Committee proposes fixed two-minute extensions for public comment, bans transferring extra time

The committee recommended clarifying public-comment procedures without changing the initial five-minute allotment: if a speaker requests additional time, the committee recommended that "more time means 2 minutes granted upon a majority vote," and that any additional two-minute allotments may be repeated but cannot be transferred or combined to another speaker. "So we have 5 minutes, and then if there's a request for more time, it automatically goes to 2 minutes," Commissioner Collins said.

Several commissioners raised practical concerns in discussion, arguing voters would have to vote every two minutes to extend a passionate speaker's time and that frequent voting could interrupt a speaker's train of thought. Commissioner Slater warned that breaking a speech into repeated two-minute votes could be disruptive; others noted the intent was to ensure equity so no speaker receives preferential extra time. The committee placed the recommendations on the Aug. 17 agenda for formal consideration.