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RELEVANT LINKS: <br />See State v. Hensel, 901 <br />When individuals abuse their right to be present in the council chamber, the <br />N.W.2d 166 (Minn. 2017). <br />State v. Occhino, 572 <br />mayor, as presiding officer (subject to being overruled by the council), <br />N.W.2d 316 (Minn. Ct. <br />should order their removal from the room. If the presiding officer fails to <br />App. 1997). Steinburg v. <br />Chesterfield County <br />act, the council may, by motion, issue such an order. The council has <br />Planning Comm'n, 527 <br />authority to preserve order at its meetings. The council can use necessary <br />F.3d 377 (4th Cir. 2008). <br />force, including use of the police, to carry out the mandate. If a person is <br />excluded from a meeting, the council should provide an opportunity for the <br />excluded person to give his or her interpretation of the exclusion to a <br />designated city staff member to satisfy any due -process concerns. <br />See Section I-F for more <br />If the audience becomes so disorderly that it is impossible to carry on a <br />information about <br />adjourned meetings. <br />meeting, the mayor can declare the council meeting adjourned to some <br />other time. The members of the council can also move for adjournment. <br />No matter how disorderly a meeting may be, it is a legal meeting and any <br />action the council takes in proper form is valid. The council cannot issue <br />contempt citations against individuals whose disorderly conduct disrupts or <br />interferes with the transaction of city business. <br />E. Rules of order <br />Minn. stat. § 412.191, <br />The city council has the power to regulate its own procedure, including <br />subd. 2. <br />meeting procedures. The most efficient and effective way to manage <br />meetings and reduce the risk of mishandling important matters is by <br />adoption of, and general adherence to, rules of order. These are rules <br />designed to preserve order, expedite business, and protect the rights of <br />those involved in making decisions. Rules of order are also referred to as <br />parliamentary rules of procedure, parliamentary procedure, rules of <br />procedure or procedural rules. The best rules of order are written, formally <br />adopted and easy enough to allow every member to participate as fully as <br />possible. It's very important to adopt written rules of order before there is a <br />problem that rules of order could solve. If a meeting becomes contentious <br />for whatever reason, it may be impossible to get back on track if there isn't <br />already agreement on how the meeting should proceed. <br />Most cities formally or informally follow some version of Robert's Rules of <br />Order, even though these rules are long, complicated and not ideally suited <br />for smaller bodies made up of individuals with limited time or experience <br />See Minnesota Mayors <br />in rules of order. The League and Minnesota Mayor's Association provide a <br />Handbook for sample Rules <br />sample of simplified rules of order (complete with a 2-page cheat sheet) in <br />of Order for City Councils. <br />the Minnesota Mayor's Handbook. <br />League of Minnesota Cities Handbook for Minnesota Cities 8/30/2022 <br />Meetings, Motions, Resolutions, and Ordinances Chapter 7 1 Page 29 <br />