05. Discussion on Public Forum of Regular Meeting Staff Report
Date of Meeting: November 5, 2025
For: Honorable Mayor and Council
From: Kyle Morell, City Administrator
Subject: Discussion on Public Forum of Regular Meeting
The City Attorney has expressed concern over the rules of the Public Forum section of our regular
meetings. Currently, we allow residents to speak on items not on the agenda; if the issues they wish
to speak on are on the agenda, the resident is not permitted to speak. Not all agenda items are
public hearings, and therefore, public comment is not required. This means that if a resident wishes
to speak about an item on the agenda, but that item is not scheduled for a public hearing, our
meeting rules provide no time for that resident to address the council.
This became evident at the October 21 Council meeting when residents wished to speak on the
Gateway Trail. Because the item was on the agenda, the public forum section should not have
allowed it, even though some people spoke even when asked not to. Staff would like to discuss with
Council the procedure to be followed to permit public comment on agenda items that do not call
for a public hearing.