Public comment at Lacey city meetings is limited to 3 minutes. But is the rule applied equally?
Lacey sets aside time at meetings for public comment, when residents can share their thoughts with elected officials or those appointed to advisory boards. Rules allow each person 3 minutes to state their case.
But those rules are in focus again after two people spoke for 19 minutes during a July 24 meeting of the Planning Commission, a key advisory group that hears about land use and development issues, then makes recommendations to Lacey City Council.
Two people wanted to speak — a commercial real estate broker and a property owner. Lacey Planning Manager Ryan Andrews reminded them about the location of the microphone and to “keep your comments to about three minutes.”
The two who spoke and provided a presentation, discussed property in northeast Lacey, west of Marvin Road, that they would like to rezone at some point.
At the four-minute mark, a planning commissioner became confused and asked if they were referring to Marvin Road or Martin Way. A Martin Way-related rezone item was already on the agenda.
“This is not on the agenda,” Andrews said. “This is part of the comment.”
At the seven-minute mark, Jeff Gadman, chairman of the commission, tried to end the public comment.
“So this will probably be a future agenda item for us,” he said. “Thank you for the introduction. You’re going to work with Ryan and his crew to prepare something that eventually comes to the planning commission. We do have a rezoning consideration on our agenda tonight, so you’re certainly welcome to watch that process so you know what the thought processes are among commission members. But I thank you for your comments.”
Then the conversation continued as other commissioners asked questions of the two speakers. The discussion ended at 19 minutes.
In a follow up conversation with Gadman, he said commission meetings are not as formal as City Council meetings, the agenda was light and no one else wanted to speak. However, he also acknowledged he should have cut them off.
“It went way too long,” he said.
Gadman, a former Lacey council member, is aware the city is working on its public comment process. He believes a timer will soon be used at public meetings. Other jurisdictions use them, including the Port of Olympia, which displays a 3-minute timer for those members of the public who want to address the commission.
Lacey is reviewing its public comment process after the city’s equity commission was bombarded by racist and anti-semitic comments in March.
The council took up the topic as recently as July 23, city of Lacey spokesman Ty Keltner said.
“The council has provided direction to city staff to update these polices to include a 3-minute public comment limitation,” Keltner said in an email. “The policy has not been finalized and the council will consider final action at its August 8th meeting. This will apply to City Council and its advisory boards, if adopted.”
