by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
A rule that governs the behavior of City Council members during meetings has been on the books for years. Lately, however, that rule has been ignored as evidenced by recent debates between Council members that were anything but civil.
It’s unlikely Council meetings will ever resemble the fist-tossing brawls that occasionally break in meetings of leaders in foreign countries, but Council member Gwen Yates is looking to amend the current rule in an effort to assure that a meeting — and its participants — are conducted with professionalism, class and respect, for both fellow Council members and the public they represent.
Yates’ bill was introduced late last month and stresses the importance of Council members respecting each other and the legislative process they conduct.
“It’s always been in the rules as to how we speak,” said Yates, who would like to see the bill passed — and practiced — before she steps down in late June due to term limits. “I have added more for clarification.”
Specifically, Yates wants to end what she calls personal attacks by Council members on each other or someone that has requested an opportunity to address Council. She also sees the lack of courtesy as a modern trend that extends well beyond the 19-member Council.
“We need a lot more civility, not just on Council, but worldwide,” she said. “I think Council should be a role model. I think people expect us to conduct ourselves in an honorable fashion. We ought to be leaders in civility and conflict management.”
Yates declined to point at any specific instances of incivility, but one incident did make headlines. Former mayoral candidate Jacqueline Brown was physically removed from a Council meeting last year after coming dressed as Aunt Jemimha and launched a tirade against the entire Council.
Unfortunately, says Yates, much of what’s going on the these days is indicative of a change in attitude that permeated much of society.
“Somewhere along the line we have gotten to that ‘in-your-face’ point and that’s not good,” said Yates, who is the vice chair of both the Council’s Rules Committee and the Committee on Conducting Jacksonville Business. “As elected people, we ought to be in the forefront and not just talk civility, but be civil.”
Yates said the biggest obstacle to her bill is enforcement. There’s a Sergeant-At-Arms on hand should the need for a physical presence arise. However, with 19 members and 19 personalities, Yates admits keeping the peace can be, and is, difficult.
“You can’t make somebody be honorable. It has to be part of their makeup,” she said. “You should never try to strip somebody of their dignity in public. With 19 Council members, it’s important to respect their opinion. It may not be your’s and you may not agree, but in representing your constituents, you should carry yourself in a manner that’s representative of the awesome responsibility we are given.”