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Residents urge council not to cut community forums as committee debates changes to public comment
Summary
Public commenters at OSAC criticized proposals to reduce community forum frequency and urged the committee to adopt a listening framework and clearer follow-up; the committee proposed interim steps including moving to once-per-month forums and adding a council-response agenda item while researching longer-term models.
Residents told the Operational Strategy and Administrative Committee on Feb. 27 that proposed cuts and procedural changes to the community forum risked silencing or alienating constituents.
Andrea Hogue, chair of the South End Neighborhood Council, urged the committee to pause any changes to Rule 9 until a listening framework is developed and said, "Listening is not a legal liability. It also costs nothing." Multiple other speakers echoed that view, saying a reduction from two forums per month to one would feel like a loss unless the city clearly defines and timelines what will replace the current format.
Committee members and staff responded that the conversation’s intent is to improve the community forum’s effectiveness and accessibility. Staff proposed short-term amendments — shifting to once-a-month community forums, removing the 60-minute cap, and adding an agenda item that would permit a council response after public comment — while researching a longer-term town-hall model that could rotate through districts and include accessibility measures. "We’re trying to figure out the best ways that we can do it in a way where people actually do feel heard," one committee member said.
Discussion addressed practical constraints: staff time, recording and technical needs for offsite town halls, and costs tied to making larger events accessible (for example, food, childcare and transit access). Committee members asked staff to gather best practices from other jurisdictions and to consult tribal partners on cultural considerations for land acknowledgements.
The committee directed staff to include the short-term proposals in the draft resolution it will send to the full council and to return with research and a proposed timeline for a reimagined public-engagement model.
The public-comment period featured five speakers who emphasized listening, accessibility and the need for clear, actionable follow-up when community members raise issues.
