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City attorney outlines public-comment rules; council to consider code amendments and phased implementation
Summary
The city attorney reviewed state and local rules governing public comment at open meetings, benchmarking peer cities and offering options including online sign-up, single public-comment periods and time limits; council directed staff to return with ordinance language and a phased public rollout.
City Attorney Melissa McGinnis reviewed the city’s options for handling public comment at council meetings, cited the Local Government Code and an Attorney General opinion and provided benchmarking from peer cities on time limits and sign-up procedures.
McGinnis said the Local Government Code requires governmental bodies to allow members of the public to address the body on agenda items and permits reasonable rules — including time limits and advance sign-up — so long as the rules do not prohibit criticism. She…
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