Allegan staff propose rules change to move meetings earlier, add second public-comment period

City staff on Monday outlined a package of changes to Allegan’s rules of procedure that would move regular city council meetings to a 6:00 p.m. start, alter packet-distribution timing and add a second public-comment period later in the agenda.

The changes, presented by City Manager Joel, would eliminate the separate study-session start time and instead consolidate public business into the earlier regular meeting; staff also recommended removing the option to deliver packets on Sunday and instead distribute them Thursday through Saturday. Joel told council the proposed agenda reorders presentations and reports and removes the written petition section, recommending instead that presentations from government agencies, consultants and special committees be listed under a single item later in the agenda.

Joel said the packet language would also clarify that council typically will not engage in back-and-forth during the initial public-comment period: “It’s their opportunity for them to speak to counsel, not dialogue with counsel,” he said, adding that council members could still meet citizens individually after the meeting.

Council members asked whether the agenda could include a second public-comment period, for members of the public to respond after board appointments and decisions. Joel said that practice is common in other cities and could be built into the agenda; staff also noted the mayor already has discretion to curtail repetitious public comments that unduly interfere with the meeting.

Council expressed general support for the proposed changes. Staff said the item will be placed on the next regular council meeting agenda for a formal vote, with an anticipated effective date tied to the first meeting in February.

The study session did not include a final vote on the rules package; council’s formal action will be recorded at the next regular meeting.