Participate in a City Council meeting

You can share your ideas and opinions at public meetings. We welcome your participation.

Need to know

  • 3 minute time limit for each comment (sometimes less, if there’s a large number of speakers).
  • You cannot cede your time to another speaker.
  • Your comments will become part of the public record.
  • Anyone can make a comment. You don’t have to say your name.
  • You can also submit a comment before a meeting. It will become part of the record but will not be read out loud during the meeting.

Before you start

Review the agenda and determine if your comment is about a topic that is on the agenda or not.

  • If the topic is on the agenda, you can make your comment after the City Council discusses the item.
  • If the topic is not on the agenda, make your comment at the beginning of the meeting during Public Forum.

Learn how to understand a City Council agenda.

Submitting written comments

If you can’t attend the meeting or prefer to submit in writing, email your comments to [email protected] before 4 pm the day of the meeting with the subject line “Public Comment - Item #”. Emailed comments will not be read aloud during the meeting.

Steps

There are 3 ways you can make your comments:

  • In-person at the meeting
  • Using your computer or smartphone (on Zoom)
  • By telephone

In-person

  1. Notify the City Clerk you have a comment by filling out and submitting a speaker card.
  2. When your name is called, come to the podium and say your comment clearly into the microphone.
  3. Conclude your comments within 3 minutes.

Computer or smartphone

  1. Join the meeting on Zoom.
  2. Select “Raise your hand” to request to speak during the public comment period.
  3. Unmute yourself when your name is called.
  4. After 3 minutes, you will be re-muted.

Telephone

  1. During the meeting, call (669) 900-9128.
  2. Enter 825 0056 7382 to join the meeting.
  3. Press *9 to request to speak.
  4. Press *6 to unmute yourself when it is your turn.
  5. Conclude your comments within 3 minutes.

What’s next

After the public comment period is over, the City Council will deliberate and take action on the item. The City Council may choose to ask additional questions.

After a meeting is over, the video and minutes are added to the meeting archives.

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