Temecula Cracks Down On Unruly Behavior At City Council Meetings

Temecula CA

15 October, 2021

3:04 PM

Description

TEMECULA, CA — Members of the public who attend Temecula City Council meetings will need to be on good behavior unless they want to get tossed from City Hall. During Tuesday night's Temecula City Council meeting, an ordinance was passed 4-1 that prevents disruptive, disturbing behavior that impedes orderly conduct. City Council Member Jessica Alexander cast the dissenting vote. The new ordinance follows some raucous meetings where not all members of the public abiding by generally accepted meeting decorum. One such meeting occurred Aug. 10 when City Council took up the issue of whether to rename its Race, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Commission. Despite pleas from the mayor, some members of the public were disruptive with shouting, clapping, sign-waving and interrupting speakers during the proceedings. The new ordinance numbered 2021-04 amends section 2.04.030 of Temecula's Municipal Code with written rules. For example, disruptive behavior is now defined as speaking out of turn; throwing objects; interrupting a speaker; wearing a mask, costume, disguise or other regalia or paraphernalia that disrupts, disturbs or otherwise impedes orderly conduct; uttering loud, threatening, or abusive language; disruptive clapping, whistling, stomping feet, and sign-waving, according to the ordinance. Members of the public who do disrupt a meeting may get a soft warning from the mayor, but if the behavior continues removal by a sheriff's deputy could occur, according to the ordinance. If the mayor refuses to follow the updated rules during a City Council meeting, the mayor's power to preside could be stripped for the remainder of a meeting with a majority vote of council members.