Scottsdale city officials are brewing a debate over a proposal to tighten the reins on public participation during council meetings. At the heart of the discussion is a memo submitted by Interim City Attorney Luis Santaella and City Clerk Ben Lane, citing the need for amendments aimed at creating a more efficient and legally sound process. The changes, as reported by FOX 10, would see a reduction in the amount of time given to public comments on non-agenda items from three to two minutes and a reduction in the number of speakers from ten to eight.
The proposal is not without its critics, many of whom stand as firm advocates for the democratic process and the right to be heard. "Citizen engagement is an essential part of Scottsdale City government. And in fact, it's an essential element of the city charter," John Washington, a regular speaker at council meetings, told FOX 10. In the midst of limiting voices, Scottsdale resident Craig Milbourn, who has been a constant presence at meetings for over two decades, said, "The new council members that they ran their campaigns on, will listen to the residents. And it seems like this is doing the exact opposite of what they promised."
Some city leaders have voiced opposition to tightening public comment protocols. Scottsdale Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas, who doesn't support the initiative, couldn't name any councilmembers who are in favor. Echoing her sentiment, Mayor Lisa Borowsky released a statement asserting her stance against curtailing public comment. Meanwhile, the recent actions of neighboring town Fountain Hills, which threw out public commentary for non-agenda items, hangs as a cautionary tale over Scottsdale's deliberations. "I don't think anybody, regardless of politics, likes to basically be muzzled," shared resident Don Scott in a FOX 10 interview.
As Scottsdale edges closer to making a decision, concerned citizens like Milbourn hope the city doesn’t mimic Fountain Hills' restrictive measures. He expressed his disdain, "I can't get everything I want out of city government, but don't hinder my right to speak," Milbourn said to FOX 10. Looking forward, Scottsdale can anticipate robust discussions at its Dec. 2 council meeting, where the proposed changes will be on the table. The interim city attorney, city clerk, and Vice Mayor Adam Kwasman, who supports the proposal according to AZ Central, have yet to weigh in with additional comments.
