City of Gonzales
CITY ATTORNEY
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: June 2, 2025
FROM: Michael Rodriquez, City Attorney
THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 2025-30 Establishing Public Comment Time Limits and Related Procedures
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council consider adoption of Resolution No. 2025-30, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Establishing Public Comment Time Limits and Related Procedures.
BACKGROUND
In 2024, Staff commenced the process of making changes to the Gonzales City Code (GCC) to more accurately reflect the needs of the Council and City Staff. In some cases, the GCC has not been changed in more than fifty years. Council has previously provided Staff with direction to provide options with respect to modifying the public meeting process in order to ensure orderly and efficient meetings as well as Council and public interaction.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Brown Act, the City must allow the public to engage with the Council at noticed public meetings by receiving public comment on both items on the agenda and on matters not on the agenda but within the Council’s jurisdiction during the “public comment” portion of the agenda. In order to provide greater flexibility in the administration of public meetings, the Council directed Staff to prepare an ordinance to eliminate a GCC provision that established the public comment period at three (3) minutes per speaker and to replace the same with language indicating relevant speaker time limits would be set by resolution. This direction was effectuated by Ordinance 2024-147, which was adopted by the Council on January 13, 2025.
AGENDA
ITEM
9 REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
Per Council direction, staff has prepared a Public Comment Time Limits and Related Procedures Policy for Council consideration and adoption. The Policy establishes a new base time limit of two (2) minutes for comment when there are five speakers or fewer on a given item or during general comment on items not appearing on the agenda. When there are more than five speakers per item, the Mayor will have the discretion to reduce speaker time to not less than one minute.
In most instances the one-minute option would only be used when the Council has a large number of speakers on a given item. Under such circumstances, public comment often tends to be repetitious and has the potential to impede the Council’s timely consideration and action on agendized matters. The ability to limit the duration of public comment would also allow all speakers to be heard without having to wait for a significant period of time. As written, the policy is content neutral and allows reasonable control of the time of a speaker’s comment period based on practical time limitations.
The Policy also includes provisions allowing the Council to request that speakers identify themselves and their residence, allowing the Council to ask commenters questions, and requiring compliance with the City’s Public Meeting Decorum Policy. The Policy will also apply to meetings of any of the City’s boards and commissions.
Explain Recommendation and How it Supports the Vision.
Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve and retain its small town charm.
Explain: The proposed Policy should help to ensure that future Council meetings are run in an orderly and efficient manner allowing the Council to continue to pursue and maintain the City vision.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Mission The City Council and Staff of the City of Gonzales will realize our Vision by providing the leadership, commitment and resources necessary to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life of our diverse community. X Yes ____No ____NA Explain: See above.
City services will be delivered in a cost-effective, respectful and friendly manner to ensure the safety and well being of the residents and the promotion of business, recreational, housing and employment opportunities in an environmentally sustainable manner. Yes ___No _X_NA Explain: See above.
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety Yes ____ No X NA
• Housing Yes ____ No X NA
• Recreation Yes ____ No X NA
• Environment Yes ____ No X NA
• Education Yes ____ No X NA
Explain: NA
ALTERNATIVES
• Adopt Resolution No. 2025-30.
• Do not adopt the proposed resolution and provide Staff with direction.
BUDGET IMPACT
There is no direct financial impact associated with the proposed resolution.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that the City Council consider adoption of Resolution No. 2025-30, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Establishing Public Comment Time Limits and Related Procedures.
PUBLIC NOTICE
N/A.
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2025-30 wity Policy