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Council narrows oral‑comment time and tightens decorum rules after complaint of disruptive behavior
Summary
The council voted to change oral communications from five minutes to three minutes per speaker (with a mayoral/council discretion to allow up to two additional minutes), directed the city manager presentation be moved to follow public comments, and asked staff to draft stronger decorum language addressing profanity and discriminatory remarks.
After extended public comment and several complaints about disruptions, the West Covina City Council voted Jan. 21 to tighten meeting procedures: it reduced the default oral‑communications time from five minutes to three, moved the city manager report to follow oral communications, and instructed staff to strengthen the rules of decorum to address profanity and discriminatory or harassing language.
Lede: The council first approved moving the city manager’s report to follow public comment so staff can respond to issues raised and then passed a separate motion to change oral-comment timing and to add clearer decorum language. The shorter speaking time takes effect after city rules are amended and placed on future agendas.
Nut graf: Councilmembers said the changes aim to preserve public access while preventing meetings from becoming dominated by repetitive or disruptive remarks. Council briefly debated whether to keep five minutes; the change to three minutes passed by a 4–1 roll call vote, with one councilmember voting no.
What was approved: (1) Staff will move the city manager presentation to immediately follow oral communications going forward; (2) staff will draft ordinance or code amendments to strengthen meeting decorum language—specifically to discourage profanity, slurs, harassment and disruptions—and return them for council consideration; (3) the council adopted a rule requiring speaker cards to be submitted before the public comment period begins; and (4) the council reduced the default public comment time to three minutes per speaker, with the presiding officer (the mayor) or a council majority authorized to add up to two minutes on a case‑by‑case basis. The time‑change motion passed 4–1.
Council members emphasized that the changes are intended to balance free speech with orderly civic process and to encourage broader public participation without late‑night meetings caused by large numbers of lengthy speakers.
Ending: Staff will draft the proposed code/ordinance language and return it to council in a future meeting for formal adoption and will post the updated rules and submission deadlines on the city website and agendas.
