Thornton discusses rules of order changes: handouts to staff, signage, public comment and audiovisual policy refined

Thornton City Council on Oct. 7 reviewed a set of proposed amendments to the municipal rules of order and procedure. Staff framed the package as safety and clarity updates and asked council for direction on multiple items, including handout protocol, public-comment etiquette, sign rules, audience disruptions, virtual-meeting authority, remote participation limits and audiovisual materials during public comment.

Staff proposed that any materials intended for council be handed to staff (city manager or clerk) rather than distributed directly to council members, both for safety and to ensure materials are part of the official record. Council supported formalizing that practice in the written rules.

Staff also proposed clarifying that public comments be addressed to the council as a body rather than to individual council members or to other members of the audience, to avoid crosstalk and reduce staff…