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Section XV. REQUESTS BY CITIZENS TO ADDRESS COUNCIL a) Speakers. All requests from members ofthe general public to address City Council on a subject on the business agenda or on a non-agenda item shall be submitted to the City Clerk prior to the calling of the meeting to order. Provided, however, prior requests shall not be required as a condition to speak during any public hearing. If City Council considers an official vote on a resolution or an ordinance during Section 1(2) ("New Items by Council Members"), then it shall be treated as a public hearing, and any citizen shall be entitled to speak for up to five minutes prior to the vote, without having to make a prior request to speak. Requests to speak shall be on registration forms prescribed by the City Clerk and shall include the name of the speaker, his or her address, telephone number, the name of the group or organization, ifany, on whose behalfhe or she is speaking, the number of the agenda item to which the citizen will speak and whether the speaker supports or opposes the agenda item. For non-agenda items, the request shall also identify the subject matter or topic on which the person will speak. A person may sign up to speak either on one or more business agenda items or as a non- agenda speaker, but not both. The Clerk shall advise citizens of this restriction and enforce it, as needed. Each speaker shall have a maximum speaking time of five minutes for each occasion on which he or she speaks. A person may not relinquish or transfer his speaking time to another person.. When two or more speakers desire to address the same subject, they shall be permitted to speak in the order in which the requests were submitted on the date of the meeting. b) Addressing Council. Any person addressing the Council shall conform to this section, and for any failure to so conform, he or she shall be declared out of order by the Presiding Officer and shall forthwith yield the floor. Section XVI. PRESENTATION OF DOCUMENTS BY CITIZENS All documents, exhibits or other matters relative to the business before the City Council shall be submitted to the Sergeant at Arms' Table. Section XVII. APPOINTMENTS BY THE COUNCIL All appointments by the Council shall be by recorded vote, as per Section XIV(b). To be appointed, the nominee must receive a majority vote of those present. Section XVIII. ANONYMOUS COMMUNICATIONS Anonymous communications shall not be introduced to the Council. Section XIX. SUSPENSION OF THE RULES Any provision of these rules, other than an action for which a greater than majority vote is required by applicable authority, may be temporarily suspended with the approval of a majority of the members of Council presents. Section XX. APPLICABILITY OF ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER SThis same requirement is imposed by Portsmouth City Code S2-76. -6-