu...
Click here for full text