Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 2025-29 Amending Resolution 2023-22 Rules of Procedure for Council Meetings — reading text

request for a future agenda item ( requiring Council action) by a Council Member shall be submitted to the City Manager and the City Clerk prior to staff' s agenda deadline for that particular meeting. The Mayor and City Manager are responsible for preparing the agenda for all Council meetings. Agendas for Regular Meetings shall be posted by the City Clerk no  RESOLUTION 2025- 29 later than 12: 00 noon on Thursday prior to the Regular Meeting. 6. 3 Opening Prayers, Invocations, and Moments of Silence of Meetings: The City Council adopts a policy of non-discrimination in selecting individuals to provide opening prayers and invocations at city council meetings. Prayers and invocations may be provided for at any meeting by chaplains, priests, ministers, rabbis, imams, or a lay person. Such prayers or invocations shall be directed at the Council Members and not the public. Prayers and invocations shall be limited to one ( 1) minute or less and shall not be used to convert or attempt to convert others to a certain belief. In the absence of a member of the public to offer a prayer or invocation, a moment of silence may be offered by the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tern. The City Clerk shall establish procedures to affect these provisions. 6. 4 Presentation by Members of Council: The Agenda shall provide times when the Mayor, Council Members, City Manager and City Attorney may bring before the Council any business that he or she feels should be deliberated upon by the Council. These matters need not be specifically listed on the Agenda, but may be acted upon only upon an extraordinary vote of the Council members present and eligible to vote on the matter. Except in instances where extraordinary conditions are necessitated, the Mayor and Council shall notify the City Manager of forthcoming agenda topics in keeping with the above deadlines and strive to supply backup materials for timely distribution with the agenda packets. 6. 5 Consent Agenda: The Consent Agenda may be used to handle routine matters on the agenda expeditiously. There is no separate discussion of these items unless a Council Member or a member of the public requests an item be removed for consideration in its normal sequence on the Agenda. The approval of the Consent Agenda is usually handled in one motion from the Council table, " I move that the Consent Agenda, ( item numbers maybe included) be approved; or if items are to be removed, " for good cause" or " discussion", a typical motion might be, " I move that we approve the Consent Agenda items ( identify which items you seek the council approve)." 7. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, AND MOTIONS: 7. 1 Requests for Ordinances, Resolutions or Opinions: Any Council Member may request the City Manager or City Attorney to prepare or have prepared proposed ordinances or resolutions. Any Council Member or the Mayor may request a legal opinion of the City Attorney. 8. CITIZENS PRESENTATIONS: 8. 1 Presentation by Public on Items before the Council: The agenda shall provide times when the public is given a reasonable opportunity to be heard on an item before the City Council. Public opportunity hereunder does not extend to: 1. An official act that must be taken to deal with an emergency situation affecting the public health, welfare, or safety, if compliance with the requirements would cause an unreasonable delay in the ability of the board or Council to act;  RESOLUTION 2025- 29 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 Sec. 286.011 Florida Statutes; or 4. A meeting during which the board or Council is acting in a quasi- judicial capacity. This paragraph does not affect the right of a person to be heard as otherwise provided by law. 8. 2 Addressing the Council -- Scheduled Presentations: Any person desiring to address the Council on any subject not already on the Council meeting agenda shall first secure the permission of the Presiding Officer and will be recognized under " Presentations". Only those persons who have notified the City Clerk by 12: 00 noon of the Wednesday immediately preceding the regular meeting will have their name placed on the Agenda and be recognized under the heading " Presentations". Presentations shall be limited to fifteen ( 15) minutes or less unless prior approval has been received by the Presiding Officer. 8. 3 Addressing the Council -- Public Opportunity on Agenda Items: Any person desiring to address the Council regarding agendaed Council items shall secure the permission of the Presiding Officer and will be allowed to discuss that item when it is brought forth for consideration by the Council. 8. 4 Addressing the Council — Comments from Audience: Any person desiring to address the Council shall first secure the permission of the Presiding Officer and will be recognized prior to addressing the Council. 8. 5 Addressing the Council— Public Opportunity on Public Hearings: Any person desiring to address the Council regarding Agendaed Public Hearings shall secure the permission of the Presiding Officer and will be recognized prior to addressing the Council. 8. 6 Manner of Addressing the Council -- Time Limit: Each person addressing the Council shall approach the microphone, shall give his or her name and address and the organization or group they represent if any, in an audible tone of voice for the record and, unless further time is granted by the Presiding Officer, shall limit their address to five ( 5) minutes. All remarks shall pertain to City business and shall be addressed to the Council as a body, and not to any member thereof. No person, other than members of the Council or Mayor, and the persons having the floor, shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, either directly or through the members of the Council. No questions shall be asked the Council Members or staff, except through the Presiding Officer. 8. 7 Personal and Slanderous Remarks: Any person making personal, impertinent or slanderous remarks, or who shall become boisterous or use offensive language, while addressing the Council, may be requested to leave the meeting. No reference by name to any individual present or absent, including Council Members and staff, shall be used in a negative manner by any person addressing the Council. All participants and speakers shall refrain from belittling or insulting remarks or making personal attacks.  RESOLUTION 2025- 29 8. 8 Reading of Protests: Interested persons, or their authorized representatives, may address the Council for the reading of protests, petitions, or communications relating to any matter over which the Council has control when the item is under consideration by the Council. 8. 9 Referral of Citizens' Complaints: While in session, the Mayor or Council Members, individually, or the City Council collectively, through motion, may refer citizen' s complaints to staff or an appropriate City Board or Committee. 8. 10 Written Communications: Interested parties, or their authorized representatives, may address the Council by written communication on any matter of business. However, in order to preserve the public record as well as comply with Florida' s Public Records Law, an exact copy of said written communication must be provided to the City Clerk. 8. 11 Presentations by Representatives of Groups or Factions: At meetings, in which four (4) or more individuals of a group or faction wish to be heard, a representative of a group or faction may address the Council rather than all members of the group or faction and in such instances shall limit their address to twenty ( 20) minutes. 8. 12 Challenges to Staff and Advisory Body Recommendations: Anyone who is challenging a staff and advisory body recommendation must submit a request in writing to be placed on the agenda by 12: 00 noon on the Wednesday before the upcoming regular meeting. The request must contain a written memorandum setting forth in detail the specific rulings or findings to which they object and stating any Florida Statutes, case law, or sections of the Land Development Code, Comprehensive Plan or ordinances of the City of Fort Walton Beach on which they are basing their objection. Council may not consider a challenge to administrative decisions requiring Board of Adjustment review or decisions of City Boards over which the Council lacks review jurisdiction. 9. COUNCIL INTERACTION WITH STAFF: 9. 1 Directing Staff: Neither the Mayor nor any Council Member shall direct staff to perform any duties either publicly or privately. 9. 2 Personnel Decisions: Neither the Mayor nor any Council Member shall direct or request the appointment of any person to or removal from office by the City Manager or staff, or in any manner take part in the appointment or removal of officers or employees in the administrative service of the City. 9. 3 Violations: The remedy for violations of this section is set forth in Section 14 of the City Charter. 10. ELECTIONS: 10. 1 Council Seat Assignments: Seat assignments for Council Members shall occur in alphabetical order starting with Seat 1. Seat numbers shall remain for identification purposes only.  RESOLUTION 2025- 29 10. 2 Institute of Elected Municipal Officials ( IEMO): Upon election to City Council or to the office of Mayor, the newly elected officials shall be given the option to attend the Florida League of Cities' Institute of Elected Municipal Officials training session. 10. 3 Declaring Candidacy for Another Elected Position: If a Council Member declares candidacy for another elected position, it is suggested that the Council Member should resign immediately from the Council Seat. Declaring candidacy is defined as filing the appropriate paperwork with the Supervisor of Elections to run for another elected position. 11. DESIGNATION OF REPRESENTATIVE WHEN THE MAYOR IS UNABLE TO PERFORM NON-PARLIAMENTARY, CEREMONIAL, REPRESENTATIONAL OR OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS: 11. 1 When the Mayor is unable or declines to perform any non-parliamentary, ceremonial, representational. or other official Mayoral function on behalf of the City, whether initiated by the City or requested by any third party, the process described in this Section shall govern the designation of an alternate representative. 11. 2 Notice to the City Clerk: The Mayor shall notify the City Clerk as soon as practicable that the Mayor is unable or declines to perform the function. Upon receipt of such notice, the City Clerk shall initiate the designation process set forth herein. 11. 3 Right of First Refusal– Mayor Pro Tem: The City Clerk shall first contact the Mayor Pro Tern, who shall have the right of first refusal to perform the function in the Mayor' s stead. If the Mayor Pro Tem accepts. no further action is required. 11. 4 Designation of Council Members ( Rotating Order): If the Mayor Pro Tem declines or is unavailable. the City Clerk shall contact members of the City Council one at a time in