Portage council adopts broader public-comment policy, removes residency restriction

The Portage Common Council approved a substantially revised public-comment policy at its April 21, 2025, meeting, removing a residency-based restriction on who may speak at meetings and setting clearer time and behavior rules.

Council members said the change is intended to reduce legal risk for the city and make the public-comment process less bureaucratic. City Administrator Michael Boblick described the draft as "a much more liberal policy" that trims prior rules and eliminates a signature requirement on the appearance form.

Under the new policy, anyone who wishes to address the council, a board, committee or commission must complete a public-appearance form listing name, address and topic. Speakers are limited to five minutes on the topic listed. The policy explicitly bans campaigning or electioneering at meetings. Speakers must go to the podium or front table when recognized, and the mayor or chair may silence disruptive outbursts and order removal of anyone who refuses to leave when asked.

City Attorney Jesse Spankowski, who advised the legislative and regulatory committee during drafting, told members that municipalities are most at legal risk when they apply speech rules unevenly. "When looking at the legalities and liabilities of public comment policies, they're almost always, municipalities get in trouble when they try to limit the speech," Spankowski said. "So whatever the policy is, it just needs to be done even-handedly."

Alderman Tim Green asked whether council members or the mayor could respond to a public commenter who raised an issue during the public-comment period. Michael Boblick said the council intentionally removed a prior rule that required members to remain silent, but cautioned that chairs should stop remarks that turn into substantive discussion of an agenda item. "I think it's gonna be the chair's responsibility and the mayor's responsibility to make sure that when alders start getting into that territory of discussion, that that gets shut down immediately," Boblick said.

Supporters of the change said the revision simplifies administration and clarifies that the city cannot easily restrict speakers based on residency. "I do like the idea that if he's addressing, let's say you, Mike, about something, you have a right to answer him," one alder said during debate.

The motion to adopt the policy was made by Alderperson David Paul and seconded by Alderperson Matt Feeney. The council approved the policy by roll call vote (Paul: yes; Rohrbeck: yes; Wetzel: yes; Bernander: yes; Crowley: yes; Bauer Frey: yes; Feeney: yes; Green: yes). The policy requires an annual review at the council's organizational meeting.

The council packet attached a revised appearance form and removed an unused signature line; the policy also restates that chairs must enforce order and may eject disruptive individuals.

The policy change was considered during the legislative and regulatory committee and brought to the full council for final action on April 21.