Education - Council Meeting 101

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Making Citizen Comments

Community Involvement: One of the easiest ways to get involved with your city is to attend a City Council meeting. Not sure how to speak at a public meeting? Follow our guide for citizen comments.

Guidelines for Citizen Comments: The citizen comments portion of the Council agenda provides an opportunity for citizens to bring to the attention of the City Council matters concerning Glendale city government that are not on the agenda of the meeting.
Council meetings are conducted in compliance with the Arizona Open Meetings Law. While the Open Meetings Law does not require the agenda to contain an item for citizen comments, the Council places this item on their agendas to provide this additional opportunity for citizen input to the Council and to City administration.

How to make a citizen comment:
1. Fill out a citizen comments speaker card and turn it in to the city clerk before the start of the meeting.
2. When you are called, approach the podium.
3. At the podium, please state your name and address for the record; then present your comments.
4. As a courtesy to others, please be brief in your comments and refrain from being repetitive of the remarks made by previous speakers.
5. Large groups may designate a spokesperson.

Speaking policies and regulations:

• Personal attacks on Councilmembers, city staff or members of the public are not allowed.
• It is inappropriate to utilize citizen comments for purposes of making political speeches, including threats of political action.
• All remarks should be addressed to matters of Glendale City business.
• Depending on the number of items on the Council agenda and the number of citizen comments cards, the Mayor may establish shorter than the allowed maximum five minute time limit for speakers under citizen comments.
• Normal standards of decorum and courtesy should be observed by all speakers.
• It is within the Mayor’s discretion to cut short the citizen comments items, even if there are speaker cards remaining.
• As provided by the Open Meetings Law, the Council cannot engage in discussion or take action on matters raised under citizen comments, unless an actual emergency exists.
• Council may refer the matter to the City Manager for follow-up. If City Council consideration is needed on an item, the Open Meetings Law will require the matter to be properly noticed as an item on a future Council meeting agenda.

Special accommodations: For special accommodations at any meeting, please contact
the City Manager’s Office at (623) 930-2870 at least three business days prior to the meeting.
TDD (623) 930-2197.

Questions or comments: If you have any questions or comments about these rules and
procedures, please call the City Manager’s Office at (623) 930-2870, anytime Monday through
Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to discuss.

If you have a concern you would like to discuss with your District Councilmember, please call
(623) 930-2249, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.