Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission narrows public comment and clarifies item sponsorship rules
Summary
Coral Gables approved code changes to limit when public comment is accepted and to formalize how commissioners sponsor and co-sponsor agenda items; one commissioner voted no citing concern that it might restrict speakers on substantive items.
The Coral Gables City Commission voted May 6 to amend city code to clarify public comment procedures and to formalize how agenda sponsorship is recorded and handled in meetings.
Deputy City Attorney Stephanie Throckmorton summarized the change as: public comment "shall only be received during the open public comment portion of the agenda" and that the commissioner who requests placement of an agenda item will be identified as the sponsoring commissioner, with the option to add co-sponsors when the item is considered. "This revision would note that this commissioner who initially requests the placement of an item on the agenda will be identified as the sponsoring commissioner," she said.
Supporters, including the vice mayor and several commissioners, said the revisions restore order and civility to meetings and prevent repeating public comment throughout lengthy agendas. "We need to restore order in our commission meetings," Vice Mayor Anderson said, adding that time limits help speakers focus on salient points.
Opponents and some public commenters called the change "limiting" and argued it reduces opportunities for residents to speak on items. Public commenter Jackson Holmes described the item as a "limitation of public comment" and raised concerns about the influence of money in local elections as part of his remarks. Commissioner Fernandez said he had no problem with the sponsorship clarification but opposed anything that would "silence residents or not allowing public comment on items of importance," and voted no.
At roll call the commission recorded Commissioner Fernandez voting no, while Commissioners Lara and Latta, Vice Mayor Anderson and Mayor Lago voted yes; the ordinance was adopted. The city attorney and clerk will publish the ordinance changes and implement the new procedures for future meetings.
