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Council debates 3‑ to 5‑minute public‑comment window and enforcement tools
Summary
Members discussed whether to keep the citizen forum at three minutes or expand public-comment slots to three–five minutes, and the city solicitor outlined lawful enforcement steps (warnings, removal, police) and the legal basis for time limits.
Councilors debated the appropriate public-comment time limit in the draft. One member called the shift from three to five minutes a "significant change," while Councilor Smythe said she retained existing language in most places and that the citizen forum remained set at three minutes in the draft.
The city solicitor advised that public bodies can set and enforce time limits consistent with the charter and state law and described typical steps for handling disruptive speakers: warning, asking the speaker to stop, asking them to leave and, if necessary, calling police to remove them. Solicitor guidance emphasized documenting the rule so enforcement is not ad hoc.
