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Proposed amendment to Rule 28.1 of the Rules of Procedure of the Council.
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28.1 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. The public comment period shall be limited to residents of the State of Tennessee. Members of the public must show proof of Davidson County residency in order to speak. The public comment period for regular and special meetings of the Council shall not be limited to items on the agenda. The public comment period for regular and special meetings of the Council shall be limited to 20 minutes. The public comment period for regular and special meetings of Council Committees shall be limited to matters that are relevant to legislative items on the Committee agenda. The public comment period for regular and special meetings of Council Committees shall be limited to eight minutes. Individuals shall be allowed to speak for up to two minutes each. Public comment periods will not be held at any meeting where there are no actionable items on the agenda. The Council Office shall make policies and procedures necessary to facilitate the public comment period, including acceptable proof of residency, access to language interpretation, and other related accessibility needs. To the extent permitted by law, the Council Office shall not store any proof of residency that it may review.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This proposed rule amendment would amend Council Rule of Procedure 28.1 to require members of the public show proof of Davidson County residency in order to participate in the Metropolitan Council’s Public Comment Period. The rule amendment further directs the Council Office to make policies and procedures regarding acceptable proof of residency under the rule. This rule amendment is limited to the Public Comment Period and would not affect speakers for Public Hearings on zoning matters.