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Meeting Guidelines
Citizen Comments at City Council Meetings
The City Council welcomes written and oral comments from citizens at regular meetings.
Citizens may use the comment sheet provided in the City Clerk’s Office. Comment sheets submitted to the city clerk by 5 p.m. on the day of the council meeting will be copied and distributed to the Council Members. A citizen who wishes to submit other written material should submit nine copies to the city clerk for distribution to council members and senior staff.
Citizens wishing to speak may sign in at the City Clerk’s Office during regular business hours, or by 7 p.m. on the evening of the meeting. Speakers will have an opportunity to speak during the citizen comment period, and they must observe the four-minute time limit, five minutes for a representative for a group unless other members of the group also speak.
General Rules for Speaking
There is time reserved at every regular meeting of the City Council for citizens who would like to speak directly to the City Council on public matters that deserve the attention of council. The time limit for speakers is four minutes. Individuals speaking on behalf of a group will be allowed five minutes provided that no other members of the group speak. Subject matter being addressed must be within the jurisdiction of city business. General announcements are prohibited. Please respect the time limit.
Public Hearings
The applicant or his/her representative will be allowed 10 minutes for a presentation.
The time limit for speakers is three minutes. Individuals speaking on behalf of a group will be allowed five minutes provided that no other members of the group speak.
Comments must relate to public hearing subject matter. After public comment, the applicant or his/her representative will be allowed five minutes for a rebuttal. Please respect the time limit. Once the public hearing is closed, no further public comment is permitted.
The City Council welcomes written and oral comments from citizens at regular meetings.
Citizens may use the comment sheet provided in the City Clerk’s Office. Comment sheets submitted to the city clerk by 5 p.m. on the day of the council meeting will be copied and distributed to the Council Members. A citizen who wishes to submit other written material should submit nine copies to the city clerk for distribution to council members and senior staff.
Citizens wishing to speak may sign in at the City Clerk’s Office during regular business hours, or by 7 p.m. on the evening of the meeting. Speakers will have an opportunity to speak during the citizen comment period, and they must observe the four-minute time limit, five minutes for a representative for a group unless other members of the group also speak.
General Rules for Speaking
- Sign up on the appropriate sheet, citizen comment or public hearing, provided on the table at the entrance to the council chambers
- When called to speak, proceed to the microphone, and begin by stating your name and address for the public record
- Address the Mayor directly
- Observe the lighted timer
- Green is to begin
- Yellow is to sum up
- Red to conclude
- Please be respectful
There is time reserved at every regular meeting of the City Council for citizens who would like to speak directly to the City Council on public matters that deserve the attention of council. The time limit for speakers is four minutes. Individuals speaking on behalf of a group will be allowed five minutes provided that no other members of the group speak. Subject matter being addressed must be within the jurisdiction of city business. General announcements are prohibited. Please respect the time limit.
Public Hearings
The applicant or his/her representative will be allowed 10 minutes for a presentation.
The time limit for speakers is three minutes. Individuals speaking on behalf of a group will be allowed five minutes provided that no other members of the group speak.
Comments must relate to public hearing subject matter. After public comment, the applicant or his/her representative will be allowed five minutes for a rebuttal. Please respect the time limit. Once the public hearing is closed, no further public comment is permitted.