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R -23 -14 A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE RULES OF ORDER AND PROCEDURE OF THE PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL FOR THE PURPOSE OF REGULATING THE USE OF CAMERAS, VIDEO RECORDERS, AND OTHER RECORDING DEVICES AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, is dedicated to an increased awareness by all persons of governmental activities and seeks to afford every opportunity to citizens to witness the operations of government in real -time; and WHEREAS, City Council acknowledges that the Virginia Freedom Information Act (hereinafter referred to as "the Act ") governs its efforts and provides clearly that any person may photograph, film, record, or otherwise reproduce any portion of a meeting required to be open; and WHEREAS, City Council further acknowledges that the Act additionally provides that the public body conducting the meeting may adopt rules governing the placement and use of equipment necessary for broadcasting, photographing, filming, or recording a meeting to prevent interference with the proceedings; and WHEREAS, the Act governing the recording of open meetings seeks to balance the rights to attend and witness the operation of government and the public body's right to efficiently run a public meeting without undue disruption; WHEREAS, City Council, therefore, desires to govern in a manner that demonstrates a respect for this balance while seeking to limit interference with meetings and ensure any recording is done in a manner that does not distract from the meetings; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, that the Rules of Order and Procedure of the Portsmouth City Council are amended by adding a new clause at the end of Section V (Decorum and Order) as follows: Section V. DECORUM AND ORDER. Cameras, video recorders, and other recording devices may not be used any closer to the dais than the speaker's podium, unless otherwise directed by the Sergeant -At- Arms. This restriction does not apply to devices used by the City's Information Technology and/or Marketing & Communications Departments to record the official video recordings of Meetings and Public Work Sessions." ADOPTED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, at a meeting held on February 28, 2023. Teste: City Clerk