Prescott council updates public‑comment rules, bans audible audience reactions in chambers

Prescott — The Prescott City Council adopted an update to its rules of procedure on Sept. 9 to clarify expectations for public comment and audience behavior during meetings.

The changes, adopted by resolution number 2025‑1944 on a 5–0 vote, add a requirement that members of the public who wish to speak on agendized items must complete a blue comment card with name, city of residence and the item they intend to address. The rules also clarify that groups wishing to address the council should identify a representative speaker for a single presentation and state that no member of the public shall speak more than once on a subject; remarks remain limited to three minutes unless the mayor allows extra time.

The revised rules explicitly reserve use of the council’s projection system for staff presentations but — after council discussion — add language allowing staff presentations for the agenda item to be re‑displayed upon request by a public commenter for the purpose of discussion. The council added a new conduct provision saying there will be no clapping, booing or other verbal forms of support or non‑support in chambers and that continued unauthorized remarks or actions may be grounds for removal.

Council members debated practical application of the changes. Councilman Moore urged consistent enforcement of decorum rules and noted that admonitions without consequences have occurred in the past. Councilwoman Lois Freeworth raised concerns that some organized groups may have complex presentations and noted options for scheduling longer, agendized presentations when appropriate. Public commenters urged caution to avoid infringing on First Amendment rights and asked that staff accommodate requests to recall maps or slides when necessary for meaningful public comment; councilmembers accepted minor wording to allow recall of staff presentation slides on request.

The motion to adopt the resolution, including the amendment permitting re‑display of staff slides upon a public commenter’s request, passed 5–0. The council directed staff to return with any further refinements at a future meeting.