Missouri City meetings could see some changes in an effort to increase accessibility and flexibility.
At a Sept. 8 meeting, Missouri City City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to amend select council meeting rules and some regulations for boards, committees and commissions.
What’s new
State law requires City Council to allot six minutes of public comment per person who needs a translator, which is double the amount of time given to someone who does not use a translator, per agenda documents.
Other proposed changes include:
Meanwhile, another change proposes that public commenters in board and commission meetings may only speak on items on the agenda. If the item is not on the agenda, a person cannot bring it up during public comment, per the ordinance.
This follows the council’s 2024 vote to make that same change to its council meetings, Community Impact reported.
“This would align the board and commissions procedures with City Council meeting rules and applicable state law,” City Secretary Crystal Roan said during the meeting.
Also of note
The ordinance also proposes lowering the residency requirement for board and commission applicants from three years to one year with the goal of expanding opportunities for residents to become involved in the city, per agenda documents.
In addition to residency requirements, the ordinance also clarifies that anyone elected to an officer position of a board or commission must assume the role and responsibilities the day they are elected.
Other considerations include the dissolution of the Ethics Commission and the Small Business Advisory Committee to reduce redundant objectives in other committees.
Looking ahead
If the council approves the items on a second reading, some changes will go into effect immediately and others on Dec. 31.
