Westminster planning commission discusses bylaw edits on testimony length and minute-voting procedures

At the same April 28, 2026 meeting the Westminster Planning Commission discussed proposed changes to its bylaws that would (1) adjust how and when the commission votes on meeting minutes and (2) change public testimony time limits.

Greg Graham presented two primary options: require that commissioners who were not present not vote on minutes unless they were demonstrably participating (for example, served as an alternate during the prior meeting) or allow those who watched recorded meetings to vote. Staff recommended clarifying a deadline for requesting corrections (suggested: by noon on the Tuesday before the meeting) so staff can incorporate transcription corrections into the addendum packet and avoid repeated re‑circulation of minutes. Commissioners raised procedural questions about alternates and the municipal code rule that alternates should not participate in hearings when enough regular members attend.

On testimony time limits, staff noted that City Council had shortened its public comment/testimony to three minutes per person; staff proposed matching that change. Commissioners were split: several favored keeping five minutes to give speakers more time to explain complex issues, while others argued three minutes would improve efficiency and reduce risk of perceived bias by limiting on‑the‑fly extensions. The commission agreed to keep the matter open and asked staff to draft specific bylaw language (including a deadline for minute-change requests, how alternates’ participation should be treated for minutes, and an explicit default time limit with a mechanism to shorten time by majority vote when warranted).

No formal bylaw amendments were adopted at the April 28 meeting; staff will prepare revised language for future action.