Pico Rivera : Council Cuts Public Speech Time From 15 to 5 Minutes

Over the objections of residents, the City Council decided Monday to cut the time an individual may speak to the council at each meeting from 15 minutes to five.

“It’s wrong. It’s taking away our right to free speech,” Pico Rivera resident John A. Albitre said. “When they took these jobs, they agreed to listen to the people.”

The council acts as three boards and has three agendas each meeting: City Council, Pico Rivera Redevelopment Agency and Housing Assistance Agency.

Traditionally, citizens were allowed to speak up to five minutes on issues from each of the three agendas, for a maximum of 15 minutes each meeting. Beginning next month, residents will be allowed a total of five minutes, during which they may address items from all three agendas.

The ordinance was passed unanimously, with no discussion among the council members. About 50 residents were at the meeting, and 10 opposed the measure.

“The people don’t want these kind of limitations,” said Ofelia Roddie Rodriguez, head of the Pico Rivera Concerned Citizens organization.

City Manager Dennis Courtemarche said the decision was made to create more orderly council meetings. He said residents had sometimes been confused about when to speak on a particular item or agenda.

“Nobody’s being denied the right to speak,” he said.