Lacey City Council to discuss changing its public comment policy
The Lacey City Council has agreed to discuss changes to its policies governing public comment at its meeting.
In response to what he called “conversations with the public,” Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder asked the council members this week whether they would be open to having a work session to discuss amending the council meeting public comment policy.
The council meetings set aside time for pubic comment, but under the council’s current policy, those who plan to speak are not allowed to comment on items already on the agenda.
The Washington Coalition for Open Government took issue with limiting what constituents can talk about.
“Lacey City Council’s public comment restrictions clearly suppress citizens’ ability to speak to their elected representatives on matters of public concern — in particular during the very public meetings where officials are weighing those issues,” coalition officials said in response to a recent Olympian story.
Ryder said at Thursday’s council meeting that the policy predates his time on the council. He also recalls that when he and Deputy Mayor Cynthia Pratt were first elected to the council, they questioned the policy.
Councilwoman Carolyn Cox said she has long been uncomfortable with the council’s comment policy, and if Mayor Ryder hadn’t proposed the work session, she was going to.
Councilman Jason Hearn, one of the longest serving members of the council, recalled that the policy was created to “avoid unnecessary drama on the night of a council vote.”
Still, he said he looks forward to the work session discussion.
This story was originally published September 27, 2019 at 7:00 AM.
