GLENDALE, Ariz. — The City of Glendale soon may be changing how and when citizens can participate in public meetings.
On Nov. 26, the city council will review a proposal to remove the "Citizen Comments" portion of its public council meetings and creating a "City Council Citizens Forum" to take place separately from the regular council meeting.
The "Citizens Comments" section of Glendale's meetings is intended for individuals to speak on a matter concerning city government that is not on the meeting's agenda.
These proposed forums would allow attendees to each speak for up to three minutes at a time. The city is not intending to stream or broadcast these citizen forums in order to comply with broadcasting standards, city documents show.
While cities are obligated to allow citizens to attend council meetings, Glendale is insisting that cities don't have to allow a "call to the public" portion during a public meeting.
Glendale plans to offer other opportunities for public participation by letting citizens contact members of the council or allowing them to fill out a speaker card if they wish to comment on an agenda item during a council meeting.
Other Valley cities have been criticized recently for attempting to regulate speech during public meetings.
In September, the Surprise City Council repealed a rule prohibiting speakers from lodging complaints against city employees during council meetings after a woman was escorted out by police while criticizing the city attorney's salary.
