Public Forums & Hearings

The Mayor and City Council welcome your participation. To ensure that all persons have the opportunity to be heard the following guidelines have been approved by the council for public testimony.

Public Forum

·Speakers must address their comments to the presiding officer rather than to individual council members or staff.

·Stand at the podium, speak clearly into the microphone and state your name and address prior to beginning your remarks.

·Speakers will be allowed a maximum of 5 minutes for testimony.

·Speakers making personal, impertinent, profane or slanderous remarks may be removed from the room. Unauthorized remarks from the audience, stamping of feet, whistles, yells and similar demonstrations will not be permitted.

·No placards, banners or signs will be permitted in the Chambers or in any other room in which the council is meeting.

·In accordance with the State Open Meetings Act, the City Council is restricted from discussing or taking action on items not listed on the agenda. Action can only be taken at a future meeting.

Public Hearing

·Speakers must address their comments to the presiding officer rather than to individual council members or staff.

·Stand at the podium, speak clearly into the microphone and state your name and address prior to beginning your remarks.

·The applicant will be allowed a maximum of 20 minutes to make a presentation and 10 minutes for rebuttal

·Testimony should be concise and should present the Council with information not substantially addressed by previous testimony.

·Each speaker will be allowed a maximum of 5 minutes for presentation. It is suggested that written testimony accompany oral comments if you are unable to complete your presentation within the 5 minute allotment.

·Individuals who do not wish to speak, but want to register support or opposition, should also fill out an appearance card. The Mayor will be read each name into the record.