A. 
A public comment period not to exceed 30 minutes will be held during each Board and Commission meeting, as well as all regularly scheduled City Council meetings, Committee of the Whole meetings, meetings of committees and/or task forces (hereinafter "committees") created by the City Council, work sessions, and special meetings of the City Council. Nothing herein shall prohibit the combination of meetings, at which only one public comment period will be allowed.
[Ord. No. 2015-46]
B. 
Anyone desiring to address the board, commission, committee or City Council, as applicable, must complete a public comment card at least five minutes before the start time of the meeting. Public comment cards shall be made available at the location of the meeting by City staff at least 15 minutes prior to the start time of the meeting. The person must include their name, and any other desired contact information, although said person shall not be required to publicly state their address information. If more than five individuals desire to make a public comment, the order of speakers shall be by random draw. If an individual is not able to speak due to the time limitation and said individual still desires to address the individuals at a future meeting of the same type, said individual shall be entitled to speak first at the next meeting of the same type. For City Council meetings only, including regular meetings, special meetings and the Committee of the Whole, written public comment may be added as set forth in Subsection I and an additional remote method of public comment shall be offered as set forth in Subsection J.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2015-46; 8-23-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-61]
C. 
The public comment portion of the meeting shall be placed on the agenda for regular City Council meetings, as well as any rescheduled meeting of the City Council, after roll call and prior to appointment recognition and/or the consent agenda. For any other special City Council meeting or meeting of any other Board, Committee or Commission of the City, public comment shall be listed on the agenda after Appointment Recognition and before approval of the Consent Agenda. Nothing within this section shall limit the ability of the City Council, by majority vote, to change the placement of public comment during a meeting.
[Ord. No. 2016-25]
D. 
Comments are limited to three minutes per speaker. A speaker can not give his or her allotted minutes to another speaker to increase that person's allotted time. Individuals providing public comment shall do so from the designated podium and the use of City equipment, beyond the podium and microphone, during public comment is prohibited.
[Ord. No. 2017-98]
E. 
Speakers will be acknowledged by the Chair and shall address the Board, Commission, Committee or City Council, as applicable, from the designated area in the meeting location and not approach the Board, Commission, City Council or City staff. Speakers will begin their statement by first stating their name for the record.
[Ord. No. 2015-46]
F. 
Public comment is not intended to require Board, Commission, Committee or City Council members to provide any answer to the speaker. Discussions between speakers and members of the audience will not be allowed.
[Ord. No. 2015-46]
G. 
Speakers will be well-mannered in their language and presentation. Any person who engages in threatening or disorderly behavior when addressing a Board, Commission or the City Council shall be deemed out-of-order by the presiding officer and their time ceased to address the Board, Commission, or City Council at said meeting.
[Ord. No. 2014-82]
H. 
After the speaker has made his or her statement, he or she shall be seated with no further debate, dialogue or comment.
I. 
In addition to speaking at a meeting of the City Council, written public comment may be emailed to publiccomment@cityblm.org at least 15 minutes prior to the start of each meeting. The names of those that submitted written public comments will be read into the record and shall be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Copies of all public comments submitted in accordance with this subsection shall be provided to the Council members in advance of the meeting for their review and consideration. Outside of written comments directed for a specific meeting, written comments may otherwise be shared with the City Council at any time by sending email correspondence to the individual Council members at the email addresses listed on the City's website. Those without email capability may submit written comments to the City Clerk's office, which comments will be provided to the City Council as a whole or individual Council member, as directed.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2017-98; 8-23-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-61]
J. 
Individuals wanting to provide public comment electronically at City Council meetings may do so by signing up at least 15 minutes prior to the start of each meeting at www.cityblm.org/register. In order to register to speak remotely during public comment the individual must provide their name, a valid email, and the call-in phone number intended for use during the meeting. Following registration, an email will be sent to the registered individual's email provided including call-in instructions and a call-in phone number for participation in the meeting. Electronic comment may be done via video depending on the ability and equipment of the City. Individuals providing comment electronically are subject to the same public comment rules and limitations. The order of speaking shall further be determined as set forth in Subsection B.
[Added 8-23-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-61]