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Council agrees to allow public comment at work sessions; staff to draft guidelines
Summary
Councilors endorsed adding a public‑comment opportunity at council work sessions, asked staff to draft clear limits and script language and to return with proposed guidelines and communications.
Gig Harbor — Council members agreed at their Feb. 28 retreat to add a formal public‑comment period to council work sessions so residents can give feedback earlier in the policymaking process. Staff will draft specific guidelines on time limits, total public‑comment caps and mayoral discretion to shorten speaking time if needed.
Councilors and staff discussed potential tradeoffs. Several members worried that having comment during a 3 p.m. work session could be less accessible for residents who work daytime schedules; others said the comment opportunity is important to improve transparency and give earlier notice of community concerns. City legal counsel outlined First Amendment limits for “limited public forums” and confirmed reasonable time‑place‑manner rules are allowable.
The council asked staff to recommend a format that would minimize confusion about the difference between a work session (staff and council discussion) and a final decision at a regular Monday meeting. Suggestions included: allowing public comment after each agenda item or at the end of the meeting, shortening time if a large number of speakers appear, and using a sign‑in sheet for those attending in person.
Outcome and next steps
Council did not adopt a final ordinance but asked staff to prepare proposed language for the council guidelines, a suggested script for how mayors will invite commenters, and a public communications draft that explains that work‑session comment is a separate opportunity from a final decision at a regular council meeting. Staff will also recommend a maximum per‑speaker time and a total comment cap for work sessions.
Why it matters
Allowing public comment at work sessions gives residents an earlier, formal opportunity to bring concerns to the full council. Council asked staff to make the policy welcoming and to note explicitly that speakers may withhold their street address for safety reasons. The council wants to avoid misperception that work‑session testimony substitutes for final public hearing opportunities.
Ending
Staff will return a draft policy and communication materials for council review at a future meeting; the council emphasized that any new rule should make participation safe and accessible.
