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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 24-015 CITY OF LINO LAKES RESOLUTION NO. 24-15 ADOPTING THE LINO LAKES CITY COUNCIL CODE OF CONDUCT AND RULES OF DECORUM WHEREAS,the City Council adopted guidelines in 1999 defining how the Council operates; and WHEREAS, in 2003 the City Council adopted a more comprehensive set of guidelines entitled the City Council Ethical Guidelines; and WHEREAS, in 2010 the City Council adopted a Code of Conduct to more efficiently and effectively develop and carry out the mission, vision, goals and established policies of the City; and WHEREAS, the Code of Conduct requires that after each municipal election, the new Council adopts the Code of Conduct by resolution. NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Lino Lakes, Minnesota that the City Council Code of Conduct is hereby adopted. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the City Council of Lino Lakes, Minnesota that the City Council Rules of Decorum are hereby adopted. Adopted by the City Council of the City of Lino Lakes this 12th day of February, 2024. R‘ISFY� --co/t/47— erty, or ATTEST: Jolleen Chaika, City Clerk Lino Lakes City Council CODE OF CONDUCT Purpose To establish a code of conduct and associated remedies that Councilmembers agree to abide by in carrying out their duties as elected officials. This code of conduct does not supersede any existing or future statutory or constitutional rights, but simply outlines appropriate council expectations, behavior, and interactions with each other, city staff, citizens, and all other groups encountered as a result of city business, so as to efficiently and effectively develop and carry out the mission, vision, goals, and established policies of the city. Roles/Responsibilities Meetings — By Charter, the mayor presides over meetings of the city council. Speakers, including council members, do not speak until recognized by the mayor. Act in the Public Interest — Recognizing that service to our citizens must be our primary concern, Councilmembers shall work for the common good of the people of Lino Lakes and not for any private or personal interest. Councilmembers will treat all persons, claims, and transactions in a fair and equitable manner. Preparation — Councilmembers are expected to be prepared for city council meetings and work sessions. Agenda Preparation — The City Administrator directs preparation of draft meeting agendas. The final agenda is determined by the City Council prior to the meeting. At the council meeting, agenda items may be added or deleted by Councilmembers per procedures established in the city code. Standards of Conduct Staff Direction —The Mayor and Councilmembers direct city staff, contract employees, and consultants only through the city administrator, as determined by majority vote. At work sessions, the Mayor will state the concerns of the Council or specific directions provided by the Council to the staff. The City Administrator will request further clarification if they feel it is required so that there is a clear understanding of what the Council's expectations are in terms of the actions to be taken by staff. Respect for Staff Time — If a Councilmember is utilizing an inordinate amount of staff time, the City Administrator is required to bring this to the attention of the City Council for resolution. Interactions — Councilmembers shall refrain from abusive conduct, personal charges or verbal attacks upon the character or motives of other members of the City Council, boards, commissions, committees, staff, or the public. Respect for Process— Councilmember duties shall be performed in accordance with the processes and rules of order established by the City Council and in accordance with the City Charter. Use of Public Resources — Public resources not available to the general public (e.g., city staff time, equipment, supplies or facilities) shall not be used by Councilmembers for private, personal or political purposes. Advocacy — Councilmembers shall speak with one voice in representing the official policies and positions of the City Council. When presenting their personal opinions or positions, councilmembers shall take precaution to not identify themselves as a city official. Improper Influence — Councilmembers shall refrain from using their position to improperly influence the deliberations or decisions of city staff, boards, commission or committees. Positive Work Environment — Council members shall support a positive, efficient and effective environment for residents, businesses and city employees. Steward of City Funds — When a Councilmember's service on the City Council is coming to an end by means of not seeking re-election, resignation, or the results of an election, that Councilmember shall not subject the city to unnecessary travel expenditures. Communication Sharing of Information — It is the responsibility of Councilmembers to publicly share information with all other Councilmembers when they have received it from sources outside of the public decision- making process. Whenever possible, new information or data obtained by Councilmembers will be distributed through the city administrator to other councilmembers. Request for Information — All Councilmembers shall receive the same information at the same time when deemed ready for distribution by city staff. If a Councilmember requests information in advance of other Councilmembers, the information shall be distributed to all members of the Council. Focused Discussions — Councilmembers shall work to keep discussions and debates focused on the item under discussion without introducing extraneous or irrelevant information. Citizen Questions — When Councilmembers receive questions or concerns from citizens, staff will provide the necessary information before a response is given. Councilmembers can refer questions and concerns from citizens to the City Administrator or appropriate department director for resolution. City staff should report back to the City Council on the resolution in a timely fashion. Confidential Information — Councilmembers are subject to the Minnesota Government Data Practice Act as are city staff and, as such, shall respect and preserve the confidentiality of non-public, protected non-public, private, and confidential information provided to them concerning matters of the city. They shall neither disclose confidential information without proper legal authorization nor use such information to advance their personal, financial, or private interests. Notice of Attendance— If any Councilmember has knowledge or reason to believe there will be a large or emotionally-charged gathering of residents in attendance at an upcoming council meeting or work session, they have an obligation to inform the City Administrator as soon as they become aware of the potential situation. Conflict of Interest — In order to assure their independence and impartiality on behalf of the public good, Councilmembers or members of a board or commission shall not use their official positions to influence government decisions in which they have a financial interest or where they have an organizational responsibility or a personal relationship that would present a conflict of interest under applicable State law. Except as permitted by law, a councilmember or member of a board or commission must disclose a potential conflict of interest for the public record and refrain from participating in the discussion and vote when a matter comes before that person which: (1) Affects the person's financial interests or those of a business with which the person is associated, unless the effect on the person or business is no greater than on other members of the same business classification, profession, or occupation; or (2) Affects the financial interests of an organization in which the person participates as a member of the governing body, unless the person serves in that capacity as the City's representative. Social Media — The City requires Councilmembers and board or commission members to act in a prudent manner with regard to postings on social media sites. Implementation Orientation — This Code of Conduct shall be included in the regular orientation for new Councilmembers. Following each election, the new council shall ratify this Code of Conduct by resolution. Compliance and Enforcement—Councilmembers are responsible for assuring that the Code of Conduct is understood and followed, and that the public can continue to have full confidence in the integrity of the Lino Lakes city government. Remedies The City Council is responsible for policing its members. When inappropriate behaviors are observed, any member of the Council can intervene. If inappropriate behavior is observed, the City Council will discuss the behavior at a council work session. By direction of the Council, it will be determined by majority vote whether: 1) A letter is sent to the offending Councilmember stating that he/she failed to observe the Code of Conduct and requesting that the inappropriate behavior be redressed; or, 2) The Councilmember is formally sanctioned by resolution at a Council Meeting. Resolution 06-58 adopting this Code of Conduct was approved by the Lino Lakes City Council on April 10, 2006. This Code of Conduct was amended November 22, 2010, October 8, 2018, and February 12, 2024. Ac67‘ i"e" Rob Ra#fierty, Mayor ATTEST: Jolleen Chaika, City Clerk CITY OF LINO LAKES CITY COUNCIL RULES OF DECORUM Members of Council. While the meeting is in session, the members must preserve order and decorum. A member of the Council or member of the public shall neither, by conversation or otherwise, delay or interrupt proceedings or the peace of the meeting nor disturb any member while speaking or refuse to obey the orders of the presiding officer. Recognition. No person or member shall address the other members without being recognized by the presiding officer. Staff. Members of the City staff shall observe the same rules of order and decorum as are applicable to the City Council. Addressing the Council. At the start of each City Council meeting, in accordance with the City of Lino Lakes Charter, the City Council shall accept comments from the public on any matter, whether on the agenda or not. Comments will not be accepted during specific agenda items unless a Public Hearing has been noticed. 1) Members of the public who wish to address the Council shall sign-in prior to the start of each Council meeting.Sign-in information shall include: Name, address, email/telephone, and topic of discussion. 2) The City Clerk shall retrieve the sign-in sheet at the beginning of the meeting and shall provide the sign-in sheet to the presiding officer who will recognize each member of the public who wishes to speak. 3) When recognized by the presiding officer, each member of the public addressing the Council shall step up to a microphone provided for the use of the public after being recognized by the presiding officer and give his/her name and address in an audible tone of voice for the records, state the subject to be discussed and state who the speaker is representing if representing an organization or other persons. 4) Unless further time is granted by a majority vote of the Council, remarks from the public shall be limited to four (4) minutes. All remarks shall be addressed to the Council as a whole and not to any member thereof. 5) No person other than members of the Council and the person having the floor shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, either directly or through a member of the Council, without permission of the presiding officer. 6) No question may be asked of a Councilmember or a member of the staff without the permission of the presiding officer. 7) Speakers shall offer comments that are courteous and respectful. Comments that are abusive, harassing, that constitute an attack on others, including City staff, or that violate privacy rights, will not be permitted. Violation of these public comment rules will result in the speaker being ruled out of order and the termination of the comment. 8) In order to expedite matters and to avoid repetitive presentations, whenever any group of persons wishes to address the Council on the same subject, it shall be proper for the presiding officer to request that a spokesperson be chosen by the group to address the Council and, in case additional matters are to be presented by any other member of said group, to limit the number of such persons addressing the Council. 9) Violation of these public comment rules will result in the speaker being ruled out of order and the termination of the comment. After Motion. After a motion has been made or a public hearing has been closed, no member of the public shall address the Council from the audience on the matter under consideration. Conduct. Any member of the Council, staff, or person indulging in personalities or making impertinent, slanderous or profane remarks or who willfully utters loud, threatening or abusive language, or engages in any disorderly conduct which would impede, disrupt or disturb the orderly conduct of any meeting, hearing or other proceeding, shall be called to order by the presiding officer and, if such conduct continues, may at the discretion of the presiding officer, be ordered barred from further audience before the Council during that meeting. Members of the Audience. No person in the audience shall engage in disorderly or disruptive conduct such as audible commentary during a meeting, hand clapping, stamping of feet, whistling, using profane language,yelling and similar demonstrations,which conduct disturbs the peace and good order of the meeting. City Council Work Sessions. The City Council Work Sessions are used by the Council and staff to discuss upcoming issues and matters requiring action by the Council and action items will be moved forward to future City Council Regular Meeting Agendas for consideration.Work sessions are for discussion by the Council and staff and, at times, for presentations by various community groups, applicants, or principal participants related to specific agenda items as determined by the majority of the Council.There is no public comment at work sessions. ENFORCEMENT OF DECORUM Warning. All persons shall, at the request of the presiding officer, be silent. If, after receiving a warning from the presiding officer, a person persists in disturbing the meeting, said officer may order this person removed from the meeting. If this person does not leave willingly,the presiding officer may call a recess and order that the person be removed by the Sergeant-at-Arms. Sergeant-at-Arms. The Lino Lakes Director of Public Safety, or such member or members of the Police Department, shall be Sergeant-at-Arms of the Council meetings or as asked to be present at board or committee meetings. The Chief or other Police Department representative shall carry out all lawful orders and instructions given by the presiding officer for the purpose of maintaining order and decorum at the Council meeting. Upon instruction of the presiding officer, it shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove from the meeting any person who intentionally disturbs the proceedings of the Council. Resisting Removal. Any person who resists removal by the Sergeant-at-Arms may be charged with Disorderly Conduct. Motions to Enforce. Any Council member may move to require the presiding officer to enforce these rules and the affirmative vote of a majority of the Council shall require the presiding officer to do so. Adjournment. In the event that any meeting is willfully disturbed by a group or group of persons so as to render the orderly conduct of such meeting unfeasible and when order cannot be restored by the removal of individuals who are creating the disturbance, the meeting may be adjourned with the remaining business considered at the next regular meeting. Special Meetings. If the matter being addressed prior to adjournment is of such a nature as to demand immediate attention, the presiding officer may adjourn the meeting to another date. Use of Cameras and Recording Devices Limited. Cameras, cell phone cameras, electronic sound recording devices and any other mechanical, electrical or electronic recording devices may be used in the Council Chamber, but only in such a manner as will cause a minimum of interference with or disturbance of the proceedings of the Council and at the discretion of the presiding officer.