City Council adopts changes to public-comment sign-up, question rules and meeting time

The City Council voted late in the meeting to revise how members of the public sign up for and participate in public comment, and also approved a change to the council's meeting time.

Councilmembers approved four related items after discussion and public comment. The council adopted a rule to hold a 5:30 p.m. public-comment period for agenda items and other city business with sign-ups required by 4 p.m.; it approved removing the separate sign-up requirement for individual agenda items; it approved allowing members of the public to pose questions during public comment (while council debated limits tied to the Open Meetings Act); and it approved a change to the council's meeting time. All motions were described on the record as carried by voice vote; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally or the names of motion makers and seconders.

Why it matters: The package changes when and how residents can speak during council meetings and clarifies whether the council may answer questions asked from the audience. Councilmembers said the changes were intended to restore a simpler sign-up process that existed before a recent change in procedure and to accommodate…