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City Council adopts consolidated rules of procedure, including a 30-day reconsideration rule and ejection protocol
Summary
The council adopted Resolution 2026-048 to formalize rules of procedure: executive-session attendance clarified, reconsideration of items limited to 30 days (with exceptions), Robert's Rules noted as advisory, remote attendance limited, and a three-strike ejection rule for disruptive attendees was detailed.
The Farmers Branch City Council adopted a comprehensive set of rules of procedure on March 17 designed to clarify meeting operations and reduce procedural disputes.
City Attorney David walked council through the proposed rules, which include clarified limits on who attends executive sessions, a provision that resolved items may not be placed back on the council agenda for 30 days (with enumerated exceptions such as new material information, exigent circumstances, or items tabled to a specific date), and language that treats Roberts Rules of Order as a guideline rather than a binding code. The rules add a friendly-amendment process, limit remote council attendance to a set number of occurrences per year, require annual orientation and continuing education for council members, and clarify the process for requesting formal legal opinions (generally routed via the city manager when formal written opinions are requested).
The procedural appendix explains point-of-order and motion practice, including calling the question and overruling the presiding officer by majority vote. The rules also spell out a three-strike approach for disruptive members of the public: after three instances of disruptive conduct in a single meeting, law enforcement may eject the individual and may, at their discretion, issue a criminal trespass warning or make charges.
Council members discussed enforcement discretion and whether a permanent ban from meetings could be warranted for chronic offenders; the city attorney said extreme cases could be handled on an individual basis. After discussion, the council voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2026-048.
