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SGS: ACTION ITEM - Consideration of a Recommendation to City Council to Consolidate Public Comment at City Council Meetings
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Meeting Date: April 30, 2025
Contact Person/Dept.: Jesse Mays, Assistant City Manager
Phone Number: (310) 253-6000
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Governance Subcommittee (04/25/2025)
Department Approval: Jesse Mays, Assistant City Manager (04/21/2025) _____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Governance Subcommittee consider whether or not to recommend to City Council to consolidate public comment at City Council meetings.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
At its April 2, 2025 meeting, the Governance Subcommittee requested consideration of making a recommendation to the City Council to consolidate public comment at City Council meetings. The purpose would be to shorten the duration of City Council meetings, which currently frequently last until past 11 PM.
Currently, the public is given a chance to speak during the City Council meetings at the following times:
• Joint Public Comment - Items NOT on the Agenda section: One opportunity at the beginning of the meeting and another opportunity at the end of the meeting.
• Consent Calendar: At the beginning, for all Consent items.
• Public Hearing Items: Public comments on these items are heard during each public hearing.
• Action Items: During each Action Item, on that specific Action Item only.
A modified public comment structure might be as follows:
• Joint Public Comment - Items on the agenda and items NOT on the Agenda section: This would include comments on Consent Calendar Items and Action Items in addition to comments on items not on the agenda.
• Public Hearing Items: Comments on these items would still take place during each public hearing, as required.
Members of the public would be given a limited period to speak during each of these sections-typically between 1.5 - 3 minutes per person. The City Council could also limit the total duration of public comment, such as to 20 minutes.
Many Cities throughout California consolidate public comment during City Council meetings.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact from discussing this item.
ATTACHMENTS
No attachments
MOTION(S)
That the Governance Subcommittee:
1. If desired, recommend to City Council to consolidate public comment at City Council Meetings.