San Angelo City Council will entertain staff recommendations to reign in comments from the public. A major move involves shifting open public comment from the beginning of the meeting to the end. The resolution states:
Any member of the public attending a regular open meeting that wishes to address the governing body or board may do so either during the open public comment period at the end of the meeting or during the agenda item at the meeting when the presiding officer calls for public comment on that item. There will be no public comments taken at workshops or special meetings where no action will be taken.
The agenda shows the item relative to public comment in the Consent portion. Items in this section are often approved en masse with no discussion or public comment, unless pulled by a Council member.
Consent Agenda
j. Consider a resolution amending reasonable rules for public comment to be effective October 1, 2024. (Heather Stastny)
Staff's memo to Council states:
Public comment will be allowed during all regular City Council and City board meetings. No public comment will be taken at special meetings or workshops where no business will be conducted.
Each member of the public wishing to speak shall be required to sign in with the City Clerk or Board Secretary prior to the meeting starting and indicate the item they wish to speak on. The City Clerk or Board Secretary will call names in order with City residents being given priority to speak first.
Members of the public may only speak about the items they indicated on the sign-in sheet and should be comments related to the authority of the City.
Documents or slides to be projected at the meeting will only be accepted for agenda items and not the open public comment period.
These rules will become effective as of October 1, 2024.
No public comment will be taken at workshops or special meetings? Tuesday Council will hold a budget workshop (on the General Fund which covers many city departments). Animal Services shows nearly a $100,000 increase from the current budget. Many citizens are concerned about our significant loose pet problem, caused in part by years of shelter shutoff and releasing thousands of unaltered dogs from the shelter to owners. This workshop includes public comment. Does the proposed change mean next year during the budget process City Council will omit/not allow public comment?
City Council meetings are a significant time commitment for a member of the public. Gone will be the opportunity to slip in for an agenda item, make public comment and then leave. People will have to show up early enough to do the sign in with City Clerk. I imagine that will close at a specific time, 8:20 or 8:25 am.
There will be no opportunity for someone in attendance to contribute their thoughts or knowledge on a spur of the moment basis. Citizens interested in running for City Council often reacted to city business in public comment.
The City Clerk will call names for people signed up for that item to come forward. If someone is not on the list their comments will not be allowed.
The City frequently conducts public hearings in Council and other board meetings. It will now institute rules for public unhearing. This feels unnecessary and a more than a little "tone deaf."
In December 2022 Council restricted public information requests. In July 2024 it may limit public comments. These moves raise questions about its desire to serve the public.
At the top of the City's organizational chart sits "Citizens of San Angelo." The public will learn Tuesday if Council answers to citizens or is there to serve staff.
Update 7-16-24: City Council approved all public comment changes but one. Public comment will remain at the beginning of the meeting and not be moved to the end.
Yesterday the city asked for citizen comments via its news feed.
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