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VILLAGE OF NORTH PALM BEACH
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND DECORUM
RULES AND PROCEDURES
A. Public Participation
The Village of North Palm Beach welcomes comments from the public, and all members
of the public shall be given a reasonable opportunity to make general comments and be
heard on items placed on the agenda at any public meeting, subject to the rules and
procedures set forth herein.
B. Applicability
These rules shall apply to all public meetings of the Village Council, the Planning, Zoning
and Adjustment Board and any other Village board or committee. Additionally, in
accordance with Section 286.0114(3)(a-d), Florida Statutes, the right of public
participation shall not apply to the following:
1. An official act that must be taken to deal with an emergency situation affecting the
public health, safety, and welfare if compliance with these rules and policies would
cause an unreasonable delay in the ability of the Council or Board to act;
2. An official act involving no more than a ministerial act, including, but not limited to,
approval of minutes and ceremonial proclamations;
3. A meeting that is exempt from Section 286.011, Florida Statutes (“Government in
the Sunshine Law”) including, but not limited to, attorney-client sessions and
collective bargaining strategy sessions; and
4. An item during which the Council or Board is acting in a quasi-judicial capacity,
during which different rules and timeframes may be applicable.
C. Public Participation Rules
1. Each speaker shall be given an opportunity to speak for three (3) minutes during
the public comment portion of the meeting or to address a particular agenda item.
This time may be extended by the presiding officer. Additionally, the amount of
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time for members of the public to address a particular agenda item may be reduced
by majority vote of the Council or Board.
2. Speakers may not yield their allotted time to another speaker.
3. The public comment portion is limited to a total of three (3) minutes per speaker
irrespective of the number of topics the speaker wishes to address.
4. All speakers shall complete a comment card, indicating whether they wish to speak
during the public comment portion or address a specific agenda item, and hand
the comment card to the Village Clerk.
5. When called to speak by the presiding officer, the speaker shall step up to the
podiums. Each speaker shall identify him or herself by name and address. The
speaker shall state whether he or she is speaking on behalf of a group or
organization and identify the group or organization.
5. All comments should be addressed to the Council or the Board as a body through
the presiding officer. No speaker should address comments to a single member
of the Council or Board, the Village Manager, the Village Attorney, the Village
Clerk, or any other member of Village Staff unless a majority of the Council or
Board members agree to allow such comments.
6. A Council or Board member may ask the speaker questions to clarify the speaker’s
comments; however, speakers shall not attempt to engage any member of the
Council or the Board in a debate over any issue raised.
7. Any person wishing to address an item not on the agenda or on the consent
agenda shall speak under the public comment portion of the meeting. Members
of the Council or Board may choose to withhold comment or address the issue
once the public comment portion of the meeting has closed or during the Council
or Board member comment portion of the agenda. The Village Council may
request that the Village Manager take action on requests or comments made by
members of the public.
8. During the public comment portion, speakers may address any topic related to
Village business or operations or matters of general interest to the community.
9. There is no right to public participation at a workshop session. Public participation
during workshop sessions may be permitted at the discretion of the Council or
Board.
10. Written comments submitted in advance of the meeting shall be distributed to all
Council or Board members and are part of the Village’s records; however, they
shall not be read aloud at the meeting unless a majority of the Council or Board
elects to do so.
D. Decorum Rules
All Village meetings shall be conducted in an orderly and businesslike manner. All
participants and attendees shall be treated with respect.
2. The Village is committed to the principles of civility. All persons in attendance,
including Council and Board members, shall adhere to the following norms of
civility:
a. While a speaker may speak strongly in opposition to another's views
or actions, the character of the other person shall not be attacked.
b. A speaker's tone of voice and word choice shall be appropriate for a
formal, civic meeting. The use of profanity or vulgarity or the making
of defamatory or threatening comments shall not be tolerated.
C. It is never appropriate to make personal derogatory remarks,
comment on anyone's personal integrity, make personally abusive
comments, or, make demeaning statements about individual
persons.
d. Disruptive behavior and outbursts from the audience, including
yelling, clapping, booing, or whistling, shall not be tolerated.
E. Enforcement of Public Participation and Decorum Rules
1. Should the presiding officer determine that a rule of procedure or decorum has
been violated, the presiding officer shall interrupt the meeting and give the violator
a verbal warning to cease such conduct. The presiding officer shall inform the
violator that any subsequent violations may result in his or her removal from the
meeting.
2. Following the issue of a verbal warning, should the presiding officer determine that
a rule of procedure or decorum has again been violated by the same person at the
same meeting, the presiding officer shall direct the violator to leave the meeting.
In the event the violator is requested to leave and refuses, the presiding officer
may recess the meeting and direct Village law enforcement personnel to assist.
3. Any determination by the presiding officer regarding enforcement of a rule of
procedure or decorum may be overruled by a majority of the Council or Board
members present at the meeting.
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