1 TO: City Council
FROM: Ryan Smoot, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Kathleen Horn Gregory, City Clerk
MEETING DATE: February 7, 2023
SUBJECT: Resolution Amending the Allotted Time a Member of the Audience May Speak During a Public Meeting
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt resolution.
BACKGROUND
On September 20, 2022, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 840 changing the allotted time a member of the audience may address the City Council during a public meeting from five (5) minutes to three (3) minutes. In order to be consistent in the conduct of public meetings across all boards, staff recommends adopting the attached resolution reflecting the change for all of the current and future established boards, commissions and committees of the City.
OPTIONS:
1. Adopt resolution.
2. Provide further direction.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no financial implications resulting from this recommendation.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
Item No. 7f
CITY OF LOMITA
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
2 Reviewed by: Approved by:
_______________________ _________________________
Gary Y. Sugano Ryan Smoot,
Assistant City Manager City Manager
Prepared by:
__________________________
Kathleen Horn Gregory, CMC
City Clerk
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-04
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMITA,
CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE ALLOTTED TIME A MEMBER OF THE
AUDIENCE MAY SPEAK DURING A PUBLIC MEETING FOR ALL
BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES FROM FIVE (5)
MINUTES TO THREE (3) MINUTES
WHEREAS, the Ralph M. Brown Act allows local agency legislative bodies to adopt reasonable time limitations on public testimony (Gov. Code § 54954.3(b)(1); Ribakoff v. City of Long Beach (2018) 27 Cal.App.5th 150)); and WHEREAS, in order to conduct more efficient meetings, the City Council of the City of Lomita, at its September 20, 2022, regular City Council meeting, adopted Ordinance No. 840 amending Lomita Municipal Code, Section 2-1.18(a), to change the allotted time a member of the audience may address the City Council during a public meeting from five (5) minutes to three (3) minutes; and WHEREAS, following the effective date of the Ordinance, the new time limit was initiated at the November 1, 2022, City Council meeting; and WHEREAS, the City desires to be consistent in the conduct of public meetings across all boards, commissions, and committees.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMITA, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY FIND, ORDER AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Each person desiring to address any board, commission, or committee of the City of Lomita during a meeting shall be requested to complete a speaker card stating for the record the speaker’s name and address and the agenda item or subject the speaker wishes to discuss. Unless further time is granted by majority vote of the board, commission or committee, the speaker shall limit their remarks to three (3) minutes. All remarks shall be addressed to the board, commission, or committee as a whole and not to any member thereof and no question shall be asked of a member of city staff without the permission of the presiding officer.
SECTION 2 . This Resolution shall be in full force and effect immediately upon the passage and adoption thereof. In the event of a conflict, this Resolution shall supersede any bylaws or rules adopted by any City of Lomita board, commission or committee.
SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify the passage and adoption of this Resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Lomita at a regular meeting held on the 7
th day of February, 2023.
Attachment No. 1
Resolution No. 2023-04
__________________________
Barry Waite, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Kathleen Horn Gregory, MMC, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________
Trevor Rusin, City Attorney