Substitute Bill No. 42-22 Replacing & Amending Chapter 2, Article 1, Sect 2-1

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Committee meeting is in progress. Council Members and citizen members of any Standing Committee may not send, view or listen to any electronic message communications while a Council or citizen member is part of the quorum for such meeting or while such meeting is in progress. Any electronic device which is used through City-controlled access and which is needed during the Common Council or any Standing Committee is permitted for the purpose of accessing city information, city presentations, and to record minutes and notes. (q) As used in this Article, "electronic device" means a wireless and/or portable electronic handheld piece of equipment that includes, but is not limited to, existing and emerging mobile communication systems and smart technologies (cell phones, smart phones walkie- talkies, pagers, etc.) portable internet devices (mobile managers,mobile messengers, BlackBerry T handset, etc.) Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), (Palm organizers, pocket PCs, etc.) and any other convergent communication technologies that do any number of the previously mentioned functions. "Electronic device" also includes any current or emerging wireless handheld technologies or portable information technology systems that can be used for word processing, wireless internet access and information transmitting/receiving, etc. Tape recorders, cameras, and hearing aids3 shall be excluded from the definition of "electronic devices" as used in this Article. Emergency communication devices used by sworn police officers and medical first responders who are in attendance of a Common Council or Standing Committee meeting shall be in excluded from the provisions of this Article. 3 Hearing aids are defined by the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) as a "small electronic device that you wear in or behind an ear which is designed to make some sounds louder so that a person with hearing loss can listen, communicate and participate more fully in daily activities."