50A - ORD - COUNCIL MTG TIME AND DECORUM

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(jxs 10/07/14) ORDINANCE NO. NS -XXX AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AMENDING SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2- 104 AND ADDING SECTIONS 2 -111 AND 2 -112 TO THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS RULES OF DECORUM THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby finds, determines, and declares as follows: A. Section 409 of the City Charter and Sections 2 -100 et seq. of the Santa Ana Municipal Code call for the City Council to adopt rules and procedures for the scheduling and conducting of meetings of the City Council. B. The Ralph M. Brown Act found at Government Code Section 54950 et seq. ( the "Brown Act ") sets forth statewide standards for meetings of local agencies including the City of Santa Ana City Council. C. The City Council's duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the public. D. The City Council, appointed legislative bodies, and other city officials exist to conduct the People's business. E. An informed public is essential to democracy. It is the goal and intent of this ordinance that citizens of Santa Ana have opportunities to address the City Council prior to decisions being made and the ability to attend and participate in the People's business in an efficient manner and without disruption. F. The City Council recognizes that City Council meetings, where the public is afforded the opportunity to address the Council, are the focus of highly important individual and governmental interests. Citizens have an enormous first amendment interest in directing speech about public issues to those who govern their city and that speech cannot be limited simply because one does not agree with the content. However, speakers are subject to restriction only when their speech "disrupts, disturbs or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the Council meeting." Ordinance No. NS -XXX 50A -1 3 Page 1 of 7