Mock City Council Meeting Script Teachers This mock City Council meeting has been set up so that all of your students can have a speaking part. There are 32 scripted speaking parts that exist in this document, but this number can easily be expanded. All special groups, such as Concerned Parents, Skate Kids, etc. may contain as many student speaking parts as necessary. Students in these groups, however, will need to come up with their own speaking parts, as nothing is scripted for them. All speaking parts should be assigned before coming to City Hall. This may be done by teacher assignment, student vote, etc. however you see fit! It is recommended that the students have the opportunity to practice the script before the field trip day, so that they get the most out of their Mock City Council experience. On the day of the field trip, please have the scripts included in your preparation binder ready to hand out to the students. Each student s part will be highlighted. Students in the groups that write their own scripts on note cards will need to bring these with them. City staff volunteers will also be available to assist students in remembering when it is their turn and for pronouncing difficult words. The content of the Mock City Council meeting is based on the following proposal: Skate Park Proposal The City of Olathe has come to realize that many young people want to participate in activities away from normal events like baseball, basketball, soccer, etc. Many young people want to experience activities like skate boarding, extreme biking, or extreme skating. The City has decided that building a new skate park would give these kids a place to experience these activities in an organized setting with other kids, and this skate park would give kids the chance to express themselves in other ways besides the typical recreational activities. Some of the sites that have been identified as possibilities for the new skate park are: 1. Black Bob Park 2. Prairie Center Park 3. Frontier Park
Mock City Council Meeting Script 2 Before the new skate park can be built, the City Council must take a vote on whether or not to build this new park, taking into consideration the opinions of different groups of people throughout the City. Meeting Script Narrator: We will begin with the Mayor calling the meeting to order and asking everyone to say the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. Call to Order Mayor: This meeting of the Olathe City Council will now come to order. (Mayor clicks the gavel twice) 2. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor: Everyone please stand. We will now say the Pledge of Allegiance. Narrator: The next part of the meeting will deal with Special Business. From time to time, the City Council will give proclamations for special days and events. A proclamation is a way our city government says things publicly. 3. Special Business Mayor: Council Member #1 has a special recognition. Council Member #1: Thank you Mayor. I would like to have the City Manager present a special award to the teachers who made today s trip possible. (City Manager steps to podium) City Manager: I would like the teachers to now come forward to receive this certificate. The Certificate Reads: Certificate of Appreciation, presented to: 3 rd Grade Teachers of (insert school name here) Elementary School; for sincere appreciation, dedication, and
Mock City Council Meeting Script 3 commitment to our students and community. Your work to connect local government and our students in a positive way has made a big impact! Mayor: Thank you City Manager. Council Member #2 also has a special recognition. Council Member #2: Thank you Mayor. I would also like to thank the students for their efforts today. I would like for both of the Assistant City Managers to step forward and read a special proclamation. (Assistant City Managers step to the podium and take turns reading every other paragraph of the proclamation). Assistant City Managers: I would like the teachers to step forward again to receive this proclamation. (Proceed with reading the proclamation) Narrator: At this time, we will have a Public Hearing on the new skate park proposal. Public Hearings are required by law and allow citizens to say their opinions good or bad about an issue. We will begin with the Parks Director who will provide some information about the proposal. 4. Public Hearing Parks Director: Good morning everyone. The City of Olathe already has one skate park located at Two Trails Park on Ridgeview Road. This skate park doesn t require much work and is used by many children throughout the City. We would like to build another skate park. The new skate park would feature a variety of ramps, jumps, and grinding rails enclosed within a 12,000-square foot area. The skate parks are supervised by the Parks & Recreation staff, and the park will be open the same hours as the skate park on Ridgeview Road. My assistant will give the proposed locations for a new skate park. Assistant Parks Director: The Skate Park could be built at Black Bob Park, Prairie Center Park, or Frontier Park.
Mock City Council Meeting Script 4 Recreation Director: Good morning. As the Recreation Director, I want children to have physical activity every day. The City currently offers many activities for children who enjoy soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, and other traditional sports, but the kids who enjoy skateboarding do not have the opportunities these other children have. I would like to see another skate park for these children. Thank you. Narrator: It s now time to hear what the citizens of Olathe have to say about the skate park. The Mayor will ask residents to step forward to voice their views about the new Skate Park. Everyone coming to the microphone should state their name, address, and read their statement. Mayor: People who represent the Skate Board Lobby Group can now step to the podium to speak. (People representing the Lobby Group now come up to the podium to speak. They will read the remarks they wrote on their own). Mayor: Thank you. The Neighborhood Group can now step to the podium to speak. (People representing the Neighborhood Group now come up to the podium to speak. They will read the remarks they wrote on their own). Mayor: Thank you. The Concerned Parents can now come up to the podium to speak. (People representing the Concerned Parents group now come up to the podium to speak. They will read the remarks they wrote on their own). Mayor: Thank you. I would now like to invite the Skate Parents who Like the Idea to step up to the podium to speak. (Skate parents who like the idea now come up to the podium to speak. They will read the remarks they wrote on their own).
Mock City Council Meeting Script 5 Mayor: Thank you. The Skate Kids are now invited to come up to the podium to speak. (Skate Kids now come up to the podium to speak. They will read the remarks they wrote on their own). Mayor: Thank you. Would the People who do not like the Idea now come forward to speak. (People who do not like the idea now come up to the podium to speak. They will read the remarks they wrote on their own). Mayor: Thank you. Now would the People who Love the Idea please come forward to speak. (People who love the idea now come up to the podium to speak. They will read the remarks they wrote on their own). Mayor: Thank you to all who chose to voice their opinions about the proposed skate park. I would now like to close the public hearing. 5. New Business Narrator: We will now move into New Business. At this time, the City Council will ask the City s staff some questions about the proposed new skate park before voting on the issue. Of course, the Council will keep in mind what has been said at the public hearing. Council Member #3: This question is for the Finance Director. How are we going to pay for a skate park? (Finance Director comes up to the podium) Finance Director: A new skate park will cost $600,000. We will pay for it out of the General Fund and donations from the community.
Mock City Council Meeting Script 6 Council Member #4: This is a question for the Police Chief. Do you have any crime or safety concerns with the project? (Police Chief comes up to the podium) Police Chief: I have very few crime or safety concerns. We already patrol these parks. I would just like to be sure that the park is well-lit to prevent crime. (Police Major comes up to the podium) Police Major: Even with more citizens using the skate park, we do not think crime will increase in this area. Council Member #5: This is a question for the Fire Chief. What safety concerns do you have? (Fire Chief comes up to the podium) Fire Chief: I have no concerns. The materials used at the skate park are safe and durable and have been used on similar projects without problems. (Deputy Fire Chief comes up to the podium) Deputy Fire Chief: I agree with the Chief. Also, the parking lots at each of these parks have been designed to fit all of our fire trucks. Council Member #6: This is a question for the Planning Director. What would you consider when selecting a location for the skate park? Does one location make more sense than the other? (Planning Director comes up to the podium) Planning Director: The population of Olathe is increasing. All parts of the City are growing. You may want to put the skate park in an area that is growing fast or you may want to put it across town from the current skate park. Mayor: This is a question for the City Attorney. Are there any legal issues we need to think about?
Mock City Council Meeting Script 7 (City Attorney comes up to the podium) City Attorney: The one major concern we have are issues in case someone gets hurt at the skate park. We have insurance to cover these claims and we are working on plans to train kids on proper use of the skate park to prevent serious injuries. Mayor: Are there any other questions from the Council? All Council members: No. Narrator: With no other questions or concerns being voiced, the City Clerk will now ask for the vote on the proposed skate park from the Council. The Deputy City Clerk will keep the count. City Clerk: All those in favor of the proposed Skate Park please raise your hand. (The City Clerk and Deputy City Clerk will count and record the votes of all Council members). Deputy City Clerk: All those not in favor of the proposed Skate Park please raise your hand. (The City Clerk and Deputy City Clerk will count and record the votes of all Council members). Narrator: The City Clerk and Deputy City Clerk discuss the vote count before announcing if the skate park proposal was passed or defeated. City Clerk: The Skate Park Proposal passed (or failed); with yes votes and no votes. (The City Clerk writes the # of yes and no votes and reads aloud to Council and audience. 6. Concerns of Citizens
Mock City Council Meeting Script 8 Mayor: Are there any other citizen concerns? (Pause).Seeing no concerns, let s move to adjourn. 7. Adjournment Mayor: This meeting of the Olathe City Council is now adjourned. Mayor clicks the gavel twice. Narrator: Before we leave today s Council meeting, there are a few local reporters with questions about the skate park proposal. (Reporter #1 steps up to the podium) Reporter #1: I have a question for Council Member #3. What will this vote mean for the children in Olathe? Council Member #3: If the skate park proposal passes: It will be an opportunity for our kids to have another great spot to have fun in the evenings, after they finish all of their homework of course. If the skate park proposal fails: This isn t the right time for a second skate park in Olathe. We can better use the money to improve the existing features in our city parks. (Reporter #2 steps up to the podium) Reporter #2: Council member #4, why did you vote for/against the skate park? Council Member #4: If Council member #4 voted yes: I feel that the skate park will introduce a healthy recreation option for kids to use in their free time, and that is why I am in favor of building this park. If Council member #4 voted no: I voted against the skate park because it is too dangerous and, if approved, kids would spend too much time at the park and
Mock City Council Meeting Script 9 never do their homework. The future of our children rests on them completing their homework. (Reporter #3 steps up to the podium) Reporter #3: Council member #5, do you feel you have represented the citizens of Olathe and their concerns today? If so, how? Council Member #5: Yes, I feel that I have represented the citizens concerns today because as a council we listened to all concerns brought forward by the citizens at the public hearing. Listening to those comments, I was able to make an informed decision that will benefit our community. Narrator: This concludes our Mock City Council meeting. Thank you all for participating.