Public Hearing Speaking Time Limits
At a glance
Based on auto-generated captions; names and details may be misheard.
- What: repeated objections from members of the public that applicants in quasi-judicial and development hearings get far more speaking time than other speakers.
- Where it stands: speakers are being held to 3 minutes (2 minutes in one case) while applicants get 5 to 10 minutes or more. The mayor has not changed the practice.
- Next: none scheduled; the objection has come up at council work sessions and at the previous meeting too.
What was said
- Pablo Friedman said the landmark applicants had about 15 minutes in total, so opponents should logically get about 6, though he accepted his 3.
- Chris Pearlstine argued the council's hearing rules only allow shortening time where "numerous speakers" appear as proponents or opponents, and that one person is not numerous. He asked for 15 minutes, was told the mayor has prerogative under the procedures, and was given 2 minutes after a request to reset the clock.
- He also said this was the second meeting in a row he raised the rule.
Status and next steps
- The rules language is quoted from the speaker; the council's written rules were not reviewed.
Sources
- 2026-10-08 - City Council Work Session (council work session video, auto-captions)
- 2026-10-19 - City Council (council meeting video, auto-captions)
Discussion time
About 7 minutes across 2 meetings (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-19 - City Council | 2 |
| 2026-10-08 - City Council Work Session | 5 |
Log
- 2026-10-19 - City Council - Friedman and Pearlstine both objected to the unequal time split; Pearlstine's allotment was cut to 2 minutes.
- 2026-10-08 - City Council Work Session - Chris Pearlstine proposed extra-time requests and clock resets; the mayor pro tem defended the speaking rules when two late sign-ups spoke.
- 2026-10-22 - City Council Work Session - Chris Pearlstine again objected that his time was shortened when he was the only non-applicant speaker; the mayor said the rules are at the presiding officer's discretion and he would consider it (from auto-captions).