Fiscal Note
No appropriation required
Title
SUBSTITUTE - Amending Section 2.029(5) of the Madison General Ordinances Regarding Public Comments at Common Council Meetings.
Body
DRAFTER’S ANALYSIS: This ordinance prohibits public comment on agenda items at Common Council meetings when speakers will have an opportunity to provide comments at a future meeting or already have had an opportunity to present comments, except when the Council permits comments by a supermajority vote.
The substitute removes the 2/3 favorable vote, to allow for simple majority vote.
***********************************************************************************
The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
1. Subsection (5) of Section 2.29 entitled “Persons’ Right to Address Common Council” of the Madison General Ordinances is amended as follows:
(5) No person shall be permitted to address the Council on any matter when first introduced before the Common Council when the matter is scheduled listed on the consent agenda to be referred and reported back at a later meeting and the Council adopts that referral as part of the consent agenda, nor when the Council has heard public comment on a matter at a previous meeting and the matter has been referred for discussion and action only. Notwithstanding this provision, the Council may allow public comment in either instance upon a favorable vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Council.