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Visitor says lack of explicit public-comment item makes meeting 'illegal'; commissioners dispute claim
Summary
A visitor told the Platte County Planning & Zoning Commission that the absence of a public-comment agenda item rendered the meeting illegal and raised concerns that hallway spectators could not hear the live stream; commissioners disputed the legal claim and said public comment has been allowed at the meeting.
A member of the public, Rebecca Cohort, told the Platte County Planning & Zoning Commission that the agenda contained no explicit public-comment item and said that omission would make the meeting illegal. Cohort said people in the hallway could not hear the YouTube stream in real time and urged the commission to reschedule to a larger room to allow meaningful public participation.
"I came here, about the cell tower thing. But I noticed that there are no period of time in which public comments is, an agenda item, and I believe that that would make this an illegal meeting," Cohort said during the early public recognition portion of the meeting. Commissioners responded that the planning meetings are regular public meetings, that the commission has historically opened the floor for public comment on applications, and that the planner indicated virtual streaming was available.
The Chair opened the meeting to public comment for the tower application and noted that the planning office routinely posts public notices in the newspaper when required; the planner said a public hearing for the data-center rules would be posted and that the draft would be available online. The Chair also asked for attendees to be respectful and quiet while a public speaker was presenting.
The meeting proceeded after the exchange; commissioners did not reschedule the session or add a separate agenda item for public comment beyond the practice the Chair described.
