City of Murphy
Public Meeting Procedures

Recognizing that every legislative body needs a systematic way of conducting its business, these rules of procedure are to provide for the orderly conduct of City business by the City Council, with the objective of providing for full, open, and comprehensive debate of issues brought before the body for action in a forum open to the public, and which encourages citizens’ awareness of City Council activities.  These procedures do not increase or diminish the existing powers or authority of the Mayor or City Council members, but is intended merely to serve as a general set of guidelines to assist the governmental body in conducting City business.

House Rules:

• No food or drink other than bottled water is permitted in the Council Chambers.
• Cell phones and pagers should be silenced in the Council Chambers.
• Signs and placards are not permitted in the Council Chambers.

Citizens’ right to be heard:
It is the Council’s goal that citizens resolve their complaints for service or regarding employees’ performance at the staff level.  However, it is recognized that citizens may from time to time believe it is necessary to speak to City Council on matters of concern.  Accordingly, City Council expects any citizen to speak in a civil manner, with due respect for the decorum of the meeting, and with due respect for all persons attending.

• No member of the public shall be heard until recognized by the presiding officer.
• Public comments will only be heard during the Public Comment portion of the meeting unless the issue is a Public Hearing.
• Speakers must complete a public comment form and submit to the City Secretary.
• Speakers must state their name and address for the record.
• Any citizen requesting to speak shall limit him or herself to matters of fact regarding the issue of concern.
• Comments should be limited to three (3) minutes unless prior approval by the presiding officer.
• If a representative is elected to speak for a group, the presiding officer may approve an increased time allotment.
• Personal attacks made publicly toward any citizen or city employee are not allowed.  Citizens are encouraged to bring their complaints regarding employee performance through the supervisory chain of command in accordance with the City’s Personnel Policies.
• Any member of the public interrupting City Council proceedings, approaching the dais without permission, otherwise creating a disturbance, or failing to abide by these rules of procedure in addressing City Council, shall be deemed to have disrupted a public meeting (section 42.5, Penal Code, Class B, Misdemeanor) and, at the direction of the presiding officer, shall be removed from Council chambers by Police Department personnel or other agent designated by City Council or City Manager.

           
Role of the Mayor as Presiding Officer and other Council members:

• The Mayor shall preside at meetings of the City Council.
• Participate in discussion of all matters.
• Shall vote as a member thereof, and shall have no power to veto.

In addition, the Mayor, as the Presiding Officer, has the primary responsibility for ensuring that the Council’s rules of procedure are followed and:

• For maintaining the dignity of Council meetings.
• Calls the meeting to order and confines the discussion to the agreed order of business.
• Recognizes Council members for motions and statements and allows audience participation at appropriate times.
• Requires knowledge of parliamentary procedure and how to apply it.
• Knowledge of legal requirements.
• Knows how to courteously discourage Council members who talk too much or too often.
• Recognizes the Council member offering the motion, restates the motion, presents it to the Council for consideration, calls for the vote, announces the vote, and then announces the next order of business.
• The Mayor shall be the primary spokesperson for policy decisions of the City Council.

Code of Conduct for City Council includes:

• Council members’ remarks should always be directed to the Chair.
• Remarks should be contained to the question under debate.
• Shall avoid references to personalities, and refrain from questioning motives of other members or staff personnel.
• Demonstrate courtesy and shall not disrupt proceedings.
• Shall not use their positions to secure privileges or personal gains and shall avoid situations which could cause anyone to believe that they may have brought bias or partiality to a question before the City Council.
• Shall be dedicated to the principles of democracy by recognizing that the chief function of local government is to serve the best interests of the public at large.
• Shall be dedicated to the effective use of the City’s available resources.
• Shall refrain from any activity that would hinder their abilities to be objective and impartial.
• City business shall be discussed in open, well-publicized meetings, except in rare situations in which Executive Sessions are authorized.

Parliamentary Rules:
Roberts Rules of Order shall govern with the Mayor serving as the presiding officer.  The City Attorney will serve as the Parliamentarian, and will recommend rulings, upon request by the presiding officer, to all points of order raised during the proceedings.

Should any person on the City Council choose to abstain from voting on any question before the City Council, where no conflict of interest exists, the person’s vote shall have the same effect as a negative vote.

These Rules of Procedure were adopted by Murphy City Council on February 6, 2006 by Resolution No. 06-R-530. A copy of the entire Resolution may be obtained from the City Secretary’s Office.