Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Council Procedures Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council president says disruptions in chambers inhibit governance; may finish meetings by Zoom
Summary
Council President Nelson defended decisions to leave chambers and continue meetings by remote connection when public-comment disruptions prevent orderly proceedings, emphasizing both the need to preserve First Amendment rights and to maintain an environment where council and the public can be heard.
Council President Nelson said at the June 2 Seattle City Council briefing that repeated disruptions in chambers have interfered with the council's ability to govern and hear public comment, and that when disruptions prevent orderly proceedings the most expeditious option has been to finish meetings remotely.
"Disruptions in chambers inhibit our ability to govern and is against council rules, frankly," Nelson said. She told colleagues the decision to move from chambers to Zoom is made to preserve safety, ensure the public can continue to view meetings and to protect staff and council members.
Nelson described the operational difficulty in the chambers: she said the broadcast audio can mask how loud a disruption is in the room and that "we cannot hear each other very well because it's not projected" when there is loudness from the audience, which complicates conducting the meeting.
Nelson said she weighs several factors when deciding how to manage public comment, including the council rules limiting comment blocks and the need to avoid setting poor precedent by allowing disruptions. She noted the council's rules require periodic review and suggested a proposed rule change to require a formal extension at each 20-minute interval for public comment.
Other councilmembers spoke during the briefing about balancing open public comment with order in chambers. One colleague said that allowing public comment to proceed in full can be the most efficient way to finish and resume other business; others said enforcement of rules is necessary to ensure everyone gets a chance to be heard.
The council president announced that the council would convene into executive session on pending potential litigation following the briefing and that the briefing would adjourn after the executive session concluded.
What's next: Council President Nelson said she will continue to enforce council rules on disruptions, may circulate proposed rule changes that would require formal extensions after each 20-minute public-comment block, and expects staff to continue advising on balancing First Amendment protections with safety and order in chambers.
