Public comment | City of Lexington, Kentucky

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Public comment
When and how to give public comment at Urban County Council meetings.

Public comment is offered during:

Council Work Sessions (typically on Tuesday afternoons at 3 p.m.)
Comments about an agenda item are heard at the beginning of the meeting
Comments about any other topics are heard at the end of the meeting
Council meetings (typically on Thursday evenings at 6 p.m.)
Comments about an agenda item are heard at the beginning of the meeting
Comments about any other topics are heard at the end of the meeting

Sign-ups for public comment open 30 minutes before the meeting and close 30 minutes after the meeting has started. Council staff are always present to assist with the sign-up process.

Check the city calendar to ensure the Urban County Council is meeting when you plan to attend.

Provide feedback to the Council directly via email.

Council guidelines for public comment
1
Meetings

Public comment is encouraged and is listed as an agenda item at every regular Council Meeting and Council Work Session, for items on the agenda and general comments.

2
Sign-In

Residents seeking to give public comment must sign in before the meeting begins. Digital sign-in stations are located just outside the Council Chamber. Sign-in opens 30 minutes before the meeting starts and remains available until 30 minutes after the start of a Council Work Session or regular Council Meeting.

3
How-to

When public comment is allowed, it is an opportunity for residents to speak directly to the Urban County Council. At the podium, speakers should begin by stating their name and Council district. Comments about items listed on the meeting agenda are heard at the beginning of the meeting, while comments on topics not included on the agenda are heard at the end.

Public comment is limited to spoken remarks only; presentations, videos, or the use of personal devices are not permitted.

4
Time

Each speaker is allowed three (3) minutes. 

Members of the public who have signed up to speak may yield their three minutes, when present, to another member. One speaker is allowed up to a total of nine (9) minutes, including time that has been yielded. 

5
Materials

Public comment does not include a privilege on the part of the speaker to make presentations to council, i.e. PowerPoint presentations, multimedia presentations, or other similar presentations. 

If a speaker would like to distribute materials to council, they should be placed in the tray marked “materials for council” on the public comment table outside of the council chamber. Materials will be distributed to council by a council staff member. No USB devices or other portable digital media will be accepted.

Council guidelines for public participation
1
Dialogue

 Public comment at regular council meetings and work sessions is a time for the mayor and councilmembers to listen to residents and receive exclusively verbal feedback for informational purposes only. Public comment is not a time for council members to engage in a dialogue with residents, nor is it a time for residents to make PowerPoint presentations or multimedia presentations of any kind to the council, or for the playing of multimedia of any kind, including on personal devices by the speaker.

2
Political purposes

The public comment period will not be used to make political endorsements or for political campaign purposes.

3
Decorum

Speakers shall exercise decorum during debate, conduct themselves in a courteous manner and refrain from using unbecoming, derogatory or abusive language and making personal attacks. 

4
Disruptions

Disruptions in support or opposition to a speaker or idea, such as clapping, cheering, booing or hissing are not permitted in the Council Chamber. 

5
Signs & posters

No signs or posters that disrupt camera angles, the view of the audience or inhibit the function of the meeting are allowed.

6
Security

For security reasons, no person, except the mayor, mayor’s staff, councilmembers, aides, council staff or anyone relevant to the meeting shall be permitted beyond the podium or designated staff areas at any time.

7
Removal

Any person who engages in or makes threats of physical violence shall be immediately removed from the meeting. 

Any failure to adhere to these guidelines by any member of the public may result in loss of the public comment privilege at the meeting and/or removal from the meeting, as appropriate, at the discretion of the presiding officer.

These guidelines are provided for the orderly and civil conduct of City Council meetings. These guidelines apply to both the public comment period and legislative public hearings before the Urban County Council, unless otherwise provided.

Contact
Shauntae Hall

Council Administrator

(859) 280-8267
shall2@lexingtonky.gov