2.11.030 Public hearings generally.
A. City council shall hold a public hearing before adopting any ordinance that proposes to enact a new ordinance or amend or repeal an existing ordinance. City council may hold a public hearing on any other matter that the city manager or city council deems appropriate.
B. Unless the meeting is being held virtually, persons wishing to speak at a public hearing shall complete a comment card with the person’s name and address and provide the card to the city recorder before the public hearing begins.
C. The presiding officer shall announce the start of the public hearing as set forth in the agenda and shall declare the public hearing open at the appropriate time.
D. Each person shall give the person’s name, address, and city of residence before giving testimony.
E. City councilors may, after recognition by the presiding officer, ask clarifying or follow-up questions of individuals providing testimony after a person has given testimony. Questions should relate to the testimony being provided.
F. Council members may, after the presentation of testimony of all interested persons, ask clarifying or follow-up questions to staff. Questions posed to staff should relate to testimony provided.
G. During a public hearing, the presiding officer may:
1. Exclude or limit cumulative, repetitious, or immaterial matters;
2. Arrange the speakers in any manner;
3. Limit testimony to less than five minutes for each person who has stated their interest in testifying;
4. With city council’s consent, by majority consensus, further limit the time to or number of speakers at a public hearing; provided, that the presiding officer announces the more limited restriction before a public hearing begins.
H. At the end of a public hearing, each council member shall have an opportunity to comment on or discuss the testimony given during that public hearing.
I. A copy of any written testimony or physical materials which a person desires to be introduced into the record of the public hearing shall be submitted to the city recorder. Documents submitted to the city recorder for a public hearing are public records. [BC 2.11.030, added by Ordinance No. 4764, 6/11/19; amended by Ordinance No. 4794, 12/1/20]