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August

13, 2012 Common Council of the City of Marion 301 S Branson Street Marion, IN 46952 Dear City Council Members, Please find enclosed a proposed ordinance that I respectfully request the City Council pass to second hearing, or refer to the Councils Rules Committee. Ultimately, the ordinance I am proposing to you is a relatively minor change to the Councils rules that I believe can have a long- lasting, positive impact in our community.. It affects only one section out of twenty-five of General Ordinance 2001-2 and would add two events to the end of each regular Council meeting. The first would be a time-limited public comment period. The comment period would allow individuals to address the Council on relevant issues. An individuals presentation must be factual and respectful, and it cannot be on a topic that was already discussed by the Council at the same meeting. By default, the comment period would be limited to 30 minutes, and each individual could address the Council for no more than 3 minutes apiece. The Council president or a majority of the Council members present may optionally extend the comment period or an individuals time limit. The second item added would be called Additional Council Business and would be held immediately after the public comment period. This portion of the meeting would optionally allow a majority of the Council members present to refer any issue discussed during the public comment period to a Council liaison or Council committee for follow up. If the question could be better addressed by the City Administration, the Council may instead refer the question to the City Administration through the City Clerk who would obtain a response. In any case, all findings would be presented at the next Council meeting. The City Council would be in good company were this body to approve the enclosed ordinance. At least 12 out of 19 second class cities in the state of Indiana1 have an open public comment period at their regular meetings. All told, these 12 cities have a combined population of 900,000. Additionally, the Marion Community School Board and the Grant County Commissioners consistently allow public comment at their regular meetings. If these public bodies are able to

1 Michigan City, New Albany, Kokomo, Mishawaka, Elkhart, Anderson, Terre Haute, Lafayette, Bloomington, Hammond, South Bend, Fort Wayne

effectively hold an open public comment period, I have the utmost confidence that the outstanding individuals serving on the Marion City Council can also do so. This ordinance has built in time limits and rules for decorum. These basic restrictions will allow an efficient avenue for members of the public to address concerns or praises they have for the City without a free-for-all open mic night ensuing. As someone that has grown up in the Internet age and makes my living on the World Wide Web, I believe strongly in information sharing. The trade of information in a respectful manner is critical to the health of any entity, including the City of Marion. A public comment period would remove some of the hurdles that make it cumbersome for individuals to share freely with the Council. Ultimately, the simple addition of a public comment period will likely get the general public more involved in the legislative process. That would be a fantastic outcome that would greatly benefit the community we all love. Furthermore, having a public comment period would allow the Council as a whole to hear the concerns of the public. Each individual member of the Council is an elected official, but as a member of the city's legislative body, you can only take official action when convened as the Council of the whole or as a committee tasked with a specific action. In all other cases, an individual Council member has the same limited rights and privileges as any other citizen with the added responsibility of upholding Indiana's Open Door Laws. Allowing the public to easily address the Council is more efficient, promotes Council unity, lessens of the possibility of serial meetings, and allows business to be conducted in a setting in which official action can be taken. This is a win-win situation for the public and the City Council. Sincerely, I appreciate your consideration of this ordinance and look forward to addressing the City Council on August 21st.

Aaron Pratt 608 N Norton St Marion, IN 46952 (765) 506-6734 ENC: Draft General Ordinance, Exhibit A

General Ordinance ____________ An ordinance amending the Rules of Order and procedure of the Common Council of Marion, Indiana. Whereas: Whereas: Whereas: NOW THEREFORE, the Common Council adopts this ordinance with the attached changes in rules and procedure, labeled Exhibit A, which supersedes and replaces section 2-68 of the local Code of Ordinances this ______ day of ___________, 2012. Approved by: _______________________________________ President, Marion Common Council Attested by: _______________________________________ Marion, Indiana City Clerk This ordinance is hereby approved by me this _____ day of ___________, 2012. _______________________________________ Marion, Indiana Mayor the Common Council values the input of the public, the City of Marion needs to amend rules and procedures to provide for the consideration of business in a timely and efficient manner, and from time to time it becomes necessary to amend the rules and procedures of the Common Council to address issues that arise, and

EXHIBIT A Section 2-68 of the local Code of Ordinances shall be replaced with the following text: (A) The order of business at regular meetings of the Common Council shall be as follows: 1. Call to Order 2. Prayer 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. Roll Call 5. Reading (And Approval or Correction) of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting. 6. Committee Reports 7. Unfinished Business 8. New Business 9. Public Comment 10. Additional Council Business 11. Adjournment (B) The order of business may be rearranged upon a majority vote of Common Council Members present. (C) Individuals may address the Common Council during the Public Comment period. (a) Individuals who wish to address the Council must state their name and residential address. (b) Individuals will be limited to three (3) minutes unless the Council President or a majority of the members present of the Common Council permit the person to speak longer. (c) The time limit for Public Comment shall be thirty (30) minutes per meeting unless the Council President or a majority of the members present of the Common Council permit an extended time limit. (d) Individuals may address only issues over which the City has jurisdiction. (e) Individuals shall not be permitted to address a topic the Council has heard previously on the agenda. (f) During Additional Council Business, a majority vote of the Common Council members present may assign a topic raised by an individual during Public Comment to the appropriate Council liaison or committee; and/or request the City Clerk to contact a member of the City Administration for review and comment. All topics assigned by a majority vote of the Common Council members present shall be responded to at the next regularly scheduled Common Council meeting during Committee Reports or Additional Council Business. (g) Individuals addressing the Council shall direct their comments solely to the Common Council President, avoid personality and present factual information in a concise, respectful manner. (h) An individual may only speak once per meeting during Public Comment.

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