Proposed public comment cap prompts debate over speaking time

By Melissa Crispin-Piche Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A proposed 10-minute limit for the entire public comment portion of Strathmore council meetings met resistance Oct. 14, with councillors questioning how the rule would work when a contentious issue fills the gallery.

Council discussed the cap as part of proposed changes to its procedure bylaw. Residents currently have five minutes each to speak during public comments.

Coun. Langmaid argued that residents should be able to deliver criticism directly to the people they elected, even when it makes for an uncomfortable evening.

“There is something sacred to the process of being able to show up in a legislative setting and have your say be said on camera to the people who are in charge,” Coun. Langmaid said.

Coun. Brown agreed that residents need time to speak, but said council also needs a way to keep meetings from being derailed. 

Councillors explored several alternatives, including allowing an initial public comment period and resuming it after council has dealt with its business. Thirty minutes attracted support from several speakers, although other lengths were discussed.

Coun. Langmaid suggested shorter individual comments with council able to grant extensions. Coun. Brown preferred keeping the five-minute allowance, saying residents may prepare their remarks in advance and should know how long they will have before arriving.

“I think five minutes is perfect with the possibility for extension,” Coun. Brown said.

Legal counsel advised preserving council’s discretion to adjust speaking arrangements rather than writing a rule that would have to work the same way in every situation.

The discussion also covered formal delegations. Several councillors supported retaining the existing 10-minute presentation allowance instead of reducing it to five minutes.

Brown separately asked for a public record of delegation requests that are accepted or declined, saying council needs transparency around who is able to appear.

The meeting ended without adoption of a new public comment limit. Revised wording would still need to come before council.