Bartlesville council adopts detailed meeting rules, limits public comment to agenda items

The Bartlesville City Council voted April 7 to adopt a detailed set of meeting rules that formalize how the council conducts business, limits public comment to agenda items and sets time and decorum standards.

The measure, presented by city staff and drafted from model rules, incorporates the council’s direction from an earlier workshop and references Rosenberg’s Rules of Order (2011) as a procedural guide. Council members debated changes including how long meetings may run, who may appear in public comment and whether applause should be listed as a prohibited disruption.

The new rules limit public comment at regular business meetings to matters appearing on the published agenda, establish a baseline 15‑minute citizens’ comment period (extendable by the mayor or a majority of the council), and require sign‑in and time allocations that scale with the number of speakers. A provision that restricted public comment to “citizens of Bartlesville” was preserved with a clarified exemption for people or businesses holding a Bartlesville business license. The council also voted to require that agenda items may be placed by the mayor, the city manager, the city attorney in consultation with the city manager or by direction of a council member (the earlier draft had required two council members).

Council members amended the draft during debate. They removed the single-word prohibition of “applause” from the disruption list and specified that restrictions on demonstrations and vocal interruptions are intended for times of council deliberation and public comment, while allowing appropriate applause for civic recognitions. The council approved language narrowing the exceptions that permit nonresidents to speak during public comment: owners of real property within city limits, persons charged with maintenance or administration of such property, and attorneys or holders of a power of attorney acting for an otherwise qualified Bartlesville resident were added as qualified speakers; a broader proposed category for leaders of civic organizations was removed.

Council staff told members the draft also updates the city’s referenced parliamentary authority to the 2011 edition of Rosenberg’s Rules and clarifies timing equipment and process (the council will use an audible timing device rather than the old gym clock). Supporters said the rules fill gaps and provide consistent backup for routine practice; critics said some provisions could limit public engagement if applied too strictly.

The motion to adopt the rules as amended carried on a council vote. Council members said the rules can be amended later if implementation shows they need further refinement.

The council and staff said the rules will be published with meeting materials and that members of the public who wish to propose further changes should submit comments to the council clerk.