§ 2-34. Assistance in maintaining order and decorum.

(a)

During council meetings, councilmembers shall preserve order and decorum and shall neither by conversation or otherwise delay or interrupt the proceedings, nor refuse to obey the orders of the presiding officer or the rules of the council. The mayor shall recognize the first to attract his attention. The speaker shall confine himself to the question under debate and shall avoid all personalities and indecorous language. Every councilman shall address the chair. A councilman once recognized shall not be interrupted while speaking unless called to order by the presiding officer, unless a point of order is raised by another member, or unless the speaker chooses to yield to questions from another member. If a councilman is called to order while he is speaking, he shall cease speaking immediately until the question of order is determined. If ruled to be in order, he shall be permitted to proceed. If ruled to be not in order, he shall remain silent or shall alter his remarks so as to comply with rules of the council. All members of the council shall accord the utmost courtesy to each other, to city employees, and to members of the public appearing before the council, and shall refrain at all times from rude and derogatory remarks, reflections as to integrity, abusive comments, and statements as to motives and personalities. Councilmen shall confine their questions to the particular matters before the assembly and in debate shall confine their remarks to the issues before the council. Members shall be removed from the meeting for failure to comply with decisions of the presiding officer or for continued violations of the rules of the council. If the presiding officer fails to act, any member may move to require him to enforce the rules, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the council shall require the presiding officer to act.

(b)

Members of the administrative staff and employees of the city shall observe the same rules of procedure and decorum applicable to members of the council. Any nonmember of the council desiring to address the council shall be recognized by the chair, shall state his name and address for the record, and shall limit his remarks to the matter under discussion. All remarks and questions addressed to the council shall be addressed to the council as a whole and not to any individual member thereof. No staff member, other than the staff member having the floor, shall enter into any discussion either directly or indirectly without permission of the presiding officer.

(c)

Members of the public attending council meetings also shall observe the same rules of propriety, decorum, and good conduct applicable to members of the council. Any person making personal, impertinent and slanderous remarks, or who becomes boisterous while addressing the council or while attending a council meeting shall be removed from the room at the direction of the presiding officer; and such person shall be barred from further audience before the council. Unauthorized remarks from the audience, stamping of feet, whistles, yells, and similar demonstrations shall not be permitted by the presiding officer, who shall direct the removal of such offenders from the room. Aggravated cases shall be prosecuted on appropriate complaint signed by the presiding officer. In case the presiding officer shall fail to act, any member of the council may move to require him to act to enforce the rules, and the affirmative vote of the majority of the council shall require the presiding officer to act.

(d)

No person other than members of the council and the person having the floor shall enter into any discussion either directly or through a member of the council without the permission of the presiding officer.

(Code 1976, § 2-1012)