Council Criminalizes Unruly Behavior

Anyone who disrupts a City Council meeting with unruly behavior will soon pay a price to do so. A new ordinance makes name-calling, speaking out of turn, booing or hissing a misdemeanor.

Penalties will be fines up to $1,000 or time in jail.

“It has really gotten out of control,” said Mayor John Gullixson, who likened presiding over some recent sessions to officiating a hockey game.

Spurring the council to action was a group of citizen activists who oppose the council’s plan to widen Imperial Highway. Members of the group have been asked to leave council chambers after outbursts that stalled recent meetings.

Council members said they fear that behavior including name-calling and personal attacks will intimidate other residents and discourage them from participating in government.

“Recently we had an opening on the Planning Commission and had only one applicant,” Gullixson said.

“In the past there were 12 or 14 applicants when we had openings, but I know some candidates did not want to subject themselves to the kind of abuse they see us taking.”