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RESOLUTION AMENDING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION RULES
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WHEREAS, the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners (the "Board") is committed to increasing public input in its decision-making process; and
WHEREAS, the Board also encourages input for public participation at board meetings through a variety of other channels, including local park advisory council meetings and through online commentary at the Board's website at <https://chicagoparkdistrict.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx>, as well as written communication directly to the Board members; and
WHEREAS, the Board hereby adopts the following guidelines to govern public participation at Board meetings.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS:
Section 1. Written communication may be forwarded directly to the Board of Commissioners, Chicago Park District, 541 N. Fairbanks Court, 7th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
Section 2. The Public Participation portion of the Board's regularly scheduled Board meetings will commence at 3:30 p.m. on the day the meeting is scheduled. Any individuals wishing to speak on an issue or interested in making a presentation to the Board must register with the Office of Secretary via the Park District's web site at <https://chicagoparkdistrict.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx> beginning at approximately 7:00 P.M., the Friday before the Board meeting, and ending at 2:45 p.m. on the day of the board meeting. Individuals may also sign up in person between 2:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. on the day of the Board meeting.
Section 3. Presentations must be limited to issues of concern before the Park District Board and/or public, and shall not contain comments of a personal nature directed toward individual Park Board members, employees of the Chicago Park District, or any other individual. Vendors wishing to present products or services for purchase should not use Public Participation for this purpose. The Board Secretary will accept materials related to products or services and direct them to the appropriate staff person.
Section 4. The following guidelines will govern the process:
· Registration must be made in person by the individual who will make the presentation. Representatives may not sign up another speaker via proxy.
· Hand-held posters are not allowed in the Board meetings. Speakers may submit pictures or posters to the Board Secretary for viewing by the Board members.
· It is the Chair's prerogative to limit the discussion of any speaker to allow for broad and diverse public participation.
· Speakers will have two (2) minutes each to present their remarks. Speakers may not cede their time to another person.
· Speakers will be limited to speak on one (1) agenda item during one Committee meeting, and cannot speak to any other item from other Committee meetings scheduled for the same date.
· Speakers will be limited to speak on one (1) item during the Park District Board Meeting.
· Groups must select a maximum of two (2) representatives from those who have signed up to speak on their behalf.
· The Board Secretary will group speakers according to topic.
· Speakers who wish to make allegations or comments of a personal nature directed towards individual Park Board members, employees of the Park District, or any other individual, must do so in writing and not as part of public comment.
· After all subjects have been heard, the Board members may discuss any or all of the issues presented.
Section 5. These changes are effective immediately upon adoption.