Virtual Public Comment Update
Since there are few city meetings this week, we're focusing on a presentation in last week's Council Work Session on Virtual Public Comment. After this presentation by Council Administrator Stacey Maynard, Council unanimously reinstated Public Comment in a Virtual format.
Why should this matter to me?
If you care about weighing in on issues before council, this issue is incredibly important.
Public Comment is the only way for resident voices to be entered directly into the historical record. These comments provide crucial evidence for public support or opposition to resolutions/ordinances passed by council.
After the COVID-19 pandemic shut down city hall, council meetings - including public comment - have taken place over Zoom.
Council suspended public comment after several meetings were "Zoom-bombed" by individuals making racist, sexist, and xenophobic comments.
In addition to being offensive and disruptive, this harassment also makes it riskier for the public itself to comment during meetings.
This new virtual option for Public Comment allows residents to provide feedback on the public record, but it does come with some restrictions.
Signing up for Public Comment
Starting in December, Residents will have to sign up for public comment by noon the day before the meeting at which they would like to speak.
Comments can be submitted in one of two ways:
Speak (audio, no video) in the council Zoom meeting
Submit a written comment
Residents interested in providing Public Comment will have to fill out an online form to pre-register. This form will ask the following questions:
Basic Info: First and last name (no initials), email address, home address, phone number
Comment Info: Date and name of the meeting, Agenda Item/Nature of Comments, Comment method (Zoom or written)
The automated system will then send the submission to the Council Office staff and the Council Clerk's Office.
For security, council staff will follow up with residents who have submitted public comment requests to ensure they are who they say they are.
By noon on the day of the meeting, Council staff will call the phone number provided in the submission. Staff will make up to three attempts.
Council staff will ask for information provided in the submission to verify the resident's identity.
Speaking in Zoom Meetings
On the day of the meeting, only vetted and approved residents will receive the Zoom link for calling into the meeting. The short timeline is to make sure approved speakers don't share the link with a large group.
Speakers will be given three minutes to speak and will be called in the order of their registration. Speakers will not be allowed to yield their time to others, and if they are not present when asked to speak, their time is forfeit.
Residents will not be allowed to turn on their cameras, just audio.
If residents giving public comment are uncivil or use hate speech, they will be banned from future meetings.
Providing Written Comments
Written comments provided to Council will be restricted to 500 characters - about the length of two tweets. Council staff will immediately delete any comment with uncivil or hateful speech.
All written comments will be sent to the Mayor and Council before the scheduled meeting and entered into the public record.