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Commission restores public participation to start of Tamarac meetings, increases time to five minutes
Summary
On first reading commissioners voted to return public participation to the start of meetings and to permit five minutes per speaker; the first reading passed 5‑0 and the ordinance will return on April 9 for second reading.
The Tamarac City Commission voted on first reading to amend the city code so that public participation occurs at the start of commission meetings and to increase the time limit for speakers from three minutes to five minutes. The amendment also revises the order of business to place commission reports after public participation, though the mayor and some commissioners expressed reservations about moving commission reports earlier in the agenda.
Commissioner Jonathan Wright moved the ordinance on first reading; Commissioner Robert Bolton seconded. Public comment at the meeting included residents who said public participation should be at the start to allow people who cannot stay for long meetings to be heard. Some commissioners said they supported moving public participation to the front; others supported public comment at the front but objected to moving commissioner reports earlier.
After discussion the first reading motion to amend Chapter 2 (section 2‑34) passed on a roll‑call vote of 5‑0. Mayor Michelle J. Gomez explained that the item is on first reading and will return for final adoption at the April 9 commission meeting.
The ordinance text read for the record includes amending the city code to adjust the order of business and speaker time limits; staff said the mechanics of implementation and any needed clarifications will be addressed before the second reading.
