R-0949-96 _SOLUTION NO. 949-96
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNCIL ADOPTING
PROCEDURES AND RESTRICTIONS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT
VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETINGS; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of Miami Shores Village that Village Council
meetings be conducted in an orderly fashion; and,
WHEREAS, representative local government requires that legislative and certain
administrative matters b,-ought before the Village Council be open to public comment and
debate, with reasonable limitations, so that input and information may be obtained from all
citizens of the Village for consideration by the Council; and,
WHEREAS, the primary purpose of Village Council meetings is to determine
municipal policy and to implement the government of the Village for the benefit and with
the participation of all of the citizens of the Village;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Village Council of Miami Shores Village,
Florida:
1. Public comment shall be permitted on all matters under consideration for
adoption by Village Ordinance.
2. Public comment may be permitted, at the discretion of the Mayor, or in the
Mayor's absence, at the discretion of the acting, presiding officer of the Council, on all
other matters that come before the Council for its consideration, and for open public
comment at the conclusion of the Council's agenda for the meeting.
3. Public comment, when permitted or allowed, shall be subject to the following
limitations:
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A. Speakers shall each be limited to a presentation of five (5) minutes per
agenda item; the same limitation shall apply to open public comment at the conclusion of
the Council's agenda for the meeting when such comment is permitted;
B. Where a large number of the public which to speak on an item, groups and
factions shall be limited to one representative per group or faction per agenda item;
C. Public comment shall be restricted to discussion of matters relevant to the
agenda item then before the Council;
D. Any member of the public who:
i) engages in the use of abusive or profane language, physical violence
or the threat thereof, or other loud and boisterous behavior, which the
Mayor or presiding officer determines is intended as, or has the effect
of, disrupting or impeding the functioning of the meeting; or
ii) after being warned, continues to violate the limitations on public
comment set forth in this Resolution;
may be ejected from the Council meeting for the duration of the meeting or for such lesser
time as the Mayor or presiding officer determines.
E. The procedures set forth in this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon
its adoption.
Moved, seconded and passed unanimouslAh y f J ly 1996.6;,!/aye Clerrk � gia, ayor
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