The Shakopee City Council encourages public input at appropriate and scheduled times. To ensure that all have an opportunity to speak, and to allow the conduct of business, the City Council establishes the following public participation rules. These rules apply to all City of Shakopee public meetings. Failure to comply may result in expulsion from council chambers or meeting rooms.

• Unless permitted, everyone should remain seated, not block any doorways, and not enter the space forward of the speaker’s podium. No movement of chairs is allowed.

• Speakers shall not make personal attacks, air personality grievances, make political endorsements, or make political campaign statements.

• Audience members shall not engage in disorderly conduct, including using loud, threatening or abusive language, whistling, clapping, stamping of feet, repeatedly waiving of arms or other disruptive acts or gestures.

• All demonstrations which disrupt or impede the orderly conduct of meetings are prohibited.

• Photographs, audiotapes, and videotapes may be taken from any available public seat or from the meeting room rear. This activity shall not be conducted in any manner that disturbs or disrupts the audience, speakers, or Councilmembers or otherwise disrupts the Council meeting.

• Animals are prohibited in the Council Chambers except trained service animals as defined under State and Federal law.

• The Mayor or Chair shall be responsible for maintaining the order of all meetings and has the following powers:

1. to issue a verbal warning to a person violating these rules;

2. to exclude a person from the remainder of a meeting if after a warning a person continues to violate the rules; and

3. to recess or adjourn the meeting for safety reasons.

• Repeated violations of these Rules of Conduct may result in the exclusion of a person from future City Council meetings for a time period specified by the City Council.