Shoreline City Council changes public comment procedures

From the office of the City Manager

At its December 13 meeting, the Shoreline City Council adopted modifications to the Council Rules of Procedure relating to public comment during Council meetings. All public comment will now all be taken at the beginning of both study sessions and business meetings. Individuals may speak to agenda items or any other issue they wish.

In an effort to provide enhanced opportunities for effective public communication and community engagement and to help streamline meetings to allow for more Council deliberation, in April, the Council modified the rules for public comment. The new rules went into effect in June.

Kane Thomas, SW ASB President,

speaks to Shoreline City Council

during the schools bond campaign

For the past six months, the Council has operated under the new rules with the intent of revisiting them in December to see how they were working. The primary issue that arose during the trial period was the confusion created by having different public comment procedures for study sessions and business meetings. Some people wishing to speak at study sessions to issues not on the agenda were unable to speak and asked to return during a business meeting.

The new rules have public comment at study sessions and business meetings mirror each other. Now anyone wishing to speak on any issue or agenda item may do so at the beginning of either study sessions or business meetings.

Use of public comment to promote or oppose any candidate for public office is still prohibited.

If you are unable to attend a council meeting, you may comment electronically on agenda items by submitting a comment form found on the Council agenda page of the City’s website. If your comments are submitted before 4:00 p.m. on the day of the City Council meeting, your comments will be distributed to the City Council and appropriate staff prior to the Council meeting that evening.

To learn more about public comment procedures at Council meetings and how to correspond with the Council in general, visit Shoreline's web page.