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Redmond council mutes disruptive commenter and unanimously bars him from public comment for six months
Summary
The council muted a disruptive public commenter and voted unanimously Feb. 3 to remove him from participation in council meetings and public-comment periods for up to 180 days under council rules of procedure after repeated warnings about campaign language and abusive remarks.
Redmond's City Council moved on Feb. 3 to remove a disruptive speaker from public comment and bar him from participation for up to 180 days.
During the items-from-the-audience period, Alex Zimmerman made a series of comments the chair and council described as noncompliant with the public-comment rules, including references to campaigns unrelated to Redmond and personal interruptions. Council repeatedly reminded Zimmerman that comments must address city business and that campaign content is prohibited in the chambers. After the speaker continued despite warnings, council muted him, and a motion was moved and seconded to remove him from participation in council meetings and public comment periods for up to 180 days under the council's rules of procedure.
The council then took a roll-call vote and adopted the motion unanimously. The mayor pro tem announced the speaker would be informed of the action.
Motion details: The motion was presented during public comment; the transcript records that the motion was moved and seconded, discussed briefly, and carried by unanimous vote on a roll call (all "Aye" responses recorded). No further sanctions or legal proceedings were described in the meeting record.
The council did not take further disciplinary measures at that time; staff will notify the affected speaker per council rules.
