Sammamish planning commissioners back adding an agenda-related public comment slot — staff to draft redline

The Sammamish Planning Commission signaled support on April 16 for amending its bylaws to add a second public comment period focused on agenda items, and commissioners generally favored allowing five minutes for that second slot.

Staff proposed language that would allow, at the chair's discretion, an agenda-related public comment period later in the meeting. The suggested draft language presented by staff said the end-of-meeting comment would be limited to testimony related to agenda items and that testimony should be non-repetitious.

Commissioners debated placement and length. Some members preferred a middle-of-meeting slot immediately after staff presentations so public comment could inform commissioner discussion; others preferred the end-of-meeting placement so speakers could react to commissioner dialogue without interrupting presentations. Logistics on multi-topic nights and the potential for repetitive testimony were raised as operational concerns.

After discussion the group expressed by general assent a preference for a five-minute agenda-related comment period at the end of meetings, with the default to add that item unless the chair elects otherwise; the commission asked staff to prepare a redline of the bylaws reflecting the change and to circulate it in advance of the May 7 meeting. Commissioners agreed the change could be trialed and revisited if it created implementation problems.

What happens next: staff will draft and circulate redlined bylaw language reflecting the new end-of-meeting agenda-related public comment period (five minutes by general consensus) and clarify rules on repetitious testimony and whether the slot will be automatic or chair-discretionary.