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Williston adopts public comment policy to comply with new state law
Summary
To implement Senate Bill 2180, the Williston commission adopted a public comment policy that sets rules on sign-up cards, time limits and allowable topics (current and prior meeting); the policy passed unanimously July 22.
The Williston Board of City Commissioners on July 22 adopted a public comment policy the city attorney said was drafted to implement Senate Bill 2180, which imposes requirements on political entities beginning Aug. 1.
City Attorney Taylor Olson described that the adopted policy follows a League of Cities model with local adjustments for time limits and procedures: members of the public will sign a card at the meeting desk, the cards will be reviewed pursuant to the policy and speakers will be limited to topics related to the current meeting and the prior meeting. Olson said the items were reviewed with administration and that staff had prepared materials and logistics to carry out the policy: “The public will come in and take a card at the desk out here. They will fill it out, and there are some parameters in here on what you can speak about.” The commission approved the policy 5–0.
The minutes record that the policy sets speaker time limits and total meeting time limits consistent with the state law; the specific time limits are included in the policy packet referenced in the commission packet but are not restated in the minutes.
