Title
Amending Resolution No. 080001, which provides Rules for the Government of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, by providing an opportunity for public comment during Council meetings, and by making other conforming amendments.
Body
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA,
THAT Resolution No. 080001, which provides Rules for the Government of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, be amended as follows:
Note:
Strikethrough indicates matter deleted by these amendments.
Bold italics indicates matter added by these amendments.
1. Amend Paragraph V, as follows:
V. Order of Business
1. The order of business at all stated meetings of Council shall be as follows:
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e. Introduction of bills and resolutions, and consideration of resolutions at the time of their introduction upon motion of the sponsor.
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i. Bills on first reading.
j. Public comment.
k. Resolution consent agenda.
l. Bill consent agenda.
j. m. Bills on final passage recalled from the Mayor.
k. n. Bills and resolutions on final passage (bills on the final passage postponed calendar may be called up under this order of business.)
l. o. Bills on second reading and final passage (bills on second reading and final passage postponed calendar may be called up under this order of business.
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2. Amend Paragraph VI, as follows:
VI. Introduction of Bills and Resolutions
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5. All resolutions (excepting resolutions of condolence and congratulations shall be sent, by the sponsor, to every Councilperson, so as to be in the possession of members by at least 12:00 noon the day prior to the day of introduction into the Council and, when introduced, shall be printed for the use of the members and the public and shall be numbered consecutively. After a resolution has been introduced, the resolution shall be placed on the final passage calendar for the next session of Council or referred by the President to an appropriate committee. If this rule is waived so as to permit consideration of a resolution on the day of its introduction, then the resolution shall be placed on the final passage calendar for consideration later in the meeting.
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3. Amend paragraph VIII, as follows:
VIII. Introduction and Consideration of Resolutions, Petitions, Memorials, Remonstrances and Communications
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5. A resolution that is reported from committee shall not be considered on the same day it is reported from committee, but shall be placed on the final passage calendar for consideration at the next session of Council.
6. Resolution Consent Agenda.
a. At any session of Council, any member may make a motion that the Rules of Council be suspended so as to permit the use of a consent agenda to consider resolutions on Council's final passage calendar. The motion shall specify which resolutions would be considered on the consent agenda.
b. If any member of Council expresses an objection to the use of the resolution consent agenda, the motion shall be withdrawn without debate.
c. When it is time to consider the resolution consent agenda, the Chief Clerk will read the titles of all the resolutions on the resolution consent agenda. After each title is read, any member may object to the inclusion of the resolution on the resolution consent agenda. Upon such an objection, and without debate, the resolution shall be removed from the consent agenda and shall instead be considered as part of that day's final passage calendar.
d. After the titles of all the resolutions have been read, the President shall recognize the Majority Leader for a motion to adopt each of the resolutions on the resolution consent agenda. If the motion is seconded, the President shall call for a voice vote on the motion, and if the motion passes, all resolutions on the resolution consent agenda shall be adopted.
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5. A new paragraph XVI shall be added, to read as follows:
XVI. Public Comment.
1. At each meeting of Council, opportunity shall be provided for residents and taxpayers to comment on bills and resolutions that are listed either on the final passage calendar or the second reading/final passage calendar for that meeting of Council.
2. Each resident or taxpayer who wishes to provide public comment shall be limited to three (3) minutes, o such other time period as the President may announce. The President may place additional reasonable limitations on public comment to permit Council to conduct its meetings and to maintain order, including limiting repetitious comments.
3. Before providing comment, a resident or taxpayer shall state his or her name, address, and, if not a resident of the City, state that he or she is a Philadelphia taxpayer.
4. The Chief Clerk shall maintain a list of persons who have requested the opportunity to provide comment at the next scheduled meeting of Council. Any person may ask to be added to the list on the day of a Council session. Public comment shall be received in the order in which persons appear on the list. Once the list is exhausted, the President shall ask if any other person wishes to provide public comment, and if there is no response, the opportunity for public comment at that meeting shall be closed.
5. If in the President's judgment there is not sufficient time at a meeting for residents and taxpayers to comment, the President may announce that the public comment period will be deferred to the next session of Council, provided that no action shall be taken on a bill or resolution unless there was an opportunity for public comment on that bill or resolution.
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