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Public comment

Posted by Mark Mattison on December 5, 2019 at 9:34am
  • We recently moved our public comment section to the end of the meeting on our agenda.  We offer a time for the public to speak on agenda and non agenda items.  There is a concern that having it at the end of the meeting doesn't allow the public to speak on an agenda item prior to us taking action on a particular item.  My question is where do other boards incorporate their public comment section in the agenda and do you distinguish between agenda/non agenda items?

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Replies

  • Mark Mattison January 13, 2020 at 7:23am
    Thank you to everyone who has replied to the discussion item I posted on December 5th. The responses have been very helpful. We currently have moved our public comment section back to the beginning of the meeting and we are not distinguishing between agenda/non agenda items. Thank you again for everyone's input!
  • Bruce Kahn January 11, 2020 at 11:43am
    We switched to one public comment section a number of years ago. It is before our new business section of the agenda. I feel it made it easier for the board not having to police what someone was getting up to comment on or having to shut them down if they tried to bring up an item at the wrong time or tried to get another go it, at the second comment section.
  • Carol Popolow Abraham January 3, 2020 at 11:35am
    We have two public comments sections. The first is for no-agenda items and it is right after the consent agenda approval and before the Superintendent report. The second is after all of the reports, presentations and policy discussions and is for agenda items. This comment period comes after any votes but on occasion (but rarely) the order has been modified to allow public comments before a contentious item is voted upon. The President reads a statement before each comment period outlining the ground rules. Speakers must sign in with the clerk to allow for easier follow up if needed and are called in the order they have signed in.
  • David Fenlong December 16, 2019 at 10:16am
    We currently have two comment periods. One at the beginning of our meeting and one at the end. The first one begins the meeting and the last one is the last agenda item of the meeting besides adjournment. We limit time to 5 minutes or less, stress respect and confidentiality and only allow the comment periods to be on agenda items only. We offer opportunities to have subjects submitted for discussion to be on the agenda for future meetings. This is another process.
  • Rob Curtis December 13, 2019 at 9:52am
    Our public comment is at the beginning of the meeting usually after and presentations but before administrative reports and before any agenda item are acted upon.
  • Loren Knapp December 8, 2019 at 9:27am
    We have our public comment section at the beginning of the meeting.
    There is no distinction between agenda or non agenda items.
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