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Motion of the Council of Allegheny County providing for time limits on public comment to be offered at the March 5, 2024 regular meeting of Council, pursuant to the Rules of Council, Article II, §I.2.
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Whereas, the Rules of Council, Article II, §I governs public participation and comment at Council’s regular meetings; and
Whereas, while Article II, §I.4. establishes that public comments “are limited to three (3) minutes,” §I.2. expressly provides that “[t]he President and Council reserve the right to alter the length of time for comment, the length of the comment period, and to schedule any overflow from such changes to another date.”; and
Whereas, as of the date on which this motion was drafted, 185 individuals had signed up to offer public comment on Bill No. 12955-24 at Council’s March 5, 2024 regular meeting; and
Whereas, if each speaker on that agenda item should avail themselves of the full three minute regular comment period, this equates to 9 hours and 15 minutes of public comment; and
Whereas, pursuant to the Commonwealth’s Sunshine Act, specifically 65 Pa.C.S.A. §710.1(a), Council is to provide a reasonable opportunity for the public to comment on matters of concern, official action, or deliberation before the body, and the Act provides for receiving these comments before official action is taken on such matter; and
Whereas, it is accordingly the desire of Council to permit all individuals who signed up to offer public comment an opportunity to do so prior to Council taking official action by discussing and voting upon Bill No. 12955-24, but to do so in a fashion that enables Council to conduct its business in an orderly, timely, and efficient fashion;
The Council of the County of Allegheny therefore hereby moves as follows:
Consistent with the provisions of Article II,§I(2) of the Rules of Council and the Sunshine Act, Council hereby establishes one (1) minute per speaker as the public comment time limitation for all public comme...
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