Press Release - 5/23/2014 - Council update Rules-Procedure 5/23/2014 City of Hunts\iIle,Texas Mail-City Council updates Rules of Procedure-Public Comments-press release
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City Council updates Rules of Procedure - Public Comments - press release
Kristin Edwards<kedwards @huntsvilletx.gov> Fri, May 23, 2014 at 2:07 PM
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City Secretary's Office
City of Huntsville, Texas
The Huntsville City Council recently adopted changes to the City Council Rules of Procedure, including adjustments to the public comments process.
Under the new policy, citizens may speak during Council meetings on agenda items in the same manner as previously, by completing a card in the
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5/23/2014 City of Hunts\iIle,Texas Mail-City Council updates Rules of Procedure-Public Comments-press release
lobby and placing it on the City Secretary's desk on the dais prior to the start of a meeting. However, instead of all agenda comments being presented
as a group near the beginning of the meeting, citizens will be able to express themselves as the specific item is brought up on the agenda; each
speaker still being permitted five minutes. The City Council also approved an amendment to remove the overall time limit of one hour for all comments
combined.
The other major update to the public comment process allows citizens to request their own agenda items for a new Citizen Participation Request portion
of the agenda. To do so, individuals must submit their request in writing (methods listed below) to the City Secretary's office by noon on
the Tuesday prior to a regular City Council meeting (first and third Tuesdays of the month). Once received by the City, the subject included in the
request will be added to the new section of the agenda, making it eligible for Council member discussion, in accordance to the Texas Open Meetings
Act.
According to City Council member Joe Rodriquez, who served on the Council committee to refine the Rules of Procedure, the updated process will
dramatically increase the level of interaction between Council members, citizens, and staff during regular meetings.
"The changes we've made will make the public comments portion of the meeting more responsive for the citizens of Huntsville," said Council member Joe
Rodriquez. "By including the topic on the posted agenda, Council members as well as City staff will have the opportunity to prepare necessary
information, making the entire meeting more productive."
Under the prior procedure, the Act prevented debate or discussion among members and options for action for items that had not been posted on an
agenda, but were brought up by a resident during Public Comments, as it permitted only statements of fact be made or questions be asked.
Citizen Participation Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, via email to citysecretary@hunts\Alletx.gcv, by fax to (936) 291-5409, or through the
City Web site's Report It feature at http://bit.ly/1 kwO4AN (use the Action Center on the City of Huntsville smartphone app).
For more information or assistance, contact City Secretary Lee Woodward at (936) 291-5403.
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