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Council adopts updated rules limiting non-agenda comments; the move prompts heated public response
Summary
By a 4–1 vote the council adopted two resolutions that change decorum and the handling of non-agenda public comment; the vote and proposed changes drew extensive public testimony accusing the city of curbing free speech.
The Clearwater City Council on Jan. 16 adopted two resolutions, numbered 2502 and 2503, that revise council decorum rules and alter how the city will receive public comments not tied to specific agenda items. Both resolutions passed by 4–1 votes.
Council members debated the policy at length during the meeting. After a public-comment period that drew dozens of speakers and repeated references to the First Amendment, the council voted first to adopt Resolution 2502 and then Resolution 2503. The transcript shows the votes were recorded 4–1 on each resolution.
The changes sparked vigorous public outcry. Resident Christine Scott told the council plainly, "You don't have the right to block public participation in these meetings. Guess what? You don't." Regular public commenter Mr. Haluba invoked constitutional tests used in free-speech jurisprudence, saying the record contains no speech that would satisfy the Brandenburg standard for restricting speech: "Nothing that I'd ever heard anybody say up here, including mister Taylor ... satisfies the Brandenburg test for free speech denial."
Other speakers used stronger rhetoric. A frequent attendee who identified himself as Michael (Mr.) Taylor criticized the council and police for prior enforcement actions and urged the council to restore the prior public-comment format, offering an "olive branch" that would return 3 minutes of unscheduled comment at the start of meetings. Sean Berry, another speaker, referenced court precedents and argued vague restrictions on speech at meetings have been struck down by federal courts.
Council members said the new format is intended to balance orderly meetings and public access while also providing a separate opportunity for non-agenda comment. The council confirmed a separate public-comment session will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at the East Library from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and staff described the event as an open forum where citizens may speak for three minutes in a meeting dedicated to public comment rather than during the regular city-council session.
Mayor Bruce Rechter and members stressed they will continue to receive emails and phone calls from residents and that the new format is an experiment to reallocate staff resources and create a different venue for public comments. Several council members urged citizens to try the alternate forum and said the council would revisit its rules if the approach failed to provide adequate public access.
Ending: The two resolutions were adopted 4–1; council members and staff said they would evaluate the February forum and may adjust procedures in response to feedback.
