I, I ;. y~ 1
Item x.15 Consider' and discuss
F'r^oced~_ir^e, Cond~_ict and Decor^um
Commissioner^s' Cour^t. tCounty
adopting Rules of
at meeting of the Kerr County
J~_~dge)
Disc~_ission Only - Offical Cour^t Transcr^ipt on Record
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COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST
PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND FIVE COPIES OF THIS REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO BE
REVIEWED BY THE COURT.
MADE BY: Fred Henneke OFFICE: County Judges
MEETING DATE: Februa~ 8 1999 TIlM1E PREFERRED:
SUBJECT: (PLEASE BE SPECIFIC)
Consider and discuss adopting Rules of Procedure, conduct and decorum at meetings of the Kerr
County Commissioners Court.
EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: (PLEASE STATE REASON)
NAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THE COURT:
ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION:
IF PERSONNEL MATTER -NAME OF EMPLOYEE:
County Jude
Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapter
551 and 552, Government Code, is as follows:
Meeting scheduled for Mondays:
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY:
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED ON:
5:00 P.M. previous Tuesday.

All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate information has been
prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court Meetings. Your cooperation will be
appreciated and contribute towards you request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rules
Adopted by Commissioners' Court.
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RULES OF PROCEDURE CONDUCT AND DECORUM
AT MEETINGS OF THE
KERR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT
I. All Regulaz, Special, Emergency and Executive Session Meetings of the Kerr
County Commissioners' Court will be called and conducted in accordance with the
provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Title 5, Chapter 551, Government
Code and Title 5, Chapter 552, Government Code.
II. Regulaz, Special and Emergency Meetings of the Ken County Commissioners'
Court are open to the public and to representatives of the press and media.
Executive Sessions of the Commissioners' Court are not open to the public, the
press or the media and only those individuals expressly requested or ordered to be
present are allowed to attend Executive Session.
III. The Ken County Commissioners' Court meets in Regulaz and Special Session on
the second and fourth Mondays of each month. In order for a matter or issue to
appeaz as an agenda item on the Agenda of any Regulaz or Special Meeting of the
Commissioners' Court, a request must be filed with and approved by at least one
member of the Commissioners' Court and/or the County Judge by 5:00 P.M. on
the Tuesday immediately preceding the next Regular or Special Meeting of the
Commissioners' Court.
IV. The business of Ken County is conducted by and between the members of the
Ken County Commissioners' Court and those members of the County staff,
elected o8'icials, department heads, consultants, experts and/or members of the
public requested to be present and participate. While the public is invited to attend
all meetings of the Commissioners' Court (except Executive Sessions) the public's
participation therein is limited to that of observers unless a member (or members)
of the public is requested to address the Commissioners' Court on a particular
issue (or issues) or unless an member (or members) of the public completes a
Public Participation Form and submits same to the County Clerk prior to the time
the agenda items (or items) is addressed by the Court. A sample of the Ken
Coumy Commissioners' Court Public Participation Form is attached hereto as
Exhibit "A".
A. Each member of the public who appears before the Commissioners'
Court shall be limited to a maximum of three (3) minutes to make
hisJher remarks. Time for each speaker shall be maintained by the
Court Clerk or such other designated representative of the
Commissioners' Court.
B. Maximum public discussion on any agenda item, regazdless of the
number of members of the public wishing to address the
Commissioners' Court on such agenda item (or items), shall be
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limited to thirty (30) minutes. In the event that more than ten (10)
members of the public wish to address a particular agenda item (or
items), then only the first ten (10) speakers will be recognized. To
the extent possible, the six (b) members of the public recognized to
speak shall be divided equally between those members of the public
wishing to speak for the agenda item (or items) and those members
of the public wishing to speak against the agenda item (or items).
C. In matters of exceptional interest, the Court may, by the majority
vote of the members of the Court in attendance at the meeting,
either shorten or lengthen the time allocated for a particular
member of the public, all members of the public and/or the amount
of time allocated for all agenda items and/or a specific agenda item.
D. It is the intention of the Court to provide open access to the citizens
of Kerr County to address the Commissioners' Court and express
themselves on issues of County Government. Members of the
public are reminded that the Ken County Commissioners' Court is
a constitutional Court, with both judicial and legislative powers,
created under Article V, Sectionl, and Section 18 of the Texas
Constitution. As a Constitutional Court, the Kerr County
Commissioners' Court also possess the power to issue a Contempt
of Court Citation under Section 81.024 of the Texas Local
Government Code. Accordingly, members of the public in
attendance at any Regular, Special and/or Emergency meeting of
the Court shall conduct themselves with proper respect and
decorum in speaking to, and/or addressing the Court; in
participating in public discussions before the Court; and in all
actions in the presence of the Court. Proper attire for men, women
and children is mandatory. Those members of the public who are
inappropriately attired and/or who do not conduct themselves in an
orderly and appropriate manner may be ordered to leave the
meeting. Refusal to abide by the Court's Order and/or continued
disruption of the meeting may result in:
* 1. Cancellation of a speaker's remaining time;
*2. Removal from the Commissioners' Courtroom;
*3. A Contempt Citation; and/or
*4. Such other civil and/or criminal sanctions as may be
authorized under the Constitution, Statutes and
Codes of the State of Texas.
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E. It is not the intention of the Kerr County Commissioners' Court to
provide a public forum for the demeaning of any individual or
group. Neither is it the intention of the Court to allow a member
(or members) of the public to insult the honest and/or integrity of
the Court, as a body, or any member or members of the Court,
individually or collectively. Accordingly, profane, insulting or
threatening language directed toward the Court and/or any person
in the Court's presence and/or racial, ethnic, or gender slurs or
epithets will not be tolerated.
V. The County Judge is the presiding officer of the Kerr County Commissioners'
Court and is a fully participating member thereof. In the event of the absence of
the County Judge, a designee present at the Regular, Special, Emergency Meeting
or Executive Session shall serve as the Judge Pro-Tem of the Court.
VI. The County Judge (or the designated Judge Pro-Tem of the Commissioners'
Court), as presiding officer of the Commissioners' Court, is responsible for
conducting all meetings and members of the public who have properly completed a
Public Participation Form and submitted same to the County Clerk must wait to be
recognized before they will be allowed to address the Court. After recognition by
the Court, speakers shall first identify themselves and then give their address from
the podium located at the center of the Courtroom.
VII Media personnel with technical equipment shall be required to receive permission
prior to setting up during a Commissioners' Court Meeting. Reporters and media
technicians are required to structure their movements, equipment set-up and take-
down and adjustment, etc. in such a manner as to not disrupt the Commissioners'
Court deliberations or the ability of the public to see, hear, and participate in the
proceedings. Interviews shall not be conducted inside the Commissioners'
Courtroom during the time the Court is in session. Media interviews which are
conducted outside the Commissioners' Courtroom shall be conducted in such a
manner that the interview does not disturb, impede or disrupt the proceedings of
any Regular, Special, Emergency and/or Executive Session Meeting of the Court.
VIII. From time to time, the Commissioners' Court shall conduct town meetings, public
hearings and workshops. These rules of procedure, conduct and decorum shall
also apply to such town meetings, public hearings and workshops; however, the
Commissioners' Court may adopt such additional supplemental rules for such
meetings as may be necessary and appropriate to conduct such meetings in an
orderly, efficient and proper manner.
IX These Rules of Procedure, Conduct and Decorum at Meetings of the Kerr County
Commissioners' Court shall be effective immediately upon adoption by the Court
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KERR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURTY
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FORM
Instructions: Fill out all appropriate blanks. Please print or write legibly.
NAME:
HOME ADDRESS:
HOME TELEPHONE:
PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT:
EMPLOYMENT TELEPHONE:
Do you represent any particular group or organization? Yes No
If you do represent a group or organization, please state the name, address and telephone
number of such group or organization.
Which Agenda Item (or Items) do you wish to address?
In general, are you for or against such Agenda Item (or Items)?
Signature
NOTE: This Public Participation Form must be presented to the County Clerk prior to
the time that the Agenda Item (or Items) you wish to address are discussed before the
Court.
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and shall remain in full force and effect until amended or repealed by a Majority
vote of the Commissioners' Court.
ADOPTED BY THE UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE KERB COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS' COURT ON THIS THE 8~ DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1999.
Fred Henneke
Kerr County Judge
H.A. `Buste>" Baldwin
Commissioner Pct. #1
William `Bill" Williams
Commissioner Pct. #2
Jonathan Letz
Commissioner Pct. #3
Larry Griffin
Commissioner Pct. #4