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Proposed Amendment to Rule 28 of the Metropolitan Council Rules of Procedure.
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28. Public addressing Council
The public shall be provided an opportunity to address the Council during a public comment period at the beginning of each regular and special meeting of the Council and of a Council committee. Individuals will be required to provide notice of the desire to participate in the public comment period to the Council Office no later than the Thursday before the meeting. The public comment period for regular and special meetings of the Council shall be limited to twenty (20) minutes. The public comment period for regular and special meetings of Council Committees shall be limited to eight (8) minutes. Individuals shall be allowed to speak for up to two (2) minutes each. Public comment periods will not be held for any meeting where there are no actionable items on the agenda. During the public comment period held at the second regular Council meeting of each month, and at the discretion of the Vice Mayor, individuals shall be allowed to speak for up to two (2) minutes each.
During all other public hearings, individuals shall be allowed to speak for up to two (2) minutes regarding each matter.
Members of the public may address the Council in a public hearing format regarding a specific resolution or ordinance, when a public hearing is not otherwise required by law, if the Council approves a Council member’s motion by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Council members present at such meeting to allow members of the public to address the Council. Such motion shall specify the subsequent meeting at which the public hearing is to take place.
For regular and special meetings of the Council, Tthe Clerk shall keep time in accordance with this rule. For regular and special meetings of Council committees, the Chair shall designate a member of the committee to keep time in accordance with this rule.