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Council debates requiring pre‑registration for public comment at workshop
Summary
At a Blue Ridge council workshop, the mayor proposed requiring residents who wish to speak during public comment to sign up before meetings, arguing it would ensure fair allotment of time for opposing sides; several council members voiced concern it could deter spontaneous comments and risk limiting speakers' rights.
The mayor opened the workshop by proposing revisions to meeting procedures that would require people who wish to speak during public comment to sign up before the meeting begins. He said the change was intended to ensure that “everyone has time to be heard and the allotted time that's allowed” and to prevent a small number of speakers from occupying the whole time for one side on contentious matters such as zoning.
Several council members pushed back. One member said the proposal “doesn't sound right to me” and argued that people who arrive during a meeting should still be able to address the council. Another council member warned the requirement could feel like an infringement on constitutional rights, saying, “We should never do anything that infringe upon their right to speak.”
City attorney Chuck told the council the body already has options to address unusual situations: the council may suspend adopted policies at a meeting if it decides to hear someone who did not sign up, and the charter allows agenda amendments at the start of a meeting. He also noted that, for zoning matters, state law requires each side be allowed at least 10 minutes, so the council’s procedures should mirror that statutory floor.
Supporters of the sign‑up procedure said it would help the council and the public understand how much time will be needed for each side and could allow staff to allocate minutes more equitably. Opponents said the change would make it harder for nervous or spontaneous speakers and urged preserving flexibility; one council member said the body already has the discretion to extend time on a case‑by‑case basis.
The council discussed whether the workshop was the right forum to adopt the change; the attorney noted policies (not ordinances) can be adopted by council action and that a vote at a work session would be legally permissible, though the practice of using workshops primarily for discussion was flagged as the intent. No formal adoption occurred at the workshop; members agreed to circulate revisions and return with further consideration.
