Sebring council adopts workshop public participation policy

The Sebring City Council on May 7 approved Resolution 2025-07 to establish a public participation policy specifically for city workshops, setting time limits for presenters and members of the public.

Under the new policy, presenters at workshops will have 10 minutes at the start of a workshop for their presentations and 10 minutes at the end to address public comment or other matters; members of the public may speak for up to five minutes each. The policy encourages groups with common views to designate a single spokesperson to speak on behalf of the group to improve efficiency.

City Attorney Swan presented the resolution to the council and explained the policy is separate from the city's existing public comment rules for regular council meetings and could take effect for the May 12 workshop if council wished. A council member moved to approve the resolution effective May 7, 2025; the motion passed on the roll call recorded during the meeting.

The policy, as described by the city attorney, applies only to city workshops and does not change procedures for regular council meetings. The council did not attach additional procedural changes during the vote. The resolution text establishes the timing structure and the encouragement for a spokesperson but leaves event-specific details to workshop procedures and staff administration.

The resolution will take effect immediately as approved by the council and will be used to structure public participation at upcoming city workshops, including the May 12 session referenced during the meeting.