FULLERTON : Council Adjusts Times for Public Comments

Residents will be allowed to address the City Council at the beginning of its regular meetings at 4 and 7:30 p.m., in an effort to limit public comments.

The council usually meets twice on the same day every two weeks.

Council members said that, if people speak soon after the council meetings begin, they won’t have to wait until the end, which could be late into the night.

The comments now will be restricted to three minutes per person for a total of 30 minutes at the beginning of each session on items not listed on the council’s agenda.

If speakers take up the half hour, then more comments will be allowed at the end of the meetings.

People will be allowed to speak up to 10 minutes on agenda items and for an additional five minutes if they want to address the council on the same issue a second time.

Some residents disapproved of the new time limits. They said they would like the chance to speak at the beginning and end of each council meeting.

“I totally disagree, completely and totally,” resident Allan Morton said. “Most people can’t get here at 4 p.m. on the button.”

The new schedule will take effect at the next council meeting, on Jan. 31.