By Jason Islas
Lookout Staff

November 15, 2011 -- If you attend a public meeting in Santa Monica, please refrain from hooting down an opponent, don't lose control and keep an open mind.

That's the demeanor the council last week unanimously directed staff to include in a civility agreement that would function as a set of expectations for all public political discourse in Santa Monica.

“This is not an attempt to keep people from speaking, but an attempt to make sure everyone is comfortable speaking, regardless of their viewpoint,” said Mayor Pro Tem Gleam Davis.

The civility agreement, which may soon be stamped on the front of Council agendas, would not prevent persons from getting angry or raising their voices, Davis said. Rather it would “set forth a set of expectations about how we all treat each other any time there's a public discourse,” she said.

It calls for people to “accept responsibility and maintain self-control,” “listen to others respectfully” and “if merited, allow yourself to be persuaded to change your opinion,” according to the staff report.

At times, people have been booed or hissed from the audience just for speaking their minds, undermining their first amendment rights, Davis said.

Not everyone on the dais, however, was immediately convinced that a civility agreement was necessary.

“I have no idea how a civility policy could be enforced,” said Council member Bobby Shriver. “People have a right to say uncivilized things to us. Politics is a rough sport.”

Council member Kevin McKeown also wasn't convinced.

“I'm not exactly sure what this is meant to accomplish or how it will be enforced, but opposing a civility agreement would be downright uncivil,” McKeown said.

But Davis pointed out that no one is suggesting a civility ordinance, with fines or possible jail time.

“It's not a question of trying to enforce civility,” Davis said. “It's more the idea that we need to constantly remind ourselves because... we do get excited.”

She added that recently, members of the public and City staff have felt threatened for expressing their opinions or just doing their jobs, which surprised Shriver and convinced him to vote to support drafting an agreement.

Mayor Richard Bloom, who attended July's conference where the Civility Accord – one of the model's for the proposed civility agreement – was drafted and ratified, said, “This is not just about Santa Monica.”

Around the country, Bloom said, there are examples of public discourse falling apart in ways that “go beyond anything we've ever seen in Santa Monica.”

He added that it is important that Santa Monica be a part of a group of concerned polities around the country that are taking a stand against incivility.

Council member Pam O'Connor was absent.