Council adopts updated rules of procedure, tightens electronic submittal and hearing-spokesperson deadlines

The Post Falls City Council voted Sept. 2 to adopt updated rules of procedure for meetings and public hearings, amending deadlines and adding a formal process for electronic presentation materials.

City attorney Al Harrington presented the changes as a modernization of existing rules: switching the city’s rules-of-order reference to Fields’ rules (instead of Robert’s Rules), updating contact information and introducing electronic media submission standards so external devices will not be plugged into city systems. The update also extended decorum rules that had applied to land-use public hearings to all council meetings.

Key change approved - Electronic presentation materials: the update requires presenters to submit electronic files to the city media/IT team ahead of meetings so staff can scan materials for viruses and load them onto the meeting system; the rules prohibit direct connection of external devices to city systems and allow an applicant to request a continuance if they fail to meet the submission requirements. - Spokesperson deadline aligned with written testimony deadline: Council modified the draft rule so that a designated spokesperson for multiple people must notify the clerk by the same deadline as written testimony (close of business 4 business days before the meeting), rather than the longer 6-calendar-day window in the earlier draft. Members cited fairness and operational convenience in setting a uniform deadline.

Public comment and personnel concerns - Council discussed whether public remarks about city employees should be permitted during public comment. Staff and council clarified that residents may speak about interactions with city staff, but staff said personnel complaints that implicate privacy or employment issues are typically handled outside the open meeting as an HR matter or in executive session if appropriate.

Council action - A motion to approve the updates, with the specific caveat aligning the spokesperson and written-testimony deadlines, passed on roll call.

Speakers [{"name":"Al Harrington","role_title":"City Attorney","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Councilor Malloy","role_title":"Council member","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Councilor Westland","role_title":"Council member","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Councilor Stigler","role_title":"Council member","affiliation_type":"government"}]

Authorities []

Actions [{"kind":"other","motion":"Approve updates to rules of procedure for meetings and public hearings with deadline language aligning spokesperson and written testimony deadlines","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Westlund","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Stigler","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Davis","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Plough","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Ziegler","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Malloy","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":6,"no":0},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Spokesperson deadline changed to close of business 4 business days before meeting (same as written testimony)."}]

clarifying_details [{"category":"electronic_submission_deadline","detail":"Electronic presentation materials to media/IT for scanning and loading; submitters may request continuance if they fail to meet requirement","source_speaker":"Al Harrington"},{"category":"spokesperson_deadline","detail":"Council amended draft to require spokesperson notice on the same schedule as written testimony: close of business 4 business days before meeting","source_speaker":"Council"}]

proper_names [{"name":"Fields' rules of order","type":"other"},{"name":"Post Falls","type":"location"}]

searchable_tags ["rules of procedure","public hearings","electronic submissions","Fields rules","Post Falls"]

provenance {}