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Committee holds change to council decorum rules after members ask to put time‑limit authority with presiding officer
Summary
The Legislation, Codes & Regulations Committee reviewed an amendment to codified ordinance Section 111.04 to clarify member decorum and speaking time. Members proposed inserting the word 'council' before 'member' and shifting authority to expand speaking time from a council vote to the presiding officer; the committee voted to hold the item for further review.
The Legislation, Codes & Regulations Committee on the evening docket reviewed an ordinance to amend city code Title 3, Chapter 111, Section 111.04 governing duties, privileges and decorum of members. The proposed edits would clarify references to “council member” and change how the committee (or council) authorizes extensions of speaking time.
Committee members said the draft language left too much to future interpretation and recommended two edits: insert the word “council” before the word “member” so references read “council member,” and replace language that currently allows “the council” to extend an attendee’s time with language naming the presiding officer as the decision‑maker for on‑the‑spot time extensions. Members debated whether expanding time should require a full council vote or be left to the presiding officer during the meeting. Several speakers argued that naming the presiding officer would make the rule easier to apply in practice and reduce the need for frequent votes on procedural questions.
After discussion, one committee member moved to forward the ordinance to full council with a recommendation to approve; another member requested more information and asked that the committee hold the item until the next committee meeting so the proposed language could be refined. The committee agreed to hold the ordinance for further review and to re‑read the amended draft at the next meeting.
The committee did not adopt any final text; no formal change to the code was enacted at the meeting. The ordinance will return to committee for a second reading and additional amendments before any final council action.
