North Raleigh Today

The schedule for the public comment period at Raleigh City Council meetings will change after the Council’s summer break. The changes, finalized at the July 5 Council meeting, will go into effect for the September 12, 2023, meeting (there won’t be a public comment period on September 5). The changes mean there will be a focused time for public comments and were put in place based on feedback from the community. 

What Will Change?

• Public comment period will be removed from the first Tuesday evening meeting.

AND

Public comment period will be added to the work session on the second Tuesday of the month.

• The work session will take place 4-6 p.m.
• The public comment period will start at 7 p.m.

When Can I Speak During Public Comment Period?

Starting September 12, residents will be able to speak during the public comment period on:

• Second Tuesday of the month starting at 7 p.m.
• Third Tuesday of the month – meeting starts at 1 p.m. (no change)

Removing the public comment period from the evening session of the meeting that takes place the first Tuesday of the month will relieve the pressure on public hearings that often run late into the evening. (That’s because the meeting itself doesn’t start until 7 p.m.). The change will also allow three minutes per speaker.  

What Do I Need to Do?

If you want to speak in person during a public comment period, complete a signup form and submit it by 5 p.m. the day before the Council meeting during which you want to speak. You can also leave a public comment remotely via voicemail. Visit the Public Comment Period - Sign Up to Speak page for more information.

Original source can be found here