Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Civic Procedures topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council amends public-comment rules to let speakers provide street and city only; clerk may privately verify address
Summary
The council amended its rules to require speakers to provide name and street/city rather than a full street number on the legislative record, and the city clerk may privately verify addresses when requested to do so.
The City Council amended the council rules to allow public commenters to provide name plus street and city rather than a full street number on the legislative record; the city clerk may privately verify an address if a speaker requests verification in lieu of putting a precise house number into the televised record.
Councilor McDonald, sponsor of the amendment, said the change responds to residents concerned about doxxing and online targeting, and that it preserves the clerk’s ability to verify residency without publishing a full address. Committee discussion recommended that the clerk maintain existing prioritization practices for in-person comment and that the clerk have discretion to verify addresses privately when it is requested for safety reasons.
Councilors who spoke in favor cited the need to reduce barriers to participation for people who have safety concerns, including victims of domestic violence or others who prefer not to disclose a precise house number. Councilors also emphasized that the rule does not prevent the council from prioritizing comments from city residents on hot-button matters; the clerk and council president retain discretion over time and order of speakers.
The amendment passed on a council vote.
