Council to require Tennessee residency for public comment starting Oct. 15

The executive committee discussed implementation steps for a recently adopted change to public comment Rule 28.1: beginning Oct. 15, only Tennessee residents will be eligible to sign up for public comment at council meetings.

"That rule will become effective on October 15," Margaret Darby, counsel office director, told the committee. Darby said staff will meet to draft website guidance explaining acceptable forms of proof of residency and noted that the rule change would require a staff member to be stationed to verify residency during the one‑hour sign‑up period for regular council meetings. "Because you've got to demonstrate your residency, we will have to have a staff member present to check it," Darby said.

Committee members discussed how verification would work at the committee level, with Darby and others suggesting a committee member (such as the vice chair) could check ID or utility bills for committee sign‑ups. Members raised practical questions about whether a single document (for example, a utility bill) should suffice and whether two forms should be required to prevent misuse; staff said those operational details remain under discussion and that they will review approaches used by other cities.

Members also debated sign‑up timing and fairness, with suggestions to narrow the sign‑up window (for example, 5:30–6 p.m.) to make the process more accessible and manageable for staff. Staff will finalize verification guidance and website instructions ahead of the Oct. 15 effective date.