ANAHEIM : City to Weigh New Public Input Rules

The City Council today will consider a change in its meeting format that critics say could make it more difficult for the public to speak out on city issues.

The council is considering a measure that could limit public comment to the beginning of its meetings. The measure would set aside specific times for public comment and could be used, some say, to prohibit members of the public from speaking at other times during the meeting. Currently, members of the public are allowed to comment on each agenda item as it is introduced.

Critics say that because council meetings begin at 5 p.m., the new format could make it difficult for those who work to get to the meeting early enough to express an opinion on an item before a vote is taken.

But City Atty. Jack L. White said the measure is not aimed at stifling public comment but only at bringing the council in line with a new state law requiring it to reserve a specific time for public comment. If passed, the new format would take effect in January.

Sharon Ericson, president of the Anaheim Municipal Employees Assn., said “the council is obviously becoming more opposed to the public having its say.” Ericson is a frequent speaker at council meetings and is usually critical of the council.

“The problem is the council starts its meetings too early to begin with,” she said. “I work in the building, and it’s hard for me to get to the council chambers by 5 p.m. The only thing that would save me is that they don’t usually begin right at 5 p.m.”

The council usually begins the public portion of its meetings between 5:15 and 5:30 p.m.

White said that while the measure would allow the council to bar public comment except during its designated period, it is unlikely that such a rule would be stringently enforced.

“I think the council has always been very liberal in allowing the public to talk on an item,” White said. “I cannot think of a time when the council has said to the public, ‘We are not going to let you talk.’ ”

Councilman Tom Daly said that no one on the council is trying to curtail public comment with the measure and that he would oppose it if they were.

“It is my impression that they are setting aside a specific time for people to talk and that we would still be able to allow people to speak when the specific (agenda) item came up,” Daly said.