Rule changes being considered by Cincinnati City Council would give citizens the opportunity to speak at separate public forums — outside of council meetings — and would attempt to put council members on their best behavior.

        The proposed rules are Councilman David Pepper's response to what he calls the “dysfunctional public dialogue” at meetings.

        “Honestly, when I campaigned, I found that people watch these meetings a lot, and they judge our city government by what they see,” said Mr. Pepper, the Rules Committee chairman.

        “When they see a City Council not able to control its meetings, and they see council members not even paying attention, they draw some symbolism from that.”

        Mr. Pepper wants to exclude citizens from speaking during the council's Wednesday meetings, instead directing them to individual council members, committee meetings or special 30-minute public forums before City Council meetings.

        He also proposes a series of neighborhood forums.

        “We have this great tradition in Cincinnati — more than any city I know of — of allowing public input,” Mr. Pepper said. “But only a few people come every week. Our public participation process has broken down, I think.”

        Other proposed changes include:

        • The elimination of “by leaves,” in which council members introduce legislation at the end of a meeting and sometimes call for an immediate vote.

        • The establishment of a “consent agenda,” speeding the passage of routine items.

        • An insistence that committee meetings start on time, even if some council members are late.

        • A six-minute limit on council members' speeches.

        • An end to the practice of silent voting, whereby council members who do not vote are recorded as a “yes.”

        • A requirement that three members of City Council sign off on requests for reports that require more than four hours of staff time.

        • Greater emphasis on attendance — and attentiveness — at meetings, forbidding council members from walking out or holding long side conversations.

        Mayor Charlie Luken, who presides over City Council, said he agrees with Mr. Pepper's attempts to make City Council more professional. But he said the responsibility for keeping meetings orderly still rests with each member of council.

        “I'm reluctant to be the schoolmarm of council. If people want to get up and leave, I don't know what I can do about it,” Mr. Luken said.

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