Fort Worth council restores additional public-comment opportunities, requires vote to cut speaker time

The Fort Worth City Council voted on Jan. 13 to restore additional regular public-comment opportunities and to change council procedure so that any reduction in an individual speaker’s allotted time below three minutes must be approved by a majority of the full council. The action came after more than two hours of public testimony calling for more access, virtual participation, and predictability in speaking order.

Supporters of the resolution — which staff and several council members framed as an attempt to balance public access with the city’s business calendar — said the change expanded opportunities for residents to address elected officials. “We signed up to do this. We signed up to listen to the voices of the people,” Councilmember Chris Nettles said during debate.

Residents who addressed the council during a packed public-comment period urged a return to a three-minute allotment, moving public comment to the start of meetings, and restoring virtual participation used during the pandemic. ‘‘Guaranteeing speakers three minutes, no matter how many sign up, is not excessive,’’ said resident Jeremy Pope, who described the time cut as a barrier to participation for working families and people with caregiving responsibilities.

The council initially suspended rules to take up CP 3-35 at the meeting. Councilmember Elizabeth Beck moved to approve the item; Councilmember Rebec successfully offered an amendment to strike the automatic rule that had limited speakers to two minutes when public testimony exceeded one hour. The revised motion requires a council vote before the mayor may reduce the allotted time.

In debate, some council members said they supported restoring opportunities while being mindful of the city’s workload. ‘‘The CP does double the amount of public comment that’s available,’’ Councilmember Carlos Flores said, adding that time management is a mayoral responsibility tied to conducting city business.

The motion, as amended, passed on a council vote. The council clerk recorded the motion carry as the assembly concluded dozens of subsequent consent and zoning items. The council did not at this meeting change the detailed rules of procedure beyond the amendment agreed to tonight; councilmembers and staff said additional procedural changes could be explored in coming meetings.

What comes next: CP 3-35 modifies the council calendar and removes the automatic one-hour time reduction in favor of a council vote; the council indicated staff would implement the schedule change. Several residents asked the council to pursue additional steps — including a consistent queueing or notice system for speakers and restoring virtual sign-ups — which councilmembers said they would continue to consider.