Council to consider two-minute rule for speakers

Since the city lost a battle with the Save Our Springs Alliance and its executive director, Bill Bunch, over how much time members of the public should get to address City Council, members of the public have been given three minutes per item, regardless of how many items they wished to address. Council seems likely to adopt new rules today, giving speakers two minutes per item.

When Judge Daniella Deseta Lyttle ruled in favor of SOS and Bunch, she ordered the city to allow speakers three minutes per item and placed no limits on the number of items a speaker could address. The ruling will remain in effect until July 1 or until the parties agree on a different regulation. This week’s agenda includes a modification that gives speakers two minutes per item. However, Council Member Chito Vela is slated to offer the following amendment: “Prior to or at the start of each meeting, the presiding officer shall announce the amount of time allotted to speakers per item, but at no time will the speaking time be reduced to less than two minutes per agenda item. The presiding officer may also cap the total amount of time a speaker has to address all items on the agenda if the time limit is reasonable.” Presumably, this will keep individuals from picking 20 items at random and trying to address Council for 40 minutes. SOS said in an email to supporters, “We are disappointed that the proposed ordinance diminishes the importance of public speaking by reducing the time limit from the established 3-minute rule. Nonetheless, this is still a win for good government and the residents of Austin.” On Wednesday afternoon, Council Member Alison Alter informed her colleagues via the City Council Message Board that she intends to offer an amendment that would remove any item from the consent agenda if six or more members of the public have signed up to speak on it.