Commission establishes informal three-minute public comment practice; will formalize at next meeting

The Livingston Parish Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 4 discussed imposing a time limit on public comment and agreed, by consensus of members present, to start a three-minute limit for individuals and to refine the practice at the next meeting.

Chair Miss Long opened the item by saying the meeting would be lengthy and asked speakers to keep comments concise. Several commissioners expressed support for a three-minute limit for members of the public. Commissioner Baron suggested developers’ presentations be handled differently and not limited in the same way as public commenters, noting a developer’s initial presentation may require more time. The parish attorney advised the commission that it has authority to control its procedures, provided any rule is applied without discrimination.

“We have a right to control our procedures, so you can make a rule that applies to people that speak as long as you don't apply it in a discriminatory way,” the parish attorney said during the discussion. Commissioners agreed on a middle approach: announce a three-minute practice now and place a formal rule on the next meeting’s agenda so the commission can adopt it by vote if members wish to enforce it strictly.

Chair Long said she would implement the practice for that meeting and asked staff to prepare a formal proposal to be placed on the next agenda for adoption. Commissioners also discussed allowing a brief follow-up response if a new issue is raised from the podium during public comment, and that back-and-forth exchanges between members of the public should be limited so discussion remains directed to the commission.

No formal ordinance or resolution was adopted at the Sept. 4 meeting; staff and the attorney advised that a strict enforcement policy should be placed on a future agenda and voted on if the commission decides to make it permanent.