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Bandera council votes to amend public-comment rule to allow speaking before or during agenda items
Summary
Council directed staff to draft and brought forward an ordinance amending chapter 1.03.0.094 so residents may speak either during Citizens' Forum or at the time an agenda item is considered; the measure also preserves a rule barring rebuttals during public comment.
Council members reviewed the city code section that restricts public remarks to the Citizens' Forum and discussed whether the Texas Government Code (citing section 551.007) permits speakers to address items before or during consideration. Staff advised that the current ordinance text limits speakers to Citizens' Forum as written, and recommended options (allowing signups, splitting or reserving time and limiting total minutes). After debate about time limits and recordkeeping, the council directed staff to prepare an ordinance amendment and adopted a motion to amend the code to allow speaking during workshop/regular meetings on agenda items while specifying that "No rebuttals will be permitted during public comment."
Members emphasized sign-up procedures and minutes accuracy so speakers' names and subjects are recorded. The council asked staff to draft explicit ordinance language for the next meeting so the change can be adopted by ordinance amendment rather than informal practice.
