§ 2-2. Public participation.

(a)

Right to be Heard. Pursuant to Section 286.0114, Florida Statutes, members of the public shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard on a proposition before official action is taken by any board or committee under the auspices of Lake County government, including the Board of County Commissioners. Public input shall be limited to three (3) minutes per speaker, with the Chairman having the option of allowing additional time. This right does not apply to:

(1)

An official act that must be taken to deal with an emergency situation affecting the public health, welfare, or safety, if compliance with the requirements would cause an unreasonable delay in the ability of the Commission to act;

(2)

An official act involving no more than a ministerial act, including, but not limited to, approval of minutes and ceremonial proclamations;

(3)

A meeting that is exempt from Section 286.011, Florida Statutes; or

(4)

A meeting during which the board or commission is acting in a quasi-judicial capacity. This paragraph does not affect the right of a person to be heard as otherwise provided by law.

(b)

Time to be Heard. Each board and committee under the auspices of Lake County government, including the Board of County Commissioners, shall allow members of the public an opportunity to be heard prior to taking official action on any proposition. Such opportunity to be heard need not be provided at the same meeting in which official action on the proposition is to be made, but shall be provided at a meeting during the decision making process that is within a reasonable proximity in time to the meeting in which the board or committee takes official action.

(c)

Request to be Heard. Members of the public who wish to provide comment to the board or committee shall duly come before the board or committee during the designated period of time on the agenda. If requested by the chair of the board or committee, persons requesting to be heard shall submit a speaker card on forms provided by the County Manager or designee. Advanced notice shall not be required, nor shall any member of the public be placed on the official agenda other than having the ability to appear during the designated time for public comment. Members of the public requesting to be heard on a proposition may designate a representative to speak for them individually, or to speak on behalf of a group of concerned citizens.

(d)

Decorum. Members of the public addressing a board or committee shall provide, in an audible voice, their full name and address on the record for the board or committee. All remarks shall be addressed to the board or committee as a whole, and not to any one member thereof, and such remarks shall indicate the speakers support, opposition or neutrality on a proposition. No person, other than members of the board or committee and the person having the floor, shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, either directly or indirectly with the members of the board or committee unless specifically requested by the board or committee to provide comment. Any person making personal, impertinent or slanderous remarks, or who shall become boisterous, while addressing the board or committee, may be required to leave the meeting and may be barred from further audience before the board or committee at the meeting from which they were ejected.

(e)

Signs at Public Meetings. Signs being displayed at public meetings in any public building owned or leased by Lake County shall be of a size that they can be easily held and controlled by one person and are not mounted on posts, poles or other devices or extensions that could constitute a health or safety hazard to other attendees. In the alternative, signs may be displayed on a tripod in an area established for such display as part of a presentation to the Board of County Commissioners or other deliberative body in the Board Chambers or other public meeting room. No signs shall be mounted or adhered to any wall, window, door, pillar, support, post, elevator, or part of any building or structure of Lake County without the permission of the County Manager or a designee.

(f)

Agenda. All boards and committees shall have an agenda that is available at least four (4) days in advance of any meeting. Unless exempted as set forth under subsection (a) above, official action on a proposition cannot be taken at a meeting unless it was included in such agenda. Items not on the agenda may still be discussed at a meeting, but official action on the matter shall be re-scheduled for the next available meeting so as to provide the public a reasonable opportunity to be heard.

(Ord. No. 2013-54, § 2, 10-8-13; Ord. No. 2014-26, § 2, 6-24-14)