Armed 14 year old arrested after running from police
An Evansville Police Officer working an off-duty loss prevention job at the Eastland Mall Dillard’s store arrested a 14 year old on weapon possession and resisting charges on Friday night.
The incident began when the officer saw a group of juveniles in the store. The officer recognized several members of the group because they had been involved in previous thefts.
One of the juveniles appeared to place an item into a trash can, only to retrieve it a short time later. While doing so, he appeared to be checking the area to make sure nobody was watching him. The officer, who was in full uniform, approached the group outside of the store and told the suspect he needed to talk to him. The suspect refused to stop and then ran across the parking lot. During the chase, the suspect threw a .45 caliber handgun. The suspect was caught and taken into custody without further incident.
The serial number on the gun had been altered, but officers determined it had not been reported stolen.
A check of the 14 year old suspect’s background showed he already has 6 felony arrest and is a convicted felon.
He was charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Possession of an Altered Handgun, Possession of a Handgun Without a Permit, and Resisting Law Enforcement.
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Overnight shooting investigation hampered by inaccuracies in injured man’s statement and his lack of cooperation
Evansville Police were called to the 2300 block of Sunburst Blvd around 12:30 Monday morning for a reported shooting.
Officers arrived and found the injured man, 18 year old KESHON HENSLEY. Hensley told investigators he was shot in the leg by an unknown person while he was walking in the parking lot.
During the investigation, police determined the injury could not have happened the way Hensley described it. When asked about the inconsistency between his story and his injury, Hensley refused to answer anymore questions. The investigation remains on-going.
On January 31st 2016, Hensley was arrested for possession of a handgun without a permit at the same apartment complex and was barred from the property following that arrest. He was trespassing at the time he was injured this morning. After he was treated a local hospital this morning, he was arrested fro trespass.
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Several people injured in violent domestic dispute, police still investigating
Evansville Police were called to 730 Bayard Park Dr. around 1:00am on Sunday morning for a domestic violence in progress call.
Officers arrived and found three people with serious injuries. Officers determined the three had been involved in a fight inside the house that involved several weapons. The weapons included 2 knives, a 2×4, a stun gun, brass knuckles, a shovel, and a wooden stick.
Officers determined all of the injured people knew each other and it was a domestic dispute that turned very violent.
All three people were taken to a local hospital for treatment. One of the injured people had multiple stab wounds and his injuries were considered life threatening.
Due to the medical condition of all of the individuals, no arrests were made at the time. The investigation is on-going.
Phone Scam: Fake FBI Agent Conducting Investigation
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a report of telephone fraud involving a caller claiming to be an FBI Agent.
The caller, who used the names Alex Morgan and Thomas Ryan in the scam attempt, left a message on the victim’s answering machine, indicating that he needed to speak with the victim regarding an investigation. The caller had the ability to “spoof” the victim’s caller ID to make it appear the call originated from the “US Government”.
The FBI never calls people to threaten arrest, ask for money or request personal information. Sheriff Dave Wedding stated, “If you have any doubt about the identity of an official who calls you on the phone, get the official’s name, hang up, and then call the agency back at a phone number you know to be correct.” Sheriff Wedding added, “The victim in this most recent case did the right thing by treating this message with skepticism and immediately notifying law enforcement. Once you become known as an easy mark for these scammers, you may be targeted for future scam attempts.”
Residents should not be deceived by callers who already have a date of birth or other piece of personally identifiable information. This basic information is sometimes used to bolster the credibility of the caller in hope of obtaining even more information from the victim.
The FBI is aware of this scam and issued a statement encouraging “…anyone who receives a telephone call from someone representing to be from the FBI, to verify the information provided in that call with their local FBI field office.” Â The phone number for the FBI field office in Evansville is (812) 423-4486.
Pictured above: Fake FBI Agent Clark Westerfeld from the FX TV Show “The Americans”. (Image courtesy of Fox Television Studios / Amblin Television).
IS IT TRUE MARCH 28, 2016
IS IT TRUE Â since President Barack Obama’s historic visit to Cuba, we thought it would be fun to reveal fascinating facts about this intriguing nation?
IS IT TRUE in Cuba healthcare is free and seen as a fundamental human right, guaranteed by the state. Despite spending a fraction of what the United States spends on healthcare (the World Bank reports Cuba spends $431 (£303) per head per year compared with $8,553 (£6,000) in the US) Cuba has a lower infant mortality rate than the US and a similar life expectancy?
IS IT TRUE despite not having much access to the internet, Cubans are a smart bunch. In fact, there are so many doctors in Cuba they’re often sent to other countries that have a shortage. The country has 90,000 of them to serve its population of 11 million. That’s eight for every 1,000 citizens – which according to the World Bank is more than double the rate in the US (2.5) and the UK (2.7).
IS IT TRUE while reports vary on whether it’s actually illegal or not, taking photos of anything associated with the police or military is certainly frowned upon and could result in you losing your camera?
IS IT TRUE that Cuba is the most populated country in the Caribbean, with more than 11 million residents?
IS IT TRUE while many of us use search engines a dozen times a day to find out everything from the weather to how to cook a steak, Cuba is one the least connected countries in the world with only 5% of Cubans enjoying access to uncensored internet at home.
IS IT TRUE that the  average state salary in Cuba is just $20 (£14) per month even though the cost of survival runs around $50 (£35) a month?
IS IT TRUE that Cuba has not one but two currencies. The Cuban peso (CUP) and the Cuban convertible peso (CUC) are both legal tender on the island with the latter worth 25 times as much as the CUP. While most Cubans are paid in CUP, nearly all goods are priced in CUC, making the gap between the haves and have nots glaringly obvious?
IS IT TRUE In 2012, current Cuba president Raul Castro (Fidel’s brother) reinstated Good Friday as a public holiday at the request of Pope Benedict XVI for the first time since the 1959 Cuban revolution?
IS IT TRUE In recent years, the government of Cuba has eased its stronghold on internet censorship with more than 40 government approved wi-fi hot spots around the capital city Havana and other major cities. Although the price of wi-fi access in public places has recently dropped to $2.25 (£1.58) an hour, it is still prohibitive for the vast majority of Cubans.
IS IT TRUE CUBA has one of the lowest birth rates in the Western Hemisphere. Falling dramatically since the 1970s, in 2013 only 9.51 babies per 1,000 Cubans were born?
IS IT TRUE in Cuba Christmas did not become an official holiday in Cuba until 1997. This was introduced by former leader Fidel Castro as a gesture of goodwill in honor of Pope John Paul II’s visit.
IS IT TRUE that the United States pays Cuba approximately $4,085 (£2,875) a year to lease the 45 square miles that holds the controversial Guantánamo Bay Naval Station. Cuba has reportedly only cashed a check once, and by mistake, according to an essay written by Fidel Castro.
IS IT TRUE in CUBA blowing your nose in public in Cuba is considered extremely rude?
IS IT TRUE Cuba is often called El Caiman or El Cocodrilo (Spanish for alligator), because that’s what the island resembles from an aerial view?
IS IT TRUE Bacardi, the spirit maker of rum, Dewar’s Scotch and Grey Vodka, was actually founded in Cuba. However, the brand moved its operations to Puerto Rico after Fidel Castro came to power.
IS IT TRUE in Cuba sex change operations have been permitted since 2008.? Â ….they’re also covered under the National Health Care System for qualifying citizens?
IS IT TRUE in 2015 the half-century ban on purchasing Cuban cigars as lifted,? Â …it was revealed that then US President John F. Kennedy bought 1,200 Cuban cigars for himself hours before he ordered the US trade embargo?
IS IT TRUE that Cuba is one of two countries where the sale of Coca-Cola is prohibited? Â … when the Castro government began seizing private companies in the 60s Coke made a swift exit, with not a drop being served in the country since?
IS IT TRUE some say former president Fidel Castro grew his signature beard because the US stopped exporting razors, other reports say he did it as a time-saving measure, boasting that he saved himself 10 working days per year by not shaving his beard?
IS IT TRUE that two of Cuba biggest passions are baseball and ballet. The latter is funded by the government, which pays for ballet training and subsidizes tickets to performances.
IS IT TRUE on New Year’s Eve, it’s tradition for Cubans to burn dolls in order to symbolize forgetting bad times and looking forward to new and good times during the New Year?
IS IT TRUE It’s said that when Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba, he immediately ordered all sets of the game Monopoly to be destroyed?
IS IT TRUE one of Cuba’s most distinctive anachronisms has always been streets full of classic cars like Chevrolets, Buicks and Fords.  …the reason why is because up until 2014 it was forbidden to purchase cars manufactured abroad?
IS IT TRUE in Cuba you can forget buses because lots of Cubans engage in the Nationalized Hitchhiking system which came about in the 1990s? Â … at the time buses were scarce and it was illegal to buy cars with the only automobiles running with regularity being state-owned cars and trucks? Â …the government made it mandatory for government vehicles to pick up hitchhikers?
FOOTNOTES: Our next “IS IT TRUE†will be posted on this coming Wednesday?
Please take time and read our newest feature article entitled “HOT JOBSâ€posted in this section are from Evansville proper.
If you would like to advertise in the CCO please contact us citycountyobserver@live.com
Todays “Readers Poll†question is:  If the election was held today for the Republican primary for the 8th Congressional seat who would you vote for?Copyright 2015 City County Observer.
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
CUBA’S NEW MOMENT
By Peter Funt
Most of us have never been to Cuba and yet we easily conjure images of brightly colored vintage American cars, of deeply creased yet smiling faces, of bare-chested young athletes bounding in the bright sun, of cigar smoke wafting above crowded dance floors.
President Obama’s wise decision to try a different approach in relations with the Castro regime is likely to improve things for Cuba’s economy and its people. A nation frozen in time will change, but many Americans — especially tourists — hope the images are preserved.
Photographer Lorne Resnick understands, having spent the last 20 years chronicling the island nation and its people. His large and striking book, “Cuba: This Moment, Exactly So,†could not be better timed nor more useful in depicting the Cuban experience.
Resnick’s 250 photographs, culled from over 400,000 he took during more than 50 trips to Cuba, are truly remarkable. And I would say that even if Resnick were not my brother-in-law. His photographic passion can be examined at www.ThisCuba.com.
“Just like the buildings have exposed their raw structure as the paint peels away from decades of wear and lack of funds for upkeep,†Resnick observes, “it seems to me that the Cuban people’s social masks have also faded away to reveal honest, open, kind, warm humans who will engage you in intense, frank conversations about politics, religion and life.â€
“The Cubans are incredibly family and friend centered,†he continues. “If you spend enough time in a family home it makes you weep at how beautiful their closeness is. The warmth and love is really extraordinary.â€
Much of Cuban life is an enigma. For instance:
“Health care is free in Cuba. They have world-class doctors and not enough tongue depressors — largely due to the embargo. They have a Parkinson’s treatment center that people fly to from all over the world. They have cutting edge cancer research. But the hospitals are old.
“Fidel Castro actually admitted not long ago that he made a mistake and over-educated Cubans, so that now they have too many doctors and not enough mid-level service people.â€
Pressed at an awkward news conference on Monday, Raul Castro mentioned free health care as he sought to deflect questions about Cuba’s rights violations. Cuban “rights,†he declared, include health care, free higher education and equal pay for women.
That brought a reply from President Obama summing up this turn in U.S.-Cuban relations. “I actually welcome President Castro commenting on some of the areas where he feels we are falling short,†he said, “because I think we should not be immune or afraid of criticism or discussion as well.â€
Over time, shiny new American cars will line the streets of Havana, in front of tall, modern hotels and rows of U.S.-owned businesses. Eventually Havana’s photo album might look more like San Diego’s.
Photographer Resnick probably won’t care as much about those images, but he’s developed a keen appreciation for the Cuban people.
“I was in Cuba on December 17, 2014, when the Obama announcement came that things were going to change,†he says. “Everywhere I went people were quietly celebrating, each raising a glass to a potential bright future, hugging and kissing everyone.â€
For Cuba, that is the bigger picture.
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MARCH 28, 2016 ROOM 301, CIVIC CENTER 5:30 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MARCH 28, 2016 ROOM 301, CIVIC CENTERÂ
ROLL CALL
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF MEETING MEMORANDUM
REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
CONSENT AGENDA
FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
ORDINANCE G-2016-16 A.S.D. MOSBY
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 3.110 (Accounts and Transfers) of the Code of Ordinances
ORDINANCE F-2016-06 FINANCE McGINN
An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing Additional Appropriations of Funds within Various Accounts (DMD)
ORDINANCE F-2016-07 FINANCE McGINN
An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing Repeal and Re- Appropriations of Funds within Various Accounts (DMD)
CONSENT AGENDA
SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
ORDINANCE G-2016-11 PUBLIC WORKS WEAVER
An Ordinance to Vacate Certain Public Ways or Public Places Within the City of Evansville, Indiana, Commonly Known as the Right-of-Way of Third Avenue, in the City of Evansville, Indiana
ORDINANCE G-2016-12 PUBLIC WORKS ELPERS
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 13.05 (Sewers) of the Evansville Municipal Code
ORDINANCE G-2016-13 PUBLIC WORKS ELPERS
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 13.15 (Water) of the Evansville Municipal Code
ORDINANCE G-2016-14 AMENDED PUBLIC WORKS MOSBY, WEAVER, ADAMS
An Ordinance Establishing Chapter 15.30 (Responsible Bidding Practices and Submission Requirements) of the Code of Ordinances
ORDINANCE G-2016-15 PUBLIC WORKS WEAVER
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2.150 (Emergency Management) of the Evansville Municipal Code
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MARCH 28, 2016 ROOM 301, CIVIC CENTER 5:30 P.M.
ORDINANCE F-2016-04 FINANCE McGINN
An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing the Issuance of Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds, Series 2016 (Consolidated RAD Projects)
REGULAR AGENDA
THIRD READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
ORDINANCE G-2016-11 PUBLIC WORKS WEAVER
An Ordinance to Vacate Certain Public Ways or Public Places Within the City of Evansville, Indiana, Commonly Known as the Right-of-Way of Third Avenue, in the City of Evansville, Indiana
ORDINANCE G-2016-12 PUBLIC WORKS ELPERS
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 13.05 (Sewers) of the Evansville Municipal Code
ORDINANCE G-2016-13 PUBLIC WORKS ELPERS
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 13.15 (Water) of the Evansville Municipal Code
ORDINANCE G-2016-14 AMENDED PUBLIC WORKS MOSBY, WEAVER, ADAMS
An Ordinance Establishing Chapter 15.30 (Responsible Bidding Practices and Submission Requirements) of the Code of Ordinances
ORDINANCE G-2016-15 PUBLIC WORKS WEAVER
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2.150 (Emergency Management) of the Evansville Municipal Code
ORDINANCE F-2016-04 FINANCE McGINN
An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing the Issuance of Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds, Series 2016 (Consolidated RAD Projects)
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
The next meeting of the Common Council will be Monday, April 11, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. Committee meetings will begin at 5:15 p.m.
Approval of Youth Grants
Officer Chuck Knoll, Evansville Police Department & FOP: Police Contract
ADJOURNMENT
MISSY MOSBY INTRODUCES CHANGE TO THE SPEAKING ORDINANCE
ORDINANCE G-2016- INTRODUCING: MISSY MOSBY-COMMITTEE: A.S.D.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2.10 (COMMON COUNCIL) OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES
(PLEASE REFER TO SECTION 6 ON THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE)
WHEREAS, the Common Council recognizes that members of the public should be able to address the Council regarding matters that do not appear on the agenda and that a three-minute limitation for each speaker should provide adequate time for each speaker to convey a message or raise a concern to the Council; and
WHEREAS, the Council President, as Presiding Officer, has the duty to maintain order and decorum of meetings and use good judgment in keeping speakers within their allotted time limits; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council finds it necessary to amend Chapter 2.10 of the Code.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Common Council of the City of Evansville as follows:
Section 1. Amendment of Section 2.10.010 of the Code. Section 2.10.010 of the Evansville Municipal Code is hereby amended by deleting the stricken words and inserting the words underlined as follows:
“(A) The Common Council of the City shall meet at least twice per month on Monday evening. The regular meetings shall begin at 6:30 p.m.5:30 p.m., or at a time established by the Common Council at its first regular meeting in January of each year.
(B) Meetings of the Common Council of the City of Evansville shall be held in compliance with the Indiana Open Door Law found at IC 5-14-1.5-1.
(1) Emergency meetings and executive sessions may be held pursuant to Indiana law.
(2) An agenda shall be posted at the entrance of the location of the meeting prior to the meeting.
(3) Notice of the time, date, and place of regularly scheduled meetings may be given by the City Clerk once each year to media representatives requesting such on or before January 1st.
(4) A meeting may be recessed and reconvened at a later time, date, and place, if such is announced at the original meeting, and if the agenda remains the same, without the necessity of further notice being given.
(C) Special meetings of the Common Council may be called by the Mayor, the Council President, or any three Council members. It shall be the duty of the person or persons calling the special meeting to notify the City Clerk of the meeting, allowing the Clerk reasonable time to prepare and serve notice. It shall be the duty of the Clerk to duly notify all Council members and to serve notice of the time, date, and place of said special meeting in writing 48 hours prior to said meeting by posting notice in a public place and mailing, emailing, or faxing notice to media representatives who requested such notice on or before January 1st. No action may be taken on any subject at a special meeting unless that subject was stated in the call for the special meeting.
(D) A quorum of the Council shall be a majority of all elected Council members. A quorum shall be necessary for the transaction of Council business unless otherwise required by statute or this code. No ordinance or resolution shall be passed which shall not have received the votes of a majority of all members of Council.
(E) For purposes of this chapter, “ordinance†means a local law that regulates persons or property and relates to a matter of a general and permanent nature. Any Common Council enactment that regulates persons or property and imposes a fine for violations must be in the form of an ordinance. No ordinance shall be passed on the same day or at the same meeting that it is introduced, except by a unanimous consent of the Council, and then only if at least two-thirds of the Council members are present and voting. An ordinance is required to amend or repeal an existing ordinance.
(F) For purposes of this chapter, “resolution†means a stated position or policy of the Common Council or the City. A resolution may be passed on the same day or at the same meeting as it is introduced, unless it requires affirmative action on behalf of the City, if it is otherwise required by law, or if it is requested by a majority of the members of Council that it be treated with the formalities of an ordinance. A resolution passed under this section requires a majority vote of the Council members. A resolution may be passed by a voice vote rather than a roll-call vote, unless a roll-call vote is requested by any member of Council or unless the resolution requires affirmative action on behalf of the City as required by law or it has been requested by a majority of the members of Council that it be treated with the formality of an ordinance.
(G) The Clerk may read an ordinance or resolution by number and title only, unless the Presiding Officer and two Council members request the item be read in its entirety. No rule, regulation, ordinance, or other final action shall be adopted by reference to agenda or item number alone.
(H) A motion to repeal, amend, or suspend a Council rule, other than subsection (D), (E), (F), (G) or (H) of this section, shall be in order at any time, except after a vote has been ordered. The motion requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Council members present and voting. Subsection (D), (E), (F), (G) or (H) of this section shall not be repealed, amended, or suspended except by an ordinance duly enacted in accordance with this section.
(I) A reading in full of the minutes of the previous meeting shall not be necessary unless upon motion duly made and passed by a majority of the members of Council.
(J) The Sergeant-at-Arms shall be the Chief of Police or his duly appointed designee, who must be a member of the City Police Department. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall preserve order in the lobby outside of the Council chambers and assist the President of Council in doing so within Council chambers. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall act as the messenger of the Common Council while in session. He shall deliver all notices to each member of the Common Council and all papers to the chairmen of the committees that may be placed in his hands by the City Clerk within 24 hours after receiving same.â€
Section 2. Amendment of Section 2.10.020(G) of the Code. Section 2.10.020(G) of the Evansville Municipal Code is hereby amended by deleting the stricken words and inserting the words underlined as follows:
“(G) The City Clerk shall prepare an weekly agenda for the meetings of the Common Council at the direction of the Council President.â€
Section 3. Amendment of Section 2.10.040(A) of the Code. Section 2.10.040(A) of the Evansville Municipal Code is hereby amended by deleting the stricken words and inserting the words underlined as follows:
“(A) At its first regular meeting after a City election, which meeting shall be held at 6:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. on the first second Monday in January, and on the first second Monday of each succeeding January, the Council shall elect from its membership a President and a Vice-President. The President shall preside at all meetings, call the meetings to order, preserve order and decorum, decide all questions of order subject to appeal to the Council, and perform all other duties required of the President. He shall appoint all standing and special committees and their chairmen and shall fill vacancies on those committees. The President shall sign all ordinances and resolutions passed by the Council before their presentation to the Mayor, as well as the minutes of the Council meetings. The President shall vote on all issues before the Council, voting last.â€
Section 4. Amendment of Section 2.10.050 of the Code. Section 2.10.050 of the Evansville Municipal Code is hereby amended by deleting the stricken words and inserting the words underlined as follows:
“The following order of business shall be observed by the Common Council at its meetings. This order of business may be suspended at any time with the vote of the majority of the Council members present.
(A) Call to order.
(B) Roll call.
(C) Invocation and pPledge of allegiance.
(D) Reading, amending, and approving minutes of previous meetings.
(E) Special orders of the day.
(F) Written reports from City officials and other communications from members of the public, including petitions and remonstrances.
(G) Consent agenda – first reading of ordinances and resolutions.
(H) Regular agenda – first reading of ordinances and resolutions.
(I) Consent agenda – second reading of ordinances and resolutions with report of standing committee.
(J) Regular agenda – second reading of ordinances and resolutions with report of standing committee.
(K) Regular agenda – Third reading of ordinances and resolutions.
(L) Resolution docket.
(M) Miscellaneous business.
(N) Committee reports.
(O) Approval of claims.
(P) Adjournment.â€
Section 5. Amendment of Section 2.10.080 of the Code. Section 2.10.080 of the Evansville Municipal Code is hereby amended by deleting the stricken words and inserting the words underlined as follows:
“(E) No member shall refuse to vote or absent himself or herself to avoid voting on any question; provided, however, that should any member or the spouse or dependant of the member have a direct economic interest in the subject matter to be voted upon, such member may abstain from voting on such matter, if such member shall submit in writing to the Council President, at any time prior to within five (5) days of the vote being taken, a letter detailing the circumstances of the economic conflict of interest. The written explanation shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting at which the member abstained.â€
Section 6. Amendment of Section 2.10.090 of the Code. Section 2.10.090 of the Evansville Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection (F) and Subsection (G) to be added to read as follows:
“(F) No person other than a member or officer of Council shall be permitted to address Council during its meeting except as provided in this rule as follows:
(1) The Presiding Officer may recognize any guest speaker under “miscellaneous business†and permit one report, not to exceed three (3) minutes. If there are many people who wish to speak during the public comment period, the Council may reduce the time allowed for each individual. Guest speakers are not permitted to donate time to other speakers.
(2) When giving a report, guests shall state their name and address for the record. All reports shall be made from the podium; speakers may not approach the Council dais without permission from the Presiding Officer.
(3) Guests from the public shall refrain from:
(a) profanity, vulgar language or gestures, or language which would incite an immediate breach of the peace;
(b) undue repetition, extended discussion of irrelevancies, obscenity, and personal attacks against private individuals unrelated to the operation of the City;
(c) campaigning for public office; and
(d) interrupting other guests or speakers or engaging in behavior that disrupts the meeting.
(4) Any city or county officer or employee may address the Council in response to a question or request for information by a member of the Council.
(5) Any member of Council desiring that someone be heard that is denied the floor by these rules or the Presiding Officer, may move to allow such person to address the Council. The motion shall state the person to be heard, the subject to which the discussion will be limited, and the time to be granted the speaker. The motion shall require a second; it shall be privileged and immediately put to vote without debate. The motion shall be carried only if receiving a vote of a majority of the members of the Council. If the motion is carried, the person shall be permitted to address the Council in accordance with the motion.
(6) If an item of business before the Council is one for which a notice of public hearing has been given, the Presiding Officer shall inquire before calling for a vote whether members of the public desire to be heard on that item. If any person indicates a desire to be heard, the Presiding Officer shall recognize such person. The Council may, by majority vote, impose reasonable limits upon the time and number of persons to be allowed to speak.
(G) In order to prevent obstructed views, distractions, and safety hazards, no person shall be permitted to bring signs, placards, or posters of any design in council chambers during the course of Council meetings; provided, however, that approved presentation materials for scheduled presenters may be permitted by Council. Council chambers attendance shall be limited to the posted seating capacity as determined by the State Fire Marshal.
(H) Any member of the public having been properly granted the privilege of the Council floor for purposes of offering comment or testimony on a particular proposal or issue before the Council must speak to that issue. Any member of the Council, having been recognized by the Presiding Officer, may question the relevancy of comment or testimony being given by members of the public by asking the Presiding Officer to rule on the germaneness of such comment or testimony. The Presiding Officer may also rule on germaneness without request. All such decisions of the Presiding Officer may be challenged and sustained or overruled by a majority vote.â€
Section 7. Amendment of Section 2.10.100(G) of the Code. Section 2.10.100(G) of the Evansville Municipal Code is hereby amended by deleting the stricken words and inserting the words underlined as follows:
“(G) Committees may hold meetings at any time following proper notice. Notice of the time and place of committee meetings may shall be given by the committee chairman during a duly convened Council meeting. If this is not done, the committee chairman calling the meeting shall notify the City Clerk who shall promptly notify each Council member.â€
Section 8. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Common Council.