During the Monday, January 3rd City Council meeting, Mayor Ann B. Taylor announced that the next two City Council meetings will be virtual only. As the Tuesday, January 18th council meeting is over, the date for the remaining meeting is Monday, February 7th. With the coronavirus omicron variant spreading swiftly through Waukegan and Lake County causing the positivity rate to increase, the virtual option will be the safest for citizens, council members, and city staff.
Waukegan’s next two City Council meetings will be held virtually due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the area. Mayor Taylor has determined that conducting these meetings in person would not be practical or prudent and that the January 18th and February 17th meetings should be conducted via the Zoom video conferencing platform pursuant to Section 7(e)(2) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/7(e)(2)).
These meetings will be live-streamed. You can watch and follow along on the City of Waukegan YouTube Channel WaukeganTV at: https://www.youtube.com/c/WaukeganTV (also linked on the City’s website at: https://www.waukeganil.gov/682/Agenda-Center. You should expect a slight transmission delay of approximately 20-30 seconds.
Public Comment During Audience Time at Virtual Meetings
In order to comply with the requirements of 5 ILCS 120/2.06(g), members of the public wishing to make comments or address the City Council at Virtual meetings of the City Council may do one of the following:
- Submit comments in writing, or by audio or visual recording, to the City Clerk at cityclerk@waukeganil.gov not later than 4pm on the day of the meeting. The Clerk shall play or read into the record any and all such comments received. Any comments received that would take an ordinary person more than three (3) minutes to read shall only have the first three (3) minutes read; however, all comments will be posted in their entirety on the City’s website and circulated to the Council members.
(2) For those who wish to provide verbal statements live during Audience Time, you may call (847)856-6412 at the start of the meeting (the number will not be activated prior to the meeting, and will not transmit audio of the meeting while it is taking place), and your call will be taken in the order it is received.
All persons wishing to provide public comment via phone will be required to provide their full names.
INFORMATION FOR AUDIENCE TIME FOR IN-PERSON CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Audience members who wish to speak during audience time are asked to register on the sign-in sheet posted on the Council Chambers door. Each person signing up to speak will be given an opportunity to address the City Council, although not necessarily in the order shown on the sign-in sheet. Each speaker will have three (3) minutes to speak. Audience time is not a discussion session with the Council members; please do not expect a response to your comments.
The following rules related to the behavior of audience members are expected to be followed:
City of Waukegan Code of Ordinances, Sec. 2-65.1. - Rules of decorum at City Council Meetings.
The presiding officer shall conduct city council meetings in an orderly manner. No person in the audience shall engage in disorderly conduct, including any act that disturbs, disrupts, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of any council meeting or the presentation of any speaker.
During the public comment portion of the city council meetings, if any, all public comments are limited to three minutes per individual. Individuals are directed to be brief and concise in making their remarks and to address topics directly relevant to business of the city council.
The presiding officer, after one warning, may rule any individual addressing the city council out of order if the individual:
(1) Becomes repetitive;
(2) Exceeds the three-minute limitation;
(3) Makes personal attacks against others;
(4) Makes rude or slanderous remarks;
(5) Becomes threatening or boisterous;
(6) Engages in electioneering for candidate(s); or
(7) Otherwise interferes with the orderly and dignified conduct of the meeting.
If ruled out of order and is found by the chair to be out of order, the individual may be barred from further remarks at that city council meeting and barred from further attendance at that meeting. This ruling of the chair can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the aldermen present.
Nothing herein is intended to limit or restrain negative, positive or neutral comments about the manner in which an individual employee, officer, official or council member carries out his or her duties in public office or public employment of the city. (Ord. No. 07-O-53, § 2, 5-7-07)
For more information, please contact The Office of Waukegan City Clerk Janet E. Kilkelly.