What: how and when the public may address the City Council, including the length of the general comment period and which agenda items are open to comment.
Where it stands: on 2026-06-10 the Council voted 4-2 to end its public comment pilot as of that date. On 2026-06-24 it opened every agenda item to comment for that meeting by unanimous vote.
Next: not stated. A related discussion continued in the Rules of Procedure (Council Rules of Procedure).
Details
2026-06-10 (item 2026-228): the Council discussed the public comment procedure. Comments came from Alan Goldman, Peter Kelman, Dave Bellini, Zack Hughes and Stephen Whitaker. Councilor Adrienne Gil moved to end the pilot as of June 10; Councilor Jim Sheridan seconded; carried 4-2, with Councilors Cary Brown and Ben Doyle voting nay.
Councilor Sal Alfano then moved to allow comment on any agenda item or non-agenda item during General Business and Appearances; Councilor Sheridan seconded; the motion was withdrawn.
Earlier in that meeting, Mr. Kelman and Mr. Goldman had also commented on the public comment process under general business.
2026-06-24 (item 2026-237): Councilor Pelin Kohn moved to open all agenda items for public comment rather than only the two listed on the agenda; Councilor Gil seconded; approved unanimously. Mr. Whitaker spoke on public comment procedures during the comment period, and Mr. Hughes on public behavior procedures. In the Council reports Councilor Kohn thanked members of the public for attending and encouraged civility, and the Mayor did likewise. The City Manager's report also covered the public comment process.
Earlier meetings
2026-05-13: Alan Goldman, a property owner, commented on the reduction of opportunities for public comment during regular Council meetings (2026-05-13 - City Council).