Agenda - Council - 04/27/2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Kuzma commented that he received communication from the JCL related to the comments of Councilmember Howell and he believed she made hurtful comments. He stated it was frustrating that Councilmember Howell stated that she would not apologize, and he believed the comments were hurtful. Councilmember Howell commented that she never made a comparison and recommended that instead of reading the newspapers, Mayor Kuzma should watch the recording of the meeting again. Councilmember Musgrove commented that she was very disappointed to read these comments. She stated that everyone on the Council has been elected by residents to represent them. She recognized that the Council will not agree on every issue and needs to treat everyone with respect. She stated that members of the Council will disagree as they represent residents that they speak with and give them direction, and no one should be slandered in this manner behind the scenes because of their vote. She referenced the comment that Councilmember Howell has some growing up to do and asked if that is because she does not agree with Mayor Kuzma's opinion. She stated that people have the right to have different opinions and the Council needs to treat each other with respect. She stated that the Council has been elected to represent the residents and not discourage and demean each other because they disagree. She recognized that this was difficult for Councilmember Howell to bring forward but believed it is necessary for the residents to see this information. Councilmember Howell asked if staff could explain to Mayor Kuzma what the expectations are if he chooses to be in the role of presiding officer and invites guests in the community based on City Code. City Attorney Langel commented that his answer would be brief in that Section 2-50 concerns Council conduct during Council meetings. He stated that to his knowledge there is nothing in the Code that would address decorum outside the Council meeting, noting that he is not taking a position on whether this was right, wrong, or otherwise. Councilmember Howell referenced Section E, F, and G and whether those would apply to the public and whether the presiding officer would have the responsibility to enforce that. She stated that the individuals that spoke at the last meeting tried to tie her to murders that occurred in Atlanta, Georgia and to fetishizing Asian women. She stated that Mayor Kuzma put no stop to the disparagement of her character by two individuals at that meeting. City Attorney Langel stated that she is asking him to be judge and jury on what occurred at that meeting. He stated that he understands how Councilmember Howell is characterizing what occurred at that meeting and explained that the meeting is not that fresh in his mind and he cannot say whether there was a violation of a rule of decorum or Mayor Kuzma's role as presiding officer. He stated that certainly section 2-50 applies during that scenario. Councilmember Howell stated that her question was whether it would be the role of a presiding officer, during the meeting, to put an end to such abusive comments if they were to occur. City Council / April 13, 2021 Page 18 of 20