Request to Speak. Before a Commissioner, staff member, or audience member may speak, they must first be recognized by the Chair. Upon recognition, the person requesting to speak shall hold the floor and shall make their point clearly and succinctly.

If the Commission expects a large number of public comments on an issue or issues, the Chair may instruct audience members who wish to speak during an agenda to complete a Request to Speak Card and submit it to the Commission Executive Assistant. This facilitates gathering the information for the minutes and orderly and efficient comments.

The Chair has the right to cut a speaker off if the discussion becomes too personal, too loud, or too rude or crude.

Order. If a person fails to be recognized by the Chair, the Chair shall rule them Out of Order and remind them that they do not have the floor. While the Commission is in session, all Commissioners must preserve order and decorum. A person shall neither, by conversation or otherwise, delay or interrupt the proceedings or the peace of the meeting nor disturb any other person while speaking or refuse to obey the orders of the Chair. Members of the Commission should not leave their seats during a meeting without first obtaining permission from the Chair or making a Motion to Recess.

Improper References Prohibited. Every person desiring to speak shall address the entire Commission and shall not single out a member of the Commission, the audience, or a staff member. Speakers shall confine themselves to the question under debate, avoiding all personal attacks and indecorous language.

Interruptions. A Commissioner, once recognized, shall not be interrupted when speaking unless it is to call him or her to order or other such interruption expressed below. If the Commissioner, while speaking, is called to order, he or she shall cease speaking until the question of order is determined, and if the Commissioner is found to be in order, he or she shall be permitted to proceed to speak.

Point of Privilege. The proper interruption would be a "Point of Privilege." The Chair would then ask the interrupter to "state your point." Appropriate points of privilege relate to anything that would interfere with the normal comfort of the meeting. For example, the room might be too hot or cold, or a fan motor might interfere with a Commission Member's ability to hear.

Point of Order. The proper interruption would be: "Point of Order." The Chair would then ask the interrupter to "state your point." Appropriate points of order