Fiscal Note
No expenditure required.
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SUBSTITUTE - Creating new Section 2.04(4), renumbering current Sections 2.04(4) - (15) to 2.04(5) - (16), respectively, and amending Section 2.29 of the Madison General Ordinances to provide an Early Public Comment period at each Common Council meeting.
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DRAFTER'S ANALYSIS: This amendment provides an Early Public Comment period at each Common Council meeting for persons with health, scheduling, or child-care needs. It sunsets on October 1, 2008.
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The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
1. New Subsection (4) of Section 2.04 entitled "Order of Business" of the Madison General Ordinances is created to read as follows:
"(4) Early Public Comment. This subsection (4) shall not apply after October 1, 2008."
2. Current Subsections (4) through (15) of Section 2.04 entitled "Order of Business" of the Madison General Ordinances are renumbered to Subsections (5) through (16), respectively.
3. Section 2.29 entitled "Citizens Right to Address Common Council" of the Madison General Ordinances is amended to read as follows:
"2.29 CITIZENS RIGHT TO ADDRESS COMMON COUNCIL.
(1) Except as hereinafter set forth, any citizen shall have the right to speak on any item of business that is on the agenda for Common Council action if he/she registers to speak on that item before the item comes up for action. Except for informational and public hearings, speakers shall be limited to a three-minute address unless the Common Council agrees by a two-thirds (2/3) vote to extend the time. Provided, that a speaker who requires an interpreter, either because of his/her limited English proficiency or because of a disability, may speak for six (6) minutes. No citizen shall be permitted to speak on petitions and communications when first introduced before the Common Council and which are scheduled to be referred and reported back at a later meeting. No person shall submit a registration or appearance form for any meeting unless that person actually attends some portion of the meeting at which the registration or appearance is submitted, or personally delivers the form at the place of the meeting within thirty (30) minutes of the scheduled starting time of the meeting. This limitation does not apply to any person who is eligible to register with the City Clerk for automatic absentee balloting under sec. 6.86(2)(a), Wis. Stats.
(2) The Council shall provide an Early Public Comment period at each Council meeting, following the public hearings. Persons who have reasons to leave the Council meeting early, due to health, scheduling or child-care needs, may speak to any agenda item at that time. The Council shall pose questions to such early speakers before moving to the Consent Agenda. This subsection (2) shall not apply after October 1, 2008."