City Council shaving off 1 minute for public comment in procedures update

The time allotted for public comment at Port Huron City Council meetings could see a minor adjustment under a few changes being proposed for the body’s rules of procedure.

On Monday, council members will consider an amendment to rules that would lower the comment time from four to three minutes — in addition to language changes that address the conduct of speakers and audience members at meetings.

“That was one of the things that was brought up during our goals session, and so that’s what we asked addressed it and asked the attorney to look through and see if there was any language in there that he thought should be changed or tweaked,” Mayor Pauline Repp said on Thursday. “We did do a survey to see how many minutes that other communities allow for public comment, and by far, they’re usually two to three minutes. It’s not four minutes.”

“It’s not that we’re trying to stop anyone from speaking and bring forth what they want to address,” Repp added. “It was just to keep it efficient and be in line with other communities.”

Although Port Huron hasn’t traditionally allowed yielding of time between public speakers, the rules update also clarifies that it’s not permitted.

As is, council rules call on audience members to refrain from cheering and applauding during meetings and speakers from making slanderous or profane remarks.

However, as proposed, language would further call on speakers to “refrain from making ad hominem attacks unrelated to matters of public concern.”

It’d further add, “Personal debates within the audience are not permitted.”

Under disorderly conduct, updated language would allow the chair of council meetings — typically, the mayor — to call to order anyone who “engages in conduct that interferes with the continuation of the meeting.”

When asked last week, city officials didn’t name a specific incident or kind of occurrence that prompted the update to procedures.

In an email, Repp later added, “The changes to the conduct of speakers were changed for clarification purposes in order to facilitate professional, orderly meetings, and so that the rules were clear for persons addressing the council.”

Also on tap for Monday’s City Council meeting:

• Public hearings for city budgets, as well as the next capital improvement plan
• An amended American Rescue Plan proposal from the St. Clair County CAN Council
• A lease agreement for additional public parking near Optimist Park
• A $44,281 purchase of a 2023 Ford Interceptor utility vehicle for the police department
• An engineering agreement for resurfacing projects along areas of Bancroft, Chestnut, Court, Eighth, Howard, Jenkinson, Johnstone, Ninth, Pine, Tunnel, Union, Wall, and White streets

City Council meets at 7 p.m. Monday at the Municipal Office Center, 100 McMorran Blvd. Agenda materials can be viewed at http://porthuroncitymi.iqm2.com/Citizens/calendar.aspx.

Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.