pages: CityCouncil/2021-02-16.pdf, 15
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CityCouncil | 2021-02-16 | 15 | stated significant amounts of time are used to allocate additional speaking time for Councilmembers. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated the public has the right to hear Council deliberate and vote; noted Council has been doing better staying within speaking time limits; stated rules may be suspended by four affirmative votes. Councilmember Knox White expressed support for the ten minute presentation limit; stated seven minutes of Council speaking time tends to work fine; he recommends and proposes keeping the nine minute speaking time while trying to keep speaking time to seven minutes; stated the matter can return for further consideration should the full nine minutes be used on average; lowering Council speaking to seven minutes is not likely to impact the length of meetings; the Brown Act allows people to hear Council make decisions and understand the reason behind decisions; the Brown Act is not designed to allow for unlimited public comment with limited Council discussion; expressed concern for cramping Council ability to have discussions. Councilmember Herrera Spencer stated a big part of the Brown Act is hearing from the public and the public gets to hear Council; noted that she will not support a one minute public comment time limit; stated the limit needs to be a two minute minimum; there is a difference between Council comments and public comments; it is unfair to request concise public comments be condensed into one minute; pressure should be placed on Council to make points within the time. Vice Mayor Vella stated members of the public are at liberty to e-mail Councilmembers and share thoughts publically ahead of the meeting; some Councilmembers will not take certain meetings with members of the public or interested parties ahead of Council meetings; the first time she hears from colleagues is at the Council meeting, after hearing from members of the public; Councilmember free speech is limited by the Brown Act where members of the public are not curtailed; Council is attempting to create a succinct as possible process for a functional meeting; noted there have been dysfunctional Council meetings; stated rules have been put in place to provide expectations for working through the agenda; expressed concern about creating a false equivalent. On the call for the question, the motion failed by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers Daysog: No; Herrera Spencer: Aye; Knox White: No; Vella: No; and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft: No. Ayes: 1. Noes: 4. Councilmember Knox White moved approval Staff Report Items 1 [under Oral Communications, speakers would have two minutes to comment], 2-A [members of the public would comment once on the entire Consent Calendar and not be able to withdraw items for discussion], 2-C [Councilmembers would not pull items simply to record a non-affirmative vote and would have up to five minutes to speak on each item pulled for discussion] and 4 [all presentations would be limited to 10 minutes]. Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 13 February 16, 2021 | CityCouncil/2021-02-16.pdf |