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of the meeting ; iv. Blocking paths for emergency exit from the meeting room; engaging in any conduct that prevents a member of the audience from seeing or hearing Councilors during a meeting; standing on chairs or tables within the Council meeting room; v . Threats of violence toward Councilors, City staff or members of the public; vi. Engaging in conduct that is a criminal offense under the City Code or the Virginia Code; vii. Campaigning for elected office; viii. Promotion of private business ventures. 8. During a City Council meeting the presiding officer shall have control of the Council Chambers and the connecting halls and corridors within City Hall, and any other venue where a Council meeting is being held. In case of any conduct described in secti on f, above, the presiding officer may take measures deemed appropriate, including but not limited to suspending the meeting until order is restored, ordering areas to be cleared by the Sergeant at Arms, or requiring any individual to exit the meeting room and adjacent premises (connecting halls and corridors.) 9. Any person who has been expelled from a Council meeting shall be barred by the Mayor from reentering the Council meeting from which he or she was expelled, subject to appeal to Council or motion passed by Council. D. Matters by the Public, Public Hearings and Other Comment Opportunities 1. Matters by the Public – Time shall be reserved during each regular City Council meeting for Matters by the Public. The purpose of Matters by the Public is t o offer individuals an opportunity to state a position, provide information to City Council, comment on the services, policies and affairs of the City, or present a matter that, in the speaker’s opinion, deserves the attention of City Council. a. At Counci l’s regularly scheduled meetings, two opportunities will be afforded for members of the public to address Council. One Matters by the Public session will be offered early in the meeting, which shall be called “Community Matters”, prior to taking up matters on a consent agenda, action items agenda, or items for discussion agenda. At this first period, up to sixteen (16) individuals may speak, as follows: i. up to 8 individuals selected randomly from a list of people who have signed up in advance, and ii. up to 8 individuals who have registered on the sign -up sheet available at the front of the room prior to the meeting on a first -come/first -served basis. A second Matters by the Public session will be offered as the final item on a regular meeting agenda. b. Each person who speaks during a Matters by the Public session will be limited to a maximum time of three minutes. i. Speakers may concede their allotted time ; the person whose name is written on the speaker sheet must be the person who begins speaking, a lthough they may be accompanied by others to the podium and may share their time with them. Each speaker shall begin by clearly stating his or her name and place of residence (or, if speaking on behalf of a business, by giving the location of the business.) ii. Written materials presented at Matters by the Public must be given to the Clerk prior to