Below is a statement from Council President Lori Kinnear in response to the cancellation of the City Council Legislative Session on Monday, November 6, 2023.
“Legislative Session is a space where Council conducts legislative business in a transparent process that includes the public. It is essential that Council hear testimony on items concerning City business. Council rules exist to ensure that testimony unfolds in a fair and orderly manner, and that the environment in council chambers encourages a full range of respectful discourse. For this reason, at the start of each session, including last night, I remind public participants of our explicit Council rules of mutual respect, conduct, and etiquette when addressing the Council. As the Council President, I enforce the rule to direct all comments to me while addressing the Council. We have seen past Council meetings where my fellow Council members have been badgered and insulted, and to mitigate these verbal attacks, we routinely enforce the rule to address the Council President and not mention Council Members directly in public testimony.
During the meeting, after several attempts to manage points of order and maintain decorum in chambers, persistent defiance and lack of decorum occurred, and I decided to recess the meeting. After consulting with the Chief of Police and City Attorney on the correct protocols, I adjourned the meeting.
Council Members and I have been meeting with City Legal to determine options with respect to Open Forum, as well as protocols for responding to any future disruption and adjourning meetings in the event of failure to follow Council rules. Meanwhile, Council expects to announce soon its action on yesterday’s legislative items after further consultation with City staff.”
