Frisco residents are set to see updates to how public input is handled at city meetings, while some proposed changes remain under review.
At their April 7 meeting, Frisco City Council members approved updating the city’s rules of decorum for public input at city meetings, but further tabled any changes to speaker time limits or procedural changes.
Some context
Ken Schmidt, Frisco director of special projects, said the city’s current rules were initially established in the late 1980s and have not been updated since.
Frisco City Council previously considered changes in March but delayed a vote after disagreeing on proposals to shorten speaking times and require speakers to register in advance.
What you need to know
Under the current policy, anyone who wants to speak during citizen input can submit a paper speaker card at any point during the meeting. Individuals can speak for up to five minutes, or up to three minutes if 10 or more people want to speak on the same agenda item.
The newly approved changes to Frisco’s public speaking rules at council meetings include:
- Prohibiting disruptive or unruly behavior, including the use of disruptive props
- Prohibiting the use of electronic devices to impede or disrupt a meeting
- Prohibiting the display of signs, placards, posters and banners in the meeting room
- Prohibiting threatening speech not protected by the First Amendment
- Prohibiting physically approaching the council beyond the designated speaker location without permission
Any speakers violating the rules of decorum will first receive a warning and could be escorted out by a police officer if the behavior continues, meeting documents state.
Council members are still considering additional changes, including:
- Reducing speaking time from five minutes to three minutes for all speakers
- Requiring electronic registration before meetings begin
- Shortening the time for speakers using a translator from 10 minutes to six
Schmidt said several council members discussed at an earlier work session delaying approving some of the changes until after the upcoming local elections in May.
Mayor Jeff Cheney said the decision on speaker times and registration procedures should be postponed until after elections.
“It felt right to me that the next mayor should have a voice in how the meetings are going to run,” Cheney said.
Frisco City Council's Place 5 and 6 seats, along with the mayor’s seat, will be on the May ballot as Cheney has reached his term limit after being elected in 2017. Residents can find more information about each race here.
Next steps
The item will return to council at a future date after the May election, but a date has not yet been determined. City staff will also begin evaluating options for a digital blue card pilot project, Schmidt said.
