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Cedar City Council restores open public-comment slot at action meetings
Summary
After a lengthy debate about legal limits and public access, Cedar City Council voted to add a three-minute open public-comment period to every action meeting placed at the end of the agenda; councilmen emphasized citizens should still use the agenda process for items requiring formal action.
Cedar City Council voted Monday to restore an open public-comment period at the end of action meetings, adopting a policy that will give members of the public three minutes to speak and create a formal path for staff follow-up.
Councilmember Wilkie, who introduced the proposal, framed the change as a way to preserve the “public square” while improving responsiveness. “We want people to be able to come and publicly express their concern,” Wilkie said during the discussion. He said the council’s intent is to encourage citizens with issues that require action to work with staff or a council member so items can be placed on a future agenda.
The move followed extended discussion about legal constraints and practical trade-offs. City Attorney Randall McKeown cautioned that council members may listen but must avoid substantive back-and-forth that would amount to deliberation on matters not on a posted agenda: “Council should not engage in a back and forth with that person that’s presenting,” McKeown said. Several council members echoed that staff should be the first stop for technical questions so the city can respond with prepared information.
Members of the public who addressed the council urged keeping an open forum. Resident Steve Holder said he watches meetings on YouTube and values the council’s interaction with the public: “I like the interaction between the council and the mayor, and the public has asked questions,” Holder said, adding that brief interaction can clarify city actions for many viewers. Resident Sean Severn warned that curtailing public comment would diminish public engagement on matters that affect neighbors.
Council’s final motion, offered by Wilkie and seconded by another member, placed the open public-comment period at the end of action meetings with a default three-minute limit per speaker and a practice to identify a council or staff contact for each comment that requires follow-up. The motion passed with an affirmative voice vote.
Next steps: staff will update the agenda template and public-facing meeting notices to reflect where and when open public comments will occur; council members said they will refine time limits and procedures if problems arise.
Ending: The council’s decision is procedural; it does not change public hearing rules that apply to legally required hearings.
