Title
Consideration of and action on a resolution adopting an update to the policy and rules of decorum on public comments during City Council and public meetings.
Body
Summary:
In 2019, Council adopted Resolution 2019-14 regarding decorum and policy for public comments based on a recent HB change. The bill amended the Texas Open Meetings Act to provide that “a governmental body shall allow each member of the public who desires to address the body regarding an item on an agenda for an open meeting of the body to address the body regarding the item at the meeting before or during the body’s consideration of the item.”
The statute allows a governmental body to adopt reasonable rules concerning the public’s right to speak at an open meeting. The rules may include how long the person can address the governmental body on a given item. If the person addressing the governmental body needs a translator, the governmental body is required to allow at least twice the normal amount of time for the non-English speaker to address the body.
A resolution is being proposed that would update the policy and rules of decorum on public comment during city council and public meetings. The main change in the updated policy is the time for public comments reduced from five (5) minutes to three (3) minutes. The proposed resolution is attached. The public notice that will be accompany the public comments sign-up sheet at public meetings is attached as well.
Fiscal/Budgetary Impact:
N/A.
Recommended action
Approve the updated resolution on policy and rules of decorum on public comments.