Public input is important to good government. And it is guaranteed by the Louisiana Open Meetings Law. But it IS subject to reasonable regulation.
Prior to 2019, the rules of procedure for the Shreveport city council provided for public comments at two places on the agenda. Comments on agenda items were allowed before the agenda items themselves.
Comments on other matters were at the end of the meeting. These could be on non-agenda items as well as agenda items.
Early last year, the council amended its rules to all comments on ANY subject to be allowed before agenda items. The rule on comments at the end of the agenda was not amended.
The three then new members of the council pushed for the agenda change. Their belief was that it was important for all speakers to be heard at the beginning of the meeting.
Like many good sounding notions, the reality of the change has been a total disaster. From every prospective.
The change has prompted many more speakers on non- agenda items than had been the experience under the old rule at the beginning of the meetings. Many, many more.
Getting to talk at the beginning of the meeting allows those speakers 3 minutes of fame (the designated time restraint on speaking) with a much larger audience in the council chamber. And they get to speak in front of all the tv cameras, which often disappear before the meetings are concluded.
This change thus delays the start of the real business of the council --generally 30 minutes or later. Thus, citizens appearing to observe key votes on items of interest must wait longer.
The tv media often has an early broadcast for their 5 p.m. news. The delay in getting down to the real council work often leaves TV reporters empty handed when trying to make the early tv reports.
Other media members also have early deadlines.
All too often the same speaker will address the council at the Monday work session and the Tuesday meeting on the same topic. Getting two bites at the same apple in front of an audience.
Another challenge has been the practice of some speakers to bring several compatriots to speak on the same topic--basically just repeating their message. The rules can be amended to limit group speeches by a maximum time period.
Issues on clock management--enforcement of the 3-minute rule--have improved. Its a thankless task for the vice chair to enforce the rules. The presence of Shreveport city marshals has helped with that issue.
All too often speakers will attempt to question the mayor and/or the council during their diatribes. This is not allowed by the council rules-- enforcement of this rule has troublesome. Much like citizens who come to complain about a matter that should be addressed out of chamber to the administration--like a street pothole. These speakers should be reminded of the no question rule, and then NOT be answered by anyone at the horseshoe.
The council should amend its rules of procedure--go back to the prior rule on agenda and non-agenda comments. Agenda items can be addressed by citizens at the beginning of the meeting. At the end of the meeting, non-agenda items and agenda items can be addressed.
Consistent enforcement of the rules on addressing the council be the norm.
The Louisiana Open Meetings Law only mandates that citizens be allowed to speak on agenda items before action is taken by a public body. This law does not require public bodies to hear comments on non-agenda items.
And it does not provide for comments--agenda or non-agenda--at work sessions. Thus, the council's policies on agenda and non-agenda item comments exceed the statutory minimum.
The right to public speech at government meetings is fundamental. But is subject to reasonable regulation just like other business conducted at the meetings. The Open Meetings Law specifically states that "the governing body may adopt reasonable rules and restrictions regarding the comment period."
This Article was published in the January 24th issue of The Inquisitor.