Flint City Council pauses enforcement of freestanding camera-stand rule for attorney review; debate continues on Resolution 250,131

At a Flint City Council meeting the clerk reread a rule restricting freestanding camera stands and the council paused enforcement of that provision while the city attorney reviews the language.

The rule, read aloud by City Clerk Miss Dunn, states: "It says all use of freestanding camera stands including but limited to tripods, camera stands, and other physical devices used to support or elevate cameras, cell phones, or other video recording devices is restricted to an area to be designated by the city clerk in the Northeast corner of the city council chambers." The council chair instructed anyone using such devices to "go back to the videography area or remove yourself from this meeting." The chair later said the matter would be paused so the city attorney could review the provision.

Why it matters: the restriction affects members of the public and media who record council meetings and raises questions about access and where recording devices may be placed in the chamber. Council members raised procedure and decorum issues while also continuing work on an unrelated agenda item, Resolution 250,131.

Council procedure and debate Council members continued the agenda item listed as Resolution 250,131 and spoke in the first round; the clerk noted that "members speaking were, Mr. Pfeiffer, Doctor Lewis, and Ms. Michette." No vote on the resolution is recorded in the transcript excerpt provided.

During the discussion, Councilmember Mr. Jarrett indicated he had a request for information. A fellow councilmember said that requests for information should be made through the chair so they can be supplied before votes. One speaker criticized a colleague from the Eighth Ward for declining to ask questions and for repeated absences, saying, "And so since the councilman in the Eighth Ward refused to engage per his requested duty as a councilman, now we don't have information." The speaker also urged colleagues to "be consistent with the rules" and to stop letting personality issues interfere with council business.

Procedural steps taken The chair told the meeting: "Okay. We will we will pause that on that, but I am asking you to remove yourself as soon as we get an opinion," indicating council would suspend enforcement or further action on the camera-stand language until the city attorney provides guidance. The transcript also records a warning given earlier to a Mr. Woodson and a statement, "Mister Woodson, you may leave," though the record does not show any formal disciplinary motion or vote.

What was not decided or specified The transcript excerpt does not record a vote on Resolution 250,131, does not provide the city attorney's written opinion, does not identify a formal motion to adopt or amend the camera-stand language, and does not provide a date for when the attorney review will conclude. The designated recording area is described only as "the Northeast corner of the city council chambers."