Panama City charter review panel adopts public participation rules, adds Zoom option

The Panama City Charter Review Committee on Tuesday approved an updated public participation policy that sets a five-minute limit for speakers, confines public comment to items on the meeting agenda, and allows a Zoom participation option with chair discretion to extend speaking time.

The committee adopted the policy after a staff member summarized a proposal that would mirror the city commission’s participation rules but adjusted for the advisory role of the charter-review body. "I would like to see that each speaker is limited to 5 minutes rather than 3 just because of the collaborative nature of this," a staff member told the committee during discussion. The policy also clarifies that meeting notices will be posted seven days in advance and that city staff will email the agenda link when the notice goes live.

Why it matters: Committee members said they want to encourage broader participation while managing disruptive use of virtual tools. Several members voiced support for accommodating residents with disabilities or transportation limitations through remote access, while others cautioned that open virtual links can invite disruptive callers.

Committee discussion and debate focused on three trade-offs: (1) whether to allow remote participation for accessibility, (2) how strictly to limit comments to agenda items if agendas are not always posted far in advance, and (3) how much discretion the chair should have to extend individual speakers’ time. Nevin, the committee’s city attorney, said staff would start from the commission’s existing policy and update language for the advisory board, and staff recommended a five-minute default with chair discretion.

Deputy Supervisor of Elections Tincao attended and described his role: "The main purpose of me being here ... is from the election side, how it will impact the voters of your city when you make these decisions and how which election or bring presenting it to the voters and on the ballot or what ballot," he said.

Formal action: The committee moved, seconded and approved the updated public participation policy; the vote was recorded as unanimous. The motion as discussed included these elements: 5-minute limit per speaker with chair discretion to extend; comments limited to agenda items; addition of a Zoom participation link; agendas posted to the city website and emailed to committee members when the meeting notice goes live.

Supporting details and next steps: Staff will circulate the revised policy text to the committee ahead of future meetings and will include the participation rules in the meeting notice. The committee also agreed that staff will take steps to make the meetings accessible and reflected in the agenda materials posted online and on the city’s YouTube channel.

Ending: The policy will take effect for upcoming charter-review meetings; committee members agreed staff will revisit the rule if remote participation proves disruptive or unworkable.