Watch Public Meetings

Public Hearing Rules of Engagement

After the applicant’s presentation, persons who are in favor of the application and then those who oppose the application will be given an opportunity to speak, followed by anyone who may have comments in general.  We ask anyone speaking at these times to limit comments to three (3) minutes.  Council members may ask questions regarding the facts and merits supporting the comments.

There will be no rebuttal by the applicant and the public hearing will be closed unless the Council or Mayor wants answers from any speaker on a question that arises during the hearing.

Further, the applicant will not be allowed to question persons who speak in opposition; and persons who speak in opposition will not be allowed to question the applicant or its witnesses.  All questions should be directed to the City Solicitor who will secure answers to them.

If you intend to speak, please come to the front and stand at the podium, state your name and home address before you make your statement.  Please use the microphone which can be adjusted to allow everyone to hear you.  If you represent or speak for a group or organization, please identify whom you represent.  When you make your statement, please be concise and do not repeat yourself.  If there is more than one speaker in favor of the application or more than one person in opposition, please do not repeat points that a prior speaker has already stated.  However, you may make a statement to support another speaker’s comment.  Have your thoughts organized because you will only be permitted to speak one time unless being asked to answer a question.

All persons in attendance should conduct themselves in an orderly fashion.  No applause, no cheers, no jeers or other disruptive behavior that will prolong the hearing or negatively affect the record being made.  If you have a cell phone, pager, beeper or other telephonic device with you, please take the time to turn it off or switch it to silent service.

At the conclusion of the public hearing, the Council will take the application under consideration and may either approve it, deny it, or the Council may defer it to a later date to consider the record made here tonight

Before the conclusion of the Public Hearing, the City Solicitor will also check to see if anyone joining remotely has a comment.