HomeMy WebLinkAbout4712 Ordinance - Amending PMC 02.05.020 to Include Public Comment During Council Workshops
Ordinance – Amending PMC 02.05.020 - 1
ORDINANCE NO. 4712
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASCO, WASHINGTON,
AMENDING PASCO MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 02.05.020 “REGULAR
BUSINESS MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS – ORDER OF BUSINESS”
RELATED TO PUBLIC COMMENTS DURING REGULAR WORKSHOP
MEETINGS.
WHEREAS, at the Biennial City of Pasco (City) Council Retreat, the City Council
discussed the merits of including an opportunity for the public to speak to discussion items on their
regularly scheduled Workshop meetings; and
WHEREAS, it was proposed that the public be able to speak up to two (2) minutes during
the discussion of each topic placed on the Workshop Agenda with a total of eight (8) minutes
allowed for public comment per topic so as to allow the public to provide feedback without
unnecessarily extending Workshop meetings; and
WHEREAS, for controversial topics, or topics where multiple members of the public wish
to speak, the 8 minutes will be divided equally, to allow both sides the same amount of time to
provide comments with the Mayor retaining the ability to amend the process to allow more
comments equally divided; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined the need to include opportunities for the
public to speak when they are discussing items during their Workshops.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASCO,
WASHINGTON DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. 1hat Pasco Municipal Code Section 2.05.020 entitled “Regular business
meetings and workshops – Order of business” is hereby amended and shall read as follows:
2.05.020 Regular business meetings and workshops – Order of business.
(1) At all regular business meetings of the City Council the order of
business shall be as follows:
1st Meeting instructions for remote access to meeting.
2nd Call to order.
3rd Roll call.
3(a) Pledge of allegiance.
4th Consent agenda (including approval of minutes and
bills and communications).
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Ordinance – Amending PMC 02.05.020 - 2
5th Proclamations and acknowledgments.
6th Public comments – the public may address Council
on any items unless it relates to any scheduled public
hearing, then the public will have an opportunity to
speak during the public hearing.
7th Reports from committees and/or officers.
8th Public hearings and Council action on ordinances and
resolutions relating thereto. When a public hearing is
for a “closed record” issue, no new evidence may be
presented and only those who participated in the
“open record hearing” in front of the Hearing
Examiner may testify and arguments must be
summary only and not offer new evidence.
9th Ordinances and resolutions not relating to public
hearings.
10th Unfinished business.
11th New business.
12th Miscellaneous Council discussion.
13th Adjournment.
(2) At all workshop meetings of the City Council the order of business
shall be as follows:
1st Meeting instructions for remote access.
2nd Call to order.
3rd Roll call.
3(a) Pledge of allegiance.
4th Verbal reports from Councilmembers.
5th Items for discussion with opportunity for Public
Comment – the public may comment on each topic
scheduled for discussion, up to 2 minutes per person
with a total of 8 minutes per item. If opposing sides
wish to speak, then both sides receive an equal
amount of time to speak or up to 4 minutes each side.
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6th Miscellaneous Council discussion.
7th Adjournment.
[Ord. 4643 § 1, 2023; Ord. 2765 § 1, 1990; Ord. 2257 § 1, 1981; Ord. 1807 § 1,
1976; Code 1970 § 2.02.020; Code 1954 § 1-3.08.]
Section 2. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word
of this Ordinance should be held to the invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality thereof shall not affect the validity or
constitutionality of any other section, subsection, sentence, clause phrase or word of this
Ordinance.
Section 3. Corrections. Upon approval by the city attorney, the city clerk or the code
reviser are authorized to make necessary corrections to this Ordinance, including scrivener’s errors
or clerical mistakes; reference to other local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations; or
numbering or referencing of ordinances or their sections and subsections.
Section 4. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take full force and effect five (5) days
after approval, passage and publication as required by law.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Pasco, Washington, on this 15th day of April,
2024.
_____________________________
Pete Serrano
Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________ ___________________________
Debra Barham, CMC Kerr Ferguson Law, PLLC
City Clerk City Attorneys
Published: Sunday, April 21, 2024
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