During a recent Lacey City Council meeting, officials discussed proposed updates to public comment and public hearing policies, aiming to enhance transparency and standardization in community engagement. The meeting began with a lack of public attendance, as no one signed up to address the council, despite a written public comment being distributed prior to the session.

Shannon, a city representative, presented two resolutions for consideration: Resolution 1150, which updates the City Council Policies and Procedures Manual, and Resolution 1151, which revises the advisory board handbook. These updates follow discussions held at previous meetings and consultations with various community groups, including the Lacey Youth Council and the Commission on Equity.

A significant concern raised was the increase in \"Zoom bombing\" incidents during public meetings, prompting a review of policies to ensure a safe and respectful environment for public discourse. The proposed changes include requiring individuals to pre-register for public comment—either in person or remotely—two hours before meetings, and establishing a three-minute time limit for comments to maintain order.

Council members debated the enforcement of the time limit, with suggestions to implement a timer visible to both in-person and remote participants. The discussion highlighted the need for consistency in how time limits are applied, with some members advocating for automatic microphone shut-offs after the allotted time to avoid subjective enforcement by the presiding officer.

Additionally, the council explored the possibility of allowing public comment during work sessions, where community members with relevant expertise could provide input on specific agenda items. However, concerns were raised about maintaining a consistent policy that does not favor certain individuals over others, which could undermine the principle of content neutrality in public discourse.

The council ultimately decided to postpone a vote on the resolutions to allow for further refinement of the proposed policies, particularly regarding public comment during work sessions and the inclusion of language that would permit the mayor to recognize individuals who did not pre-register to speak, provided there is consensus among council members.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to revisit the policies in a future session, ensuring that the council remains accessible while upholding standards of fairness and order in public engagement.