OXNARD : City Changes Rules on Public Comment

The Oxnard City Council has reduced from four to two the number of times individuals may address the council on its meeting days, but turned aside a proposal that would have barred residents from addressing council members more than once a day.

The council voted 4 to 1 to consolidate the public comment period and consent agenda for the Housing Authority, Redevelopment Agency and City Council, the three legislative bodies on which council members sit.

However, the change affects only open comment periods. Individuals may still address the council on any specific agenda item.

Under the previous rules, the public could speak during a public comment period before each of the three bodies. In addition to the five council members, the seven-member Housing Authority also has two members from the public.

The council on Tuesday also increased the amount of time allotted to speakers from two minutes to three, and gave the presiding officer the authority, with the council’s approval, to grant additional time.

Mayor Manuel Lopez opposed the measure, saying the presiding officer does not need council approval to make other discretionary rulings.

Responding to complaints from council members about rude behavior by the public, City Atty. Gary Gillig said California’s revised public meeting law gives the public the right to criticize public officials but prohibits slander, cursing or abuse.

Elizar (Al) Hernandez, who frequently speaks to the council on a variety of topics, suggested that the council’s interest in controlling public behavior stemmed from the raucous behavior at a hearing on a merger between the city’s police and fire departments.

“When you have a public hearing, you get a lot of people who don’t usually attend meetings,” Hernandez said. “They care about the city, and they will boo and say a lot of things you don’t expect to hear. An elected councilman has to be able to take that kind of heat.”