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from the meeting at which the conduct is occurring, removal of the Council member from <br />the Council committee chair positions or committee memberships, or removal of <br />intergovernmental duties. Expulsion for such behavior in the Council's presence shall <br />require the affirmative vote of a majority of the Council, specifying in the order of <br />expulsion the cause thereof. <br />E. Challenge to Ruling. Any member of the Council shall have the right to challenge any <br />action or ruling of the presiding officer. The decision of the majority of the members of the <br />Council present, including the presiding officer, shall govern. <br />F. Mayor. The Mayor shall have the right to enter into a discussion of any matter before the City <br />Council. <br />RULE 7 - PUBLIC COMMENT <br />A. Public Comment. The City Council appreciates hearing from citizens about items on its <br />agenda, and desires to set aside time at the start of each Council business meeting for Public <br />Comment. To facilitate the orderly presentation of public comments, those wishing to speak <br />should complete a form with name and address before the start of the meeting. Generally <br />speaking, all public comments at the start of the council meeting should be limited to issues not <br />on the formal agenda; public comments on specific items on the agenda shall be allowed before <br />council action is taken on those items. <br />B. Time. To ensure equal opportunity for the public to comment, a speaker's comments should <br />be limited to three minutes per person, except in those instances where the person is representing <br />a group or organization, in which case five minute should be allowed. Where necessary, due to <br />the number of persons who wish to address the Council, the presiding officer shall retain <br />authority to limit all persons' remarks to an equal period of less than three minutes. To further <br />ensure equal opportunity for the public to comment, each person may address the Council only <br />one time during the Public Comment portion of the meeting. Comments may be made on <br />resolutions as well as each reading of an ordinance. Written comments submitted prior to <br />Council action shall be considered in the same manner as oral comments. Should the Council <br />suspend its rules to include a new resolution or ordinance on the agenda, public comment will be <br />taken at the time Council considers the resolution or ordinance. Where an ordinance has been <br />substantially changed at its final reading, a person may speak to the changes. Public comment <br />sign-up forms will be available at the back of the Council Chambers for use by those persons <br />wishing to address the Council. All remarks will be addressed to the Council as a whole. <br />[Council is further encouraged to adopt the use of colored timing lights at the podium so <br />that persons speaking can better manage their time.] <br />C. Courtesy. All speakers during Public Comment, in the discussion, comments, or debate of <br />any matter or issue, shall be courteous in their language and deportment and shall not engage in <br />or discuss or comment on personalities, or indulge in derogatory remarks or insinuations in <br />respect to any member of the Council, or any member of the staff or the public, but shall at all <br />0 <br />