Board discusses shortening public-comment time but delays change to second reading

Staff member (speaker 4) introduced press packet No. 122 and highlighted proposed policy 2-230, which would reduce public-comment time from five minutes to three minutes. Staff said the recommendation came out of prior training and included a caveat that the board president can grant additional time on a case-by-case basis.

Board members responded at length. One member said five minutes is respectful to speakers who prepare remarks; others noted that since the pandemic the number of public commenters has been low, but that shortening time might disadvantage people who are not technologically savvy or who travel to the meeting. Staff confirmed the president already has authority to extend time in large meetings. After discussion, the board agreed to leave the public-comment period at five minutes for the second reading of the policy.

What it means: No policy change was adopted at this meeting; the board signaled it will take up the second reading with the proposed time reduction still on the table but with a recommendation to retain five minutes for now.

Quotes: "As a person that takes the time and wants to come to the board, I think we should, out of respect of them, give them 5 minutes," one board member said. Speaker 4 said, "Within the policy, the board president does have the authority to adjust that time."

Next steps: The district will bring the policy back for a second reading; the board can adopt language at that subsequent meeting or leave the current five-minute practice in place.