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<br />of informality usually makes the meeting more pleasant for the par- <br />ticipants and more understandable to the public. <br /> <br />If you have questions about meeting procedures, contact a staff <br />member. The City Attorney can also interpret Roberts' Rules, if neces- <br />sary. <br /> <br />Here are the need-to-know parts about conducting and participating <br />in public meetings of government bodies. <br /> <br />1. Motions <br />Action is taken by motions. The standard form for a motion is "1 <br />move that we [adopt, approve, reject, modify, etc.] ...." <br />Almost all motions must be seconded. (The chair can <br />second a motion.) Once the motion is seconded, the <br />chair usually opens the floor for staff presentations, <br />Councilmember questions for staff, public input, and <br />then discussion and decision-making among the <br />members of that particular City body. <br /> <br />..'......0"::''' <br />tJ~) <br />'~,."'.. <br />\. <br />, . <br />~~~ <br />u <br /> <br />. <br />~""-- <br />V . <br /> <br />Sometimes the Chair invites a motion as soon as an <br />agenda item is introduced. This can help frame the discussion. But <br />often the Chair waits for staff members to give a report about the <br />agenda item and for the public to speak to an item. This can help the <br />members of the Council or Commission learn background informa- <br />tion about the issue. In this way, members of the City Council or a <br />particular citizen advisory commission learn whether they believe <br />there is a serious public problem they wish to take action on. <br /> <br />2. The Chairperson Recognizes Speakers <br />As the presiding officer, the Chairperson recognizes speakers. This <br />means everyone - Councilmembers, Commission Members, the pub- <br />lic, staff - everyone who wants to speak at a public meeting should <br />first seek to be recognized by the Chair before speaking. The Chair <br /> <br />13 <br />