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Commission votes to recommend bylaw revisions including decorum and Robert’s Rules
Summary
The commission approved a motion to recommend to city council revisions to P&Z bylaws that add decorum rules, adopt Robert’s Rules generally, update notice timing to three business days and clarify abstention and conflict-of-interest language consistent with state law.
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend to city council a set of revisions to its rules, regulations and bylaws that include new decorum standards, clarification on abstentions and conflicts of interest, and an explicit reference to Robert’s Rules of Order.
Staff explained the proposed decorum language is modeled on the city council’s rules and is intended to set clear expectations for commissioners and members of the public during sensitive or contentious hearings. The draft specifies that commissioners must preserve order while in session and that members of the public may not make personal, impertinent, slanderous or disruptive remarks or display offensive placards during testimony; enforcement would be carried out by the chief of police or a designated sergeant.
Staff also presented a statutory update: notice requirements that were previously phrased as "72 hours before meeting" will be revised to "3 business days before the meeting date" in line with recent state law changes. Commissioners discussed how attendance and excused-absence rules intersect with the charter and council procedure; staff noted council retains appointment and removal authority. After discussion the commission moved and voted to forward the bylaw revisions to city council for final adoption.
