Public Participation Guidelines

Public Participation Guidelines. Public participation shall be permitted at oral proceedings in accordance with the following: (a) At an oral proceeding on a proposed rule, persons may make statements and present documentary and physical submissions concerning the proposed rule. (b) Persons wishing to make oral presentations at such a proceeding shall notify the District at least five (5) business days prior to the proceeding and indicate the general subject of their presentations. The presiding officer in his or her discretion may allow individuals to participate that have not contacted the District prior to the proceeding. (c) At the proceeding, those who participate shall indicate their names and addresses, identify any persons or organizations they may represent, and provide any other information relating to their participation deemed appropriate by the presiding officer. Each group or organization should nominate only one person to make the presentation unless the presiding officer determines that the group or organization cannot reasonably be represented by a single spokesperson. (d) The presiding officer may place time limitations on individual presentations when necessary to assure the orderly and expeditious conduct of the oral proceeding. To encourage joint presentations and to avoid repetition, additional time may be provided for persons whose presentations represent the views of other individuals as well as their own views. (e) Persons making presentations are encouraged to avoid restating matters that have already been submitted in writing. Written materials may, however, be submitted at the oral proceeding. (f) Where time permits and to facilitate the exchange of information, the presiding officer may open the floor to questions or general discussion. The presiding officer may question participants and permit the questioning of participants by other participants about any matter relating to that rule-making proceeding, including any prior written submissions made by those participants in that proceeding. No participant shall be required to answer any question. (g) There shall be no interruption of a participant who has been given the floor by the presiding officer, except that the presiding officer may in his or her discretion interrupt or end the partisan's time where the orderly conduct of the proceeding so requires or when the allotted time has expired.