Resident questions Flint City sign-up process after missed speaker, asks for official documentation

Michelle Y., a resident, used the public comment period of a Flint City Council meeting to raise concerns about the council's speaker sign-up process and to request an official determination on whether staff may collect sign-up sheets before the meeting reaches quorum.

Michelle said she had read the sign-up rules and that they require signing up "prior to speaking the speaking time," but argued the rules do not explicitly allow staff to take sign-up sheets before quorum. She asked the chair, "through the attorney," for documented confirmation that collecting sheets prior to quorum is legally compliant.

Michelle also said that after a previous commenter, "Miss Biggs," spoke on Monday, an official announced she was the last speaker. "So I would like to know from Divina, did she have, another sign up sheet that was not called out? And if so, that resulted in 2 arrests. Very hostile," Michelle said. She asked how citizens should notify the chair if they believe they were missed on the sign-up list and what the procedure would be to rectify the situation for people who were arrested.

The transcript includes Michelle's request for clarification but does not record a response from the chair, the city attorney, or the staff member she named (Divina). The number of arrests and the circumstances Michelle described were stated by the speaker; no corroborating explanation or official account appears in the provided transcript.

Michelle closed by urging council members to engage with speakers and speak into the microphone so residents who attend have their remarks heard. The transcript records no formal motion, staff report, or immediate action directing the attorney or chair to provide the requested documentation.

Absent a recorded reply in the transcript, the council's official position or any next steps are not specified.