Council approves first reading to remove mandatory address requirement for public comments

The Inver Grove Heights City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance amendment that would remove a requirement in city code that individuals provide their address when speaking to the council and clarify that a three-minute time standard applies to public comments and hearings.

Administrator Wilson presented the proposed code change in response to a resident’s concern and updated legal advice from the city attorney’s office. Under the amendment the code would no longer require speakers to provide name and address; instead the presiding officer may invite speakers to give their name and address but it would not be mandatory. Wilson said the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized protection for anonymous speech and the city attorney advised removing a hard requirement to provide a name or address.

Councilors debated the change’s effect on public comment and hearing practice. Council Member Murphy asked whether nonresidents could address the council (Wilson confirmed they may). Councilor Cauch expressed concern that making the three-minute default universal could reduce opportunities in some public hearings; Wilson and others noted the ordinance retains language allowing the presiding officer to grant additional time. Councilor Scales and others said three minutes is a clear standard and the presiding officer can extend time when appropriate.

After discussion a councilor moved and the council approved the ordinance’s first reading; staff said the language can be further adjusted before the second reading. The amendment clarifies that the presiding officer has discretion to extend time and removes the requirement that speakers list their address on the public record.

If adopted at the second reading the change will formally remove the mandatory address requirement from the city code and make the three-minute guidance explicit across public hearings and the public comment period.