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C~~cii ~ndu~ti ~rxth e Pu~~ <br />~C ~ ~TI~S <br />Making the public feel welcome is an important part of the democratic process, ~o suns of <br />partiality, prejudice ar disrespect should be evident an the park of individual Council members <br />toward an individual participating 6n a public forum;, ~verSr effo~ shauld be ~nadc to be fair and <br />impartial in listening to public testimony, <br />e v~eleomin to speakers and treat them with care and gen~cness <br />Speaking in front of Council can be a difficult experience for some people. Some issues the <br />Council u~.dertakes naay affect people's daily lives and homes. Some decisions are e~notianal. <br />The Way that Council treats people durbag public hearings can do a tot to make them relax ar to <br />push their emotions to a higher level of intensity, <br />e fair a~ud culta~e a~locating pubic bcarg ~.n~e ~o lndlv~dua spca~crs <br />The Mayor will determine and announce limits on speakers at the start of the public bearing <br />process, Generally, each speaker Will be allocated three~min;utes with applicants and appellants <br />or their designated representatives allowed more time. ~f many speakers are anticipated, the <br />Mayor nay shorten the ti.rne limit andlor ask speakers to linut theuaselves to new ini'armation <br />and paints of view not already covered by previous speakers. <br />~'a speaker will be turned away unless he or she exhibits inappropriate behavior, each speaker <br />may only speak ante during the public hearing unless the Council requests additional <br />clarification later in the process. after the close of the public hearing, na more public testimony <br />will be accepted unless the Mayor reopens the public hearing for a limited and speci~~c purpose, <br />~~vc the appearance o~ active liste~ng <br />It is disconcerting to speakers to ha~re Council naernbers not loaf at them when they are <br />speaking, It is fhae to look dawn at documents or to make notes, but reading fo~~ a long period of <br />time gazing around the room gives the appearance of disinterest. ~e aware of facial expressions, <br />especially those that could be interpreted as "smirking," disbelief, anger or boredom. <br />ask for carx~aona but a~o~d dcba~c and a~~gumeut with the pub~.c <br />oily the Mayor ~ not individual Council members ~~ can inter~~upt a speaker Burin a <br />g <br />presentation, ~o~rev~r, a Cuunciitnember can ask ~.e Mayor for a point of order if the speaker is <br />off the topic or exhibiting behavior or language the Counciltnem~er finds disturbin . <br />g <br />if speakers become flustered ar defensive by Council ~uestxons, it is the respansibili of the <br />tY <br />Mayor to calm and. Focus the speaker and to maintain the order and decorum of the meet~.g, <br />Questio;as by Council members to members of the public testifying should seek to clam,,'i/~/~~yy{rr~r or <br />1 , . ` ~ , , Y <br />expand. ~nfornaat~on, xt rs never appzopriate to belligerently challenge or belittle the speaker, <br />Council members' personal opinions or inclinations about upcoming votes shauld not be <br />revealed until aver the public hearing is closed, <br />®~o personal atac~s of any .nd~ under any circumstance <br />Council members shauld be aware that their body language and tone of voice, as well as the <br />wards t~.ey use, can appear to be intimidating ar aggressive, <br />7 <br />