Addressing City Council

Oral Presentations by Members of the Public

The following procedures will guide oral presentations by members of the public at City Council meetings:

  1. Prior to the meeting or during the meeting before a matter is heard, individuals who wish to address the City Council should complete a Public Meeting Appearance Form and present it to the City Clerk.
  2. When called upon, the speaker should come to the podium, state their name and address for the record, and, if representing an organization or group, identify the group they represent.
  3. All remarks must be addressed to the City Council as a whole, not to individual members.
  4. Questions, if any, should be directed to the presiding officer, who will determine whether, or in what manner, a response will be provided.

Citizens' Comments

This portion of the City Council meeting allows members of the public to address the Council on any item not formally scheduled on the agenda or designated as a Public Hearing. A Public Meeting Appearance Form should be completed and submitted to the City Clerk prior to the item being heard.

Timing

Citizens' Comments are generally accepted at the beginning of regular City Council meetings, as noted on the agenda. Individual presentations are limited to three minutes, with the possibility of a two-minute extension approved by a majority of the City Council. Total time for Citizens' Comments shall not exceed fifteen minutes in aggregate.

City Business

Presentations during Citizens' Comments must be limited to topics within the City Council’s subject matter jurisdiction.

No Council Deliberations

In accordance with Indiana Open Door Law, the City Council may not deliberate or vote on any matter raised during Citizens' Comments, except to determine if the topic should be placed on a future agenda. However, the Mayor may request the City Operations Manager to provide relevant information to the Council, the public, and the commenting citizen.