When the public can address City Commissioners during meetings was established following a recent revision to the City Commission Code of Procedure.
Public comment is allowed twice during meetings for non-agenda items during Public Forums on each agenda. The forums are scheduled at the beginning of the meeting following the flag salute and toward the end of the meeting after approval of the consent agenda.
In the past, public comment for both agenda and non-agenda items had often been limited to the public forums.
The recent amendments to the Code of Procedure also added a place for public input when considering an agenda item. When an agenda item is being reviewed, the order of presentation begins with the Staff report, then proceeds with Applicant input when pertinent. Public input then follows – essentially giving the public the last word unless a question is asked by a commissioner to a staff member or applicant.
The entire Code of Procedure can be found here.
The order of business for Commission meetings is as follows:
Call to Order
Invocation
Flag Salute
Public Forum for Non-Agenda Items
Presentations / Proclamations
Agenda Items
Consent Agenda
Public Forum for Non-Agenda Items
Information Items
Governing Body Comments
Adjournment