HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTION 2025-062 N.C.S. 05/19/2025Resolution No. 2025-062 N.C.S Page 1
Resolution No. 2025-062 N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE PETALUMA DECORUM AND ORDER POLICY FOR PUBLIC
MEETINGS
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma is committed to fostering civic engagement through public meetings that
are open, inclusive, and respectful of all participants; and
WHEREAS, members of the City Council, City commissions, committees, and boards serve the community
with integrity and dedication, and all participants—whether elected officials, staff, or members of the public—
deserve a safe and orderly environment for civic discourse; and
WHEREAS, maintaining decorum in public meetings is essential to the effective functioning of democratic
governance and the respectful exchange of differing viewpoints; and
WHEREAS, the City Council’s existing Rules of Procedure contain outdated decorum provisions that do not
fully reflect the current legal landscape or extend to subordinate legislative bodies; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 1100, enacted in 2022, amended the Ralph M. Brown Act to authorize presiding
officers to remove individuals who willfully disrupt public meetings, and created a clear legal framework for
warnings, removal procedures, and protections for public speech under Government Code §§ 54957.95 and
54954.3; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Petaluma Decorum and Order Policy for Public Meetings incorporates the
requirements of SB 1100 and defines disruption in a manner that respects First Amendment protections while
providing orderly meeting management tools; and
WHEREAS, the Policy establishes consistent standards for all public meetings held by the City Council and
its appointed commissions, committees, and boards, and applies equitably to officials, staff, and members of the
public; and
WHEREAS, the Policy supports the City’s legal and ethical obligations to prohibit discriminatory or
harassing conduct and outlines remedies to preserve safe and inclusive meeting environments for all attendees;
and
WHEREAS, the Policy furthers the City’s goals under “A City That Works” and “A Safe Community That
Thrives” by enhancing operational efficiency, civic participation, and community safety at public meetings; and
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Resolution No. 2025-062 N.C.S Page 2
WHEREAS, adopting the Petaluma Decorum and Order Policy will bring the City’s practices into alignment
with other jurisdictions that have implemented similar standards and will provide clear, modern guidance for the
conduct of public meetings; and
WHEREAS, the Policy clearly delineates the authority of the Presiding Officer to maintain decorum with
support from law enforcement and allows for intervention by a Council majority when necessary, ensuring
accountability and responsiveness; and
WHEREAS, the Policy reinforces the City’s anti-discrimination commitments by prohibiting harassing or
hateful conduct and providing remedies that protect staff and community members from harm or intimidation
during public meetings; and
WHEREAS, the City Council seeks to model respectful discourse and civic leadership by adopting a policy
that values open dialogue while promoting mutual respect and lawful conduct at all public forums; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma affirms its commitment to accessible, respectful, and effective public
meetings by adopting this Policy as a vital tool for strengthening civic trust, supporting transparent governance,
and encouraging inclusive participation in the democratic process.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Petaluma as follows:
1. Declares the above recitals to be true and correct and are incorporated into this resolution as findings of the
City Council.
2. Finds that the adopting this resolution is not a “project” within the meaning of Section 15378 of the CEQA
Guidelines, because it is an administrative activity has no potential for resulting in physical change in the
environment.
3. Adopts the Petaluma Decorum and Order Policy for Public Meetings, attached hereto as Exhibit A and
incorporated into this resolution.
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the
Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the 19th day of May 2025,
by the following vote:
Approved as to
form:
__________________________
City Attorney
AYES: McDonnell, Barnacle, Nau, Quint, Shribbs
NOES: DeCarli
ABSENT: Cader Thompson
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST: ______________________________________________
City Clerk
______________________________________________
Mayor
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City of Petaluma Decorum and Order Policy for Public Meetings
“Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are
present.”
- George Washington
“Laws alone cannot secure freedom of expression; in order that every man may present
his views without penalty, there must be a spirit of tolerance in the entire population.”
- Albert Einstein
“Civility does not ...mean the mere outward gentleness of speech cultivated for the
occasion, but an inborn gentleness and desire to do the opponent good.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
“You can disagree without being disagreeable. If you have a caring heart and a thoughtful
mind, you can express a different opinion respectfully.”
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg
A. Purpose
The City of Petaluma Decorum and Order Policy for Public Meetings aims to ensure
orderly, respectful, and inclusive public meetings that facilitate civic participation while
protecting the rights and safety of all participants, including legislative body members,
City staff, and members of the public. Public meetings conducted in compliance with this
Policy will provide all participants in the public process with an environment in which all
members may be fairly heard, while ensuring actual and perceived integrity in the process
and helping to ensure that Petaluma legislative bodies are able to conduct City business
without interference or interruption.
Members of the City’s various public bodies, including the City Council, and the City’s
appointed commissions, committees, and boards, are committed community members
who serve in good faith to make Petaluma a better place, often as volunteers or for
minimal compensation. Likewise, members of the public who participate in City
meetings do so because they care about their city. While disagreement on issues is a
natural and healthy part of democratic governance, the purpose of this Policy is to ensure
that such disagreements are expressed respectfully and without disrupting the public’s
business. Personal attacks and disparaging remarks are strongly discouraged in the
Exhibit A
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interest of productive civic discourse. This Policy seeks to foster an environment where
differing viewpoints can be expressed constructively in the shared pursuit of the
betterment of Petaluma, so all can safely participate in Petaluma municipal affairs, and
meetings of City bodies can effectively conduct the public’s business. This Policy is
intended to foster a constructive and respectful public forum for all participants. The City
of Petaluma appreciates the civic engagement of its residents and encourages continued
participation in the democratic process.
B. Applicability
This Policy applies to all public meetings held by:
•The Petaluma City Council,
•Any Council-appointed commissions, committees, or boards,
•Any other public body under the jurisdiction of the City of Petaluma,
•Petaluma elected and appointed officials and City staff when representing the City
at meetings of other bodies and organizations and other civic gatherings.
C. Guiding Principles for Civic Participation
The City of Petaluma thrives on open, respectful, and inclusive public dialogue. Civic
participation is a cornerstone of democracy, and City meetings are intended to foster
thoughtful engagement on matters of public concern. To support this purpose, all City
officials and employees subject to this Policy are expected, and all meeting participants
are encouraged, to uphold the following principles:
•Treat all participants with courtesy and respect, including in moments of
disagreement.
•Listen attentively and allow others to speak without interruption.
•Focus on issues, not individuals, and refrain from personal attacks or
inflammatory language.
•Speak from personal knowledge and experience and be open to differing
perspectives.
•Comply with the direction of the Presiding Officer in facilitating discussion and
maintaining order.
•Embrace respectful disagreement as a vital part of healthy democratic decision-
making.
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These shared values and expectations for participation in City of Petaluma public
meetings will help create a safe and constructive space for everyone to be heard and for
the full range of views on the City’s affairs to inform City decision makers.
D. Decorum – All Meeting Participants
All individuals present at City of Petaluma public meetings—including legislative body
members, City staff, and members of the public—are expected to preserve decorum to
ensure orderly, respectful, and productive proceedings. In keeping with the freedom of
speech clauses in the U.S. and California constitutions, City of Petaluma public meetings
are a limited public forum for civic expression, where all viewpoints related to the
legislative body’s subject matter jurisdiction may be expressed. In no event will this
Policy be enforced so as to impermissibly burden protected speech, even when such
speech is uncomfortable or unpopular. However, activity that unlawfully disrupts the
conduct of City business, including, but not limited to, the following conduct, is
prohibited:
•Interrupting others while speaking so as to prevent them from freely expressing
their views;
•Loud, threatening, abusive, profane, or slanderous speech that disrupts the orderly
conduct of a meeting;
•Speaking beyond the time allotted by the Presiding Officer;
•Boisterous behavior such as shouting, stamping, clapping, or other disruptions
that interfere with conducting meeting business;
•Disregarding lawful directives from the Presiding Officer;
•Using signs, banners, or placards that obstruct the view of others or disrupt the
orderly conduct of the meeting.
All remarks of meeting attendees shall be directed to the Presiding Officer of the
legislative body through appropriate procedural channels and at times when attendee
remarks are permitted and the Presiding Officer has recognized the speaker. Compliance
with these rules is expected at all times from everyone in attendance.
E. False, Defamatory, Discriminatory or Harassing Remarks Prohibited
Consistent with Federal, State, and City laws and regulations, no City of Petaluma
official, staff member, or meeting attendee may:
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•Engage in discriminatory or harassing speech based on protected characteristics
(such as race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation or identity, age, disability,
religious belief, etc.),
•Create a hostile environment for City officials, staff or the public
•Make demonstrably false or defamatory statements about an individual, including
false allegations of misconduct or attacks on character, when such statements are
made with knowledge of their falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth.
F. Enforcement of Decorum and Remedies
•The Presiding Officer is responsible for enforcing decorum, with support from the
Chief of Police or other City staff or designees.
•Another legislative body member or a staff member may propose enforcement of
this Policy in the absence of an action by the Presiding Officer.
•All enforcement actions under this Policy shall be taken in a viewpoint-neutral
manner consistent with applicable constitutional protections.
Remedies:
The following remedies may be employed at the discretion of the Presiding Officer or the
legislative body, as appropriate:
•The Presiding Officer may read a statement of the City’s anti-discrimination
policies or excerpts from this Policy into the record.1
•The Presiding Officer may call a brief recess to restore order before resuming the
meeting.
•If discriminatory or harassing remarks warrant it, the Presiding Officer may
initiate the removal process below.
•If discriminatory, harassing or disruptive remarks are made by a member of the
legislative body, in addition to the Presiding Officer making a statement, calling a
recess, or initiating removal, the member may be subject to censure at a
subsequent public meeting, in accordance with applicable due process procedures.
•Any legislative body member who reasonably feels unlawfully discriminated
against or harassed may excuse themselves from the meeting, and any City staff
member who reasonably feels unlawfully discriminated against or harassed may
be excused from the meeting.
1 The City’s policy prohibiting workplace harassment may be viewed here:
Prevention_of_Workplace_Harassment_Policy-_FINAL_Draft_1.2022.pdf (storage.googleapis.com)
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G. Meeting Disruption and Attendee Removal Pursuant to the Brown Act
The Brown Act, California’s open meetings law, authorizes the removal of those who are
disrupting meetings of legislative bodies.
Definition of Disruption
The Brown Act defines “disrupting” behavior as behavior that:
•Actually disrupts, disturbs, impedes, or renders infeasible the orderly conduct of
the meeting;
•Fails to comply with reasonable and lawful regulations adopted by a legislative
body; or
•Constitutes the use of force or a “true threat of force”.2
Removal Process
If a City of Petaluma meeting participant is disrupting a meeting, they may be removed
pursuant to this process:
1. The Presiding Officer or designee shall warn the person that their behavior is
disrupting the meeting and that if they do not cease, they may be removed.
2. If the disruptive behavior continues and does not promptly cease, the Presiding Officer
or designee may order the individual removed.
3. If the disruption involves a true threat of force, then the Presiding Officer or designee
may order the individual removed without first giving a warning.
4. Any person removed may be barred from re-entering the meeting during that session.
Clearing the Room
If a group or groups of persons willfully disrupt a meeting, making the orderly conduct of
the meeting infeasible, and order cannot be restored by removing those disrupting the
meeting, the Presiding Officer or the legislative body, as appropriate, may have the
meeting room cleared and continue the meeting. Only matters appearing on the meeting
agenda may be considered after the room is cleared, and representatives of the press and
2 California Government Code § 54957.95. “True threat of force” means a threat that has sufficient indicia
of intent and seriousness, that a reasonable observer would perceive it to be an actual threat to use force by
the person making the threat.
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other news media must be permitted to remain in the meeting, as long as they have not
participated in the disruption. 3
Readmission
Once order has been restored, the Presiding Officer may choose to readmit members of
the public who were not responsible for the disruption.
A violation of this Policy shall not invalidate any action taken by a Petaluma legislative
body. If a City employee violates this Policy, applicable memoranda of understanding
and personnel policies shall also apply, subject to relevant laws. These remedies are not
exclusive and do not limit the City’s ability to pursue any other lawful actions.
H. Public Accountability and the Right to Criticize
The City of Petaluma, and all of its legislative body members and staff, understand that it
is a privilege to serve the City and all its residents as their municipal government.
One of the important functions of City meetings is to permit members of the public to
attend, participate, and exercise their oversight functions concerning how their
government is conducting their business. Accordingly, all City officials and staff
recognize that both at and away from City public meetings, they are subject to appraisals
of their performance of their duties, both positive and negative.
Public criticism of City officials’ and staff members’ performance is a vital part of
accountable local government. However, such criticism must not take the form of
disrupting meetings, making knowingly false or defamatory claims, asserting
unsupported allegations of misconduct, or engaging in unlawful discrimination or
harassment. In accordance with the Brown Act, nothing in this Policy is intended to
prohibit, nor does it prohibit, public criticism of the policies, procedures, programs, or
services of the City, or of the acts or omissions of any of its legislative bodies.4
3 California Government Code § 54957.9.
4 Government Code § 54954.3.
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