Council members shall meet in the city hall on the second Monday
of each month at 7:00 p.m. with the mayor and as often as deemed necessary
to carry on their duties in accordance with state laws.
(1987 Code, ch. 7, sec. 1C; 2001
Code, sec. 9.403)
In this article, the following terms shall have that meaning
ascribed to them below:
An item appearing on the written notice of a meeting given
in accordance with section 551.041, Texas Government Code, including
but not limited to an item for citizen communication, public comment,
or similar item.
An individual, association, partnership, corporation, limited
liability company or other legally recognizable entity that requests
a permit, zoning change, variance, or other action to be taken [by]
a governmental body by filing an application or other request required
by the code or other law.
The city council, the planning and zoning commission, and
any other governmental body of the city described by section 551.001(3)(B)–(L),
Texas Government Code.
Has that meaning ascribed to it in section 551.001(4), Texas
Government Code.
A meeting that is open to the public.
The presiding officer of the governmental body and includes
the mayor and the chairperson of the planning and zoning commission.
A member of the public that desires to address an agenda
item as authorized by this article.
(Ordinance 2019-569 adopted 8/12/19)
The provisions in this article apply to all open meetings of
a governmental body of the city. An applicant is not considered a
member of the public under the terms of this article. An applicant
may address the governmental body as requested by or allowed by the
governmental body.
(Ordinance 2019-569 adopted 8/12/19)
Each member of the public who desires to address a governmental
body on an agenda item for an open meeting may address the governmental
body regarding the agenda item subject to and in accordance with the
provisions of this article.
(Ordinance 2019-569 adopted 8/12/19)
Members of the public may only address an agenda item at the
opening of the discussion of such agenda item. Nothing in this article
shall prevent a member of the public from providing a responsive answer
to a question asked by a member of the governmental body during the
time that an agenda item is being discussed by the governmental body.
(Ordinance 2019-569 adopted 8/12/19)
(a)
Any
member of the public that desires to speak on an agenda item must
register with the city secretary, or designee thereof, prior to the
start of the open meeting by providing a registration card on a form
provided by the city containing the following information pertaining
to the speaker:
(1)
Full name;
(2)
Business or residential address;
(3)
Preferred phone number for contact;
(4)
Statement whether the speaker represents someone other than the speaker;
(5)
Agenda item or topic;
(6)
Brief statement of position, such as a summary of the communication
or a statement for or against an agenda item.
(b)
Any
member of the public that does not register as required by this section
prior to speaking on an agenda item shall so register at the request
of the presiding officer of the governmental body.
(c)
A
speaker shall address the governmental body at a podium or other area
designated by the governmental body.
(d)
Prior
to addressing the governmental body, a speaker shall verbally state
the member’s name and address.
(Ordinance 2019-569 adopted 8/12/19)
(a)
Each
speaker under this article may address the governmental body for only
that period of time indicated below:
(1)
If fewer than five speakers speak on an agenda item, then each speaker
may speak on the agenda item for a period not to exceed 3 minutes.
(2)
If more than five, but not more than ten, speakers speak on an agenda
item, then each speaker may speak on the agenda item for a period
not to exceed 2 minutes.
(3)
If more than ten speakers speak on an agenda item, then each speaker
may speak on the agenda item for a period not to exceed one minute.
(b)
Except
as set forth in this subsection, a speaker may not grant the speaker’s
allotted time period to another speaker such that a single speaker
speaks longer than the maximum time periods stated above. The presiding
officer may authorize speakers to grant other speakers their allotted
time if requested and no member of the governmental body objects.
If a member of the governmental body objects to a request under this
subsection, then the governmental body shall vote to approve or disapprove
the request. Any speaker granting such member’s allotted time
to another speaker under this subsection irrevocably forfeits such
granting speaker’s right to address the governmental body under
this article.
(c)
The
presiding officer of a governmental body may expand the time limits
set forth above up to one additional time period if the presenter
requests an extension and no member of the governmental body objects.
If a member of the governmental body objects to a request for extension,
then the governmental body shall vote to approve or disapprove the
request for extension.
(Ordinance 2019-569 adopted 8/12/19)
