1
ORDINANCENO. 799
ANORDINANCECONCERNINGPUBLICPARTICIPATIONATPUBLICMEETINGS
WHEREAS,
theCityCouncil of theCityofMomence, Illinois is chargedwith the continued administration and
oversight of theCityCodeBook; and
WHEREAS,
public bodiesmust give citizens anopportunity to speak at publicmeetings; and
WHEREAS,
the openmeetings act requires that anyperson shall be permitted anopportunity to address public
officials under the rules established, and recorded by the public body; and
WHEREAS,
a public body should adopt rules governinghowpublic comments are to occur at meetings; and
WHEREAS,
public bodiesmaynotmake rules that prohibit comments based on the viewpoint expressed by the
comment; and
WHEREAS,
theCityCouncil of theCityofMomence, Illinoiswishes to add to theCityCode, specificallyunder a
portionof theCode that will be known as Title 1, Chapter 5, Section11.
NOW, THEREFORE,
be it ordained by theCityCouncil of theCityofMomence, Illinois, as follows:
SECTION 1:
That there is hereby added to theCityCode of theCityofMomence, Illinois, inTitle 1, Chapter 5,
andSection11 entitled “PUBLICPARTICIPATION.”
Title 1
1-5-11: PUBLICPARTICIPATION:
(A) It shall be unlawful for anyperson to address or attempt to address any regularmeeting of the CityCouncil
except in compliancewith this section. Public participation shall be permitted during the followingportions of a
publicmeeting:
1. Citizen forum.
2. Public hearing.
3. Invited speakers.
(B) Public participation shall not be permitted during anymeetings or portions ofmeetingwhich are deemed closed
sessions under the openmeetings act, 5 IllinoisCompiledStatutes 120/1 et seq., as amended.
(C) The presidingofficermay impose reasonable limitations on public participation at publicmeetings, such as
barring repetitious, irrelevant, immaterial, or inappropriate comments or testimony. The presidingofficer shall
have the authority to halt or suspend the public communications/hearing to a later date due to the durationof the
public forum/hearingor lackof compliancewith this section. In addition to those portions of ameeting set aside
for public participation, the presidingofficer shall have the discretion to permit public comment at anyother
time during ameeting, subject to the provisions of this section.
(D) Personswishing to speak during the public participation portionof aCityCouncil meeting shall sign in ten (10)
minutes prior to the start of themeeting stating their name, and itemonwhich theywish to speak. All items
