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Dickinson commission debates limits on public comment, tables proposed rules
Summary
City staff and the commission discussed proposed rules for the public comment period, including a pre-registration requirement and five-minute limit; commissioners raised concerns about spontaneity and who counts as affected residents. The commission voted unanimously to table adoption until a written resolution is drafted.
City Administrator Dossinger presented proposed ground rules for public comments at Dickinson City Commission meetings and asked the commission to consider adopting them; the commission agreed to table the proposal until staff produces a draft resolution for formal consideration.
Dossinger said the city wants meetings to be accessible while preserving “the integrity and professionalism” of commission meetings and outlined proposed rules including pre-registering to speak no later than noon the day before a meeting, a five-minute time limit per speaker, a ban on presentations and videos during public comment, and a prohibition on personal attacks toward commissioners or staff. “A public comment from a citizen during a commission meeting shall be limited to 5 minutes,” he said.
The proposal drew a legal overview from the city attorney, who told commissioners that U.S. constitutional law and North Dakota legal guidance allow…
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