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CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS <br />City Council and Commission Meetings <br />Public Meeting Guidelines <br />Adopted June 22, 2005 <br />I. Listen <br />Learn to listen so that you hear clearly what your fellow commissioners have to say, <br />what citizens have to say, and what staff has to say. Focus on listening, rather than on what <br />you will say in response. State what you think you heard and ask for clarification before <br />responding, in an effort to enhance understanding. Listen with respect for the individual <br />speaking and for what is being said in order to build trust. Listen with an open mind. Urge <br />persons of various points of view to speak and promise to listen to these positions seriously. <br />II. Seek Consensus <br />By listening with an open mind, it is possible to discern common ground among many <br />competing viewpoints. Seeking this common ground and creating a consensus means that the <br />process may be more important than the product. Sometimes more study on an issue helps to <br />create consensus and may offer opportunities for finding commonalities of interest. <br />• III. Disagree Agreeably <br />Reasonable people with good intentions may disagree with one another. Disagreement <br />is not bad as long as the opinions of others are treated with respect. Don't lose sight of the <br />issue at hand during a heated debate. Avoid grandstanding-reasonable arguments clearly <br />backed up by careful homework may win a debate rather than making other commissioners <br />uncomfortable with hyperbole. Conflicts can be an opportunity for new insights, learning, <br />and individual and organization growth. Disagreements can illuminate a topic in helpful <br />ways and can present solutions to problems that previously had not been seen. The successful <br />resolution of conflict can bind people together in powerful ways. <br />IV. Respect the Will of the Majority <br />Live with the results of a vote on an issue. Debate may be lively and heated, but once a <br />decision is made and a vote taken, it is important to recognize this decision as the intent of <br />the majority of the commission and take no actions to undermine this decision. Move on, <br />without rancor. <br />V. Respect the Rights of the Minority <br />Be sensitive to the feelings and concerns of those who do not agree with the majority. <br />Respect their rights of conscience. <br />• <br />y'1 <br />