2025-004 - Amending the Council Rules and Procedures

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person having the floor may be permitted to enter into the discussion without permission of the presiding officer. (f) It shall be within the sound discretion of the presiding officer to set a maximum time for public comment. In setting any limit, the presiding officer shall take into consideration the level of public interest in the matters in question, the length of the meeting and the need to provide for an orderly and effective meeting. As a means of limiting time while maximizing the public's opportunity to address the City Council, if a group of people seeks to address the City Council on the same matter or topic, the presiding officer may request the group to designate a spokesperson or limited number of speakers to address the City Council. (g) The following rules shall apply to all persons addressing the City Council. All speakers are requested to: • direct all testimony to the City Council or the presiding officer and not individual Councilmembers, • when speaking on agenda matters, limit comments to the agenda item(s), • when speaking on non agenda matters, limit comments to matters within the jurisdiction or official business of the City of Santa Ana, and, • refrain from profane language, racial epitaphs, and libelous or slanderous statements that disturb the decorum of the meeting. (h) Use of City equipment for video or audio presentations by a speaker shall be prohibited. However, nothing contained herein shall prohibit a speaker from making a presentation (including photographs, diagrams, or using other audio or visual means) to the City Council during such speaker's public comments. (i) The presiding officer shall have the power and responsibility to enforce decorum and order of the meeting as set forth in Section 2-104(c). Among other means of enforcement, the presiding officer may order the podium microphone turned off and/or video broadcast interrupted when the presiding officer has determined that an individual or group has disrupted the meeting, or the individual or group has exceeded their allotted time to speak without permission of the presiding officer. (j) All cell phones, pagers, or electronic devices belonging to the public, press, or personnel that may be disruptive must be placed on vibrate mode/quiet or be turned off while a meeting is in session. Section 6. Teleconferencing. Remote participation in a City Council meeting shall be governed by the teleconferencing provisions set forth in the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code Section 54950, et seq.) and by a Teleconferencing Policy duly adopted by the City Council. Resolution No. 2025-004 Page 4 of 6