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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD2026-005 Title 2 DecorumSponsored by: City Clerk Introduction: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 Public Hearing: June 8, 2026 Enacted: June 8, 2026 CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA ORDINANCE 2026-005 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, AMENDING SEWARD CITY CODE 2.10.071 COUNCIL PACKET AND 2.10.100 DECORUM WHEREAS, the current Seward City Code 2.10.017 Council Packet does not address or define proclamations and laydowns, both of which are common items at any given City Council meeting; and WHEREAS, the current Seward City Code 2.10.100 Decorum does not match the decorum signage in council chambers or address the process for receiving written testimony from the public at a City Council meeting; and WHEREAS, the 2.10.100 Decorum section contains some questionable enforcement policies such as "deeming people guilty of misdemeanors" for disrupting a meeting; and WHEREAS, the City Clerk has discussed this ordinance with the City Manager and the Chief of Police to incorporate their feedback; and WHEREAS, this ordinance will provide clarity on laydowns and proclamations as well as general touch-ups for 2.10.071 Council Packet, as well as an overall update on 2.10:.100 Decorum to blend the current decorum signage in council chambers with what is written in city code. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF SEWARD ORDAINS: Section 1. Seward City Code Title 2 is hereby amended to read as follows with new language underlined and deleted language is strielketn. 2.10.071 Council packet. A. All reports, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, documents or other matters to be nutted presented to the council at the regular meeting shall be submitted to the city clerk not later than 12:00 p.m. on the Tuesday preceding the Memlay meeting. The deadline may be extended at the discretion of the city clerk due to city holidays or other special circumstances. B. The city clerk shall prepare the agenda for all matters according to the order of business, numbering each item consecutively. C. The agenda will be published on the city website and posted on the four designated bulletin boards during the week prior to the meeting. CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA ORDINANCE 2026-005 Page 2 of 3 D. The agenda packet shall be published on the city website by 5:00 p.m. on the Friday preceding the council meeting. The packet must also be available in council chambers during each meeting. E. Laydowns are legislative documents, reports or presentation materials that are provided in addition to the council packet to complement or clarify agenda items. These items will be presented at the meetingand copies will be made available for thepublic in council chambers. Laydowns will also be made available thereafter on the city's online document archive. F. A proclamation is an official document issued by the Mayor to designate a specific period of time for the pumose of raising awareness, celebrating historic milestones, or other forms of congratulations. Proclamations may be requested through the city clerk and the submissions are subject to final approval from the Mayor. 2.10.100 Decorum. A. Council members. When the council is in session, council members must preserve order and decorum and no council member shall, by conversation or otherwise, delay or interrupt the proceedings or the peace of the council, nor disturb any council member while speaking, nor refuse to obey the orders of the council or the person presiding. Council cannot answer questions during public comments. Council members should refrain from making any derogatory remarks about any member of the public, city staff, or fellow council members. l�. 9the*pepsons. wry -person ma1Eiii-g-perseoal; +t pertit t; eater-irig-er-slanderer retft lEs, or- o-41A- bec offie boisteret while- addressing the -council, shall -immediately- , be -barred by- the presiding effieer-€fet-foftbef-audienee-at-the-meeting. before-tt3e-eeunci unless pefolission to -continue be-granted-by-e-majer-ity--ve e€-the council. B. General public. All public comments must be made during the designated public comments period on the agenda. The public must wait to be recognized by the presiding officer and then approach the microphone. Speakers must state full name and whether they reside inside or outside the city limits. Speakers shall address council as a body rather than single out individuals. Eve gone in council chambers shall be treated with courtesy and there is no taunting, threats, or personal insults allowed. The general public must not delay or interrupt the proceedings or the peace of the council meeting. C. Written testimony. People are encouraged to submit written reports and documents to the city clerk and city council via email prior to the meeting. The general public may submit a written document directly to the city clerk during the citizen comments section of the council meeting. The city clerk will then scan and distribute the correspondence to city council members on the next business day. In an effort to reduce paperwork on the dais, written testimony will not be distributed at the meeting. D.-E. Enforcement. 1. The chief of police shall be ex officio sergeant -at -arms of the council. CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA ORDINANCE 2026-005 Page 3 of 3 2. The chief shall carry out all orders and instructions by the presiding officer for the purpose of maintaining order and decorum in the council chambers. 3. Any person in the audience who es loua boi serous ofane language at a council , or —any -per -sea -who persistently interrupts the proceedings of the council or refuses to keep quiet or take a seat when ordered to do so by the presiding officer, -shall -be -deemed shall lose their privilege to remain at the meeting. 4. , ' It shall be the duty of any police officer present to eject and/or arrest any person deemed threatening or dangerous from the council chambers., . Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect ten days upon enactment. ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA THIS 8th DAY OF JUNE 2026. StswittlYtt Sue McClure, Mayor AYES: Barnwell, Draper, Calhoon, Osenga, Crites, McClure NOES: None ABSENT: Warner ABSTAIN: None ATTEST: Kris Peck, City Clerk City Council Agenda Statement Introduction: May 26, 2026 To: City Council From: City Clerk Subject: Ordinance 2026-005: Amending Seward City Code 2.10.071 Council Packet And 2.10.100 Decorum Background and justification: Two common items at any given council meetings are proclamations and laydowns. Neither of these items are addressed or defined in City Code. This ordinance will provide some clarity on proclamations and laydowns and how they pertain to the council packet in SCC 2.10.071 The current signage in City Council Chambers regarding "Decorum" is not backed up by what is actually written in City Code 2.10.100 Decorum. This ordinance will incorporate much of the current signage into the sections in code, as well a remove some dated/questionable policies such as "deeming people guilty of misdemeanors" for disrupting a meeting. Upon enactment of this ordinance, the signage in City Council Chambers will be revised and updated accordingly. There are some other general touch-ups throughout both sections as well such as allowing the City Clerk to extend the deadline for material submissions in the event of a city holiday or other circumstances. ✓ Yes Attorney Signature: Not applicable Comments: /s/ S'am S'everin