Pullman council debates public-comment default and phone rules as it revises council procedures

At a Jan. 27 study session, Pullman councilmembers reviewed a revised draft of the city’s rules and procedures that clarifies meeting types and order of business, executive-session boundaries, the role of the city clerk and city administrator, and guidance on council communications and use of electronic devices.

City staff explained the update consolidates earlier resolutions and cleans up code citations, explicitly recognizes study-session formats (with a working-meeting tone and no final action by default), and proposes a presiding-officer concept consistent with RCW and Robert’s Rules of Order. The draft also proposes a three-hour guideline for meetings and added language about council communications through city accounts and preservation of records.

Council debate centered on two issues: whether study-session public comment should be permitted by default, and what restrictions — if any — to place on electronic-device use during meetings. Several members favored leaving public comment “on by default” so members of the public can reliably expect an opportunity to speak; after discussion the mayor asked staff to revise the draft in that direction. Members converged on a three-hour practical cap for meetings. Other councilors expressed concern that broad prohibitions on personal device use would be overly restrictive and may unintentionally capture necessary emergency communications.

The city administrator and staff pledged to rework device language to narrow the scope (allowing emergency exceptions, better training and guidance rather than blanket prohibitions) and to return a revised draft for further discussion.

No formal ordinance vote took place; staff will revise the draft to reflect council feedback and propose the next steps.