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Transportation and Land Use Committee approves limited public comment period for committee meetings
Summary
The Transportation and Land Use Committee voted to add a 15-minute public comment period to its meetings, allowing speakers 2.5 minutes each on agenda items; the change will be forwarded to the full Board for final approval.
The Transportation and Land Use Committee voted unanimously to add a public comment period to committee meetings on May 21, 2025, approving a proposal that would reserve 15 minutes for members of the public to speak on agenda items.
Committee Chair Tacrone moved the consent agenda item establishing the public comment period and Supervisor Glass seconded the motion. Supervisor Kirschner recorded concerns about the format and the 15-minute cap, saying it “is basically going to be the first people who rush to the microphone to speak.” The motion passed with 3 yes and 2 absent and will be transmitted to the full Board of Supervisors for final action.
The adopted committee-level rule would allow public sign-ups in advance or in person and would limit speakers to 2.5 minutes each and the public comment period to 15 minutes total. Proponents argued the addition mirrors a practice that has been successful in joint school-board/board committee meetings and provides an earlier opportunity for the public to comment on land-use and transportation items before they reach the full Board. Opponents and some members expressed ongoing concerns about the short total time and whether early speakers would dominate the opportunity.
The committee vote was procedural: staff will prepare an administrative report for the Board business meeting to formally amend the committee’s meeting schedule and rules if the full Board approves the change. No changes to other Board meeting public comment rules were made tonight.
