“We’re All Going to Be Timekeepers” — Public Comment Changes Bewilder Councilmember Agran

On March 22, the Irvine City Council voted 4-1 (Councilmember Agran voting “no”) to limit the length of public comments. Beginning on May 26, the City Council has said members of the public will only be able to comment on agenda and non-agenda items during the beginning of the meeting. Furthermore, in lieu of a general 3-minute limit, speakers will have 2 minutes if more than 20 speakers show, and 90 seconds if more than 30 speakers attend. 

This reform will not allow members of the public to speak after staff and City Council Members have discussed agenda items later in the meeting. Councilmember Agran pointed out the City Council would have to be “timekeepers” to enforce this rule:

“We’re going to be involved with the formality of this instead of trying to facilitate…public participation. Public participation is important because people come up with insights and new ideas…[and] inspire public policy that would have otherwise never come to be.” 

He continued later:

“As the person here with the longest tenure, I personally find public comments and public participation as the most enlightening, even inspiring part of the meeting for me. We need to be making people as comfortable as possible, and we’re making a big mistake by cutting ourselves off from public participation.”

Listen to more of Councilmember Agran’s full remarks.

To participate in the April 12 City Council meeting, which will not feature these policy changes, start by viewing the public agenda using the link below.