Commission recommends three-minute public comment at start of each meeting

The Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission voted to recommend that the Common Council adopt a standardized public-comment section at the start of each commission meeting, with a three-minute limit per speaker.

"I move that we have a public comment section at the beginning of each meeting right after roll call that is available to anyone to come and speak for 3 minutes," said Commissioner Katie Nelson, who moved the recommendation. Chair Andrei Prokrad seconded the motion and the commission approved it by voice vote after amending it to be a recommendation to the Common Council rather than a unilateral change to PRRC rules.

Members debated whether comments should be limited to agenda items or allow broader topics. Katie Nelson and others argued a standardized approach helps residents know what to expect, while a staff member explained how the Common Council currently allows three minutes for any speaker, including nonresidents. Commissioners also discussed logistics such as whether to permit remote commenters by Zoom and how to handle emailed input received after agendas are posted.

The motion directs staff to forward the commission's preference — a public-comment period immediately after roll call, three minutes per speaker, standardized across committees — to the Common Council for consideration. The commission recorded the recommendation and moved on to the next agenda items.