HomeMy WebLinkAbout032056 RES - 03/17/2020 Resolution to revise City Council Policies regarding Rules of Decorum
SECTION 1. The City Council Policies regarding Rules of Decorum are revised to read
as follows:
City Council Policies
"5. - Rules of decorum.
Toconduct the business of the City, and to properly discharge its
duty, the City Council must hear in many instances a variety of differing viewpoints. To
obtain all relevant information from differing viewpoints, rules of decorum are necessary.
Thus, the City Council adopts the following rules to assist in the orderly deliberation of
matters affecting the City and its citizens.
a. The City Secretary shall see that the flag of the United States and the flag of
the City of Corpus Christi are properly and prominently displayed at some
convenient place in the City Council Chamber.
b. Each day the City Council is in session, the City Secretary shall call the roll of
the City Council and required City Charter officers and announce the results of
such roll call. The City Secretary shall declare if a quorum is present and the
necessary City Charter officers present, subject to confirmation of the City
Council.
c. The session shall begin with an invocation followed by the Pledge of the
Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
d. No Council Member, staff person, or members of the audience shall berate,
cmbarracc, accuse, or show any personal disrespect for any member of the
d. While the City Council is in session there shall be:
1. No smoking of cigarettes, pipes, or cigars;
2. No consumption of any kind by the audience;
3. No propping of feet on tables or chairs;
4. No loud noises, talking, shouting, etc.;
5. No loud demonstrating for or against the Council or any speaker, issue, or
presentation;
6. No applause, booing, hissing, foot stomping, parading, singing, or other
disruptive inappropriate behavior;
7. No wearing of hats, caps, or headgear,
emeses-that potentially impair the view of audience members.
e. Demonstrations shall not be permitted while the City Council is in session,
including marches, chanting, picketing, any other coercive, argumentative,
political and/or disruptive behavior of any kind.
032056 SCANNED
f. Political advertisements of any type, disruptive Biaanners, placards, signs, or
posters that potentially impair the view of audience members are prohibited.
This prohibition does not prohibit maps, photographs, drawings, plats,
architectural, or artist renditions, or conceptualization, charts, graphs, slides,
motion pictures, video displays, statistical displays, or other material for use in a
useful and necessary to a presentation. -- _' - _ _ _ , _ - . - • - -
make the final determination on whether particular material is useful and
nece Cary. This determination shall be final.
g. In addressing the City Council, members of the audience shall rise, go to the
podium, and remain standing while addressing the Council. They shall remain
at the podium and speak into the microphone for the recording of the
proceedings and begin by giving their full name and address. Citizens shall not
approach the City Council table except with permission or request of the Mayor
or the City Council.
h. Citizens, Council Members, and City staff shall be prompt in all sessions of the
City Council and in the dispatch of City business. Time limitations imposed by
the Mayor or the Council on presentations shall be strictly enforced.
i. City Council, City staff, and all fellow citizens shall be courteous, polite, concise,
and respectful of one another, and shall respect the letter and spirit of these
rules so that the City Council may fairly hear all sides of an issue and by due
deliberation act in the best interest of all the citizens. Council Members and the
Mayor shall be referred to by title and/or title with surname.
j. All remarks shall be addressed to the Mayor and City Council and not to the
Council Members as individuals.
k. Citizens are authorized and encouraged to present their views to the Council
on - e-•e- - - - • -•• , - e - - - - • e. ' _ _ • .e-•e- City-related
matters. However, such should be done in a factual, precise presentation and
questions of Council or staff are inappropriate. Loud, boisterous, profane, or
obscene language or behavior is not allowed.
I. Persons in the immediate vicinity of the City Council while in session shall
refrain from any disturbing noise, demonstration, or other act disrupting to the
City Council business.
These rules are not meant to restrain a citizen's First Amendment rights".
(Res. No. 21901 , § 1 , 3-22-1994; Res. No. 25507, § 3, 9-30-2003)
SECTION 2. This Resolution takes effect on final City Council approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED on the l day of MORA') , 2020:
Joe McComb
Roland Barrera (sayQ
Rudy Garza ��`0
Paulette M. Guajardo •
Gil Hernandez
1-11)('
Michael Hunter
Ben Molina
Everett Roy
Greg Smith
ATTEST: CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI
Rebecca Huerta J.- cComb
City Secretary M: . r
032056