Long Beach Moves To Limit Public Comment At Council Meetings: Reports

LONG BEACH, CA — Long Beach residents could soon have as little as 30 seconds to address the City Council under proposed changes that would consolidate most public comment into a single period at the beginning of council meetings.

The council voted 7-2 on Sept. 1 to direct staff to move forward with the changes, with Councilmembers Cindy Allen and Kristina Duggan opposed. The changes are not yet final and must return to the council for approval before taking effect.

The restrictions and the opposition they faced from residents drew renewed attention Monday after Long Beach Local News reported on the council's decision. Under the proposal, total public comment would generally be capped at 90 minutes, although the council could extend the period.

If 10 or fewer people sign up to speak, each person would receive three minutes. With 11 to 20 speakers, each would receive 90 seconds. With 21 or more speakers, each person would receive 30 seconds, according to the Signal Tribune.

Residents would still be able to speak separately during formal public hearings, including proceedings involving zoning changes, alcohol licenses and environmental reviews.

Most Public Comment Would Move To Start Of Meetings

Under Long Beach's current rules, residents have opportunities to speak during general public comment and on individual agenda items as they are considered.

The proposed changes would instead consolidate most agenda and non-agenda public comment into a single period near the beginning of the meeting.

The changes come months after Long Beach began allowing residents to participate remotely in council meetings under Senate Bill 707, which expanded virtual access requirements under California's Brown Act.

When the city announced implementation of SB 707 in July, officials said the change would create "more equitable and diverse opportunities for civic engagement" by allowing residents to view, listen to and speak during meetings remotely.

City officials have argued that consolidating public comment would make meetings more predictable while cutting staffing costs associated with keeping employees available throughout lengthy council meetings.

In a May 1 memo outlining proposed changes to council meetings, city staff recommended consolidating public comment near the beginning of meetings and establishing a 90-minute overall limit. The city estimates the changes could save $150,632 in City Clerk overtime costs, according to the Signal Tribune.

City Clerk Monique De La Garza said three to four employees staff the city's call center during council meetings to handle remote participation and remain on duty until meetings end. Moving most public comment to the beginning of the meeting could allow those employees to finish that work earlier.

Mayor Rex Richardson characterized the proposal during the Sept. 1 discussion as a cost-saving measure amid the city's budget deficit rather than simply a reduction in public participation, according to the Signal Tribune.

Residents Opposed Changes

More than 20 people participated in person or remotely in opposition to the proposal during the Sept. 1 meeting, while roughly 20 additional written comments opposed the changes, the Signal Tribune reported.

Opponents argued the change could force residents to comment on agenda items before hearing staff presentations or the council's discussion.

Allen raised that concern during the meeting, saying presentation materials are not always available far enough in advance for residents to fully understand an issue before speaking.

City Manager Tom Modica said last-minute additions to presentation materials are rare, according to the Signal Tribune. The Sept. 1 proposal followed an earlier attempt to restructure public comment that failed 5-3 in June after significant opposition from residents.

Councilmember Megan Kerr, who opposed the June proposal, supported the Sept. 1 version after requesting several changes.

Those included requiring the City Clerk to report how many people signed up to speak and how they participated, establishing a Friday deadline for staff presentation materials and keeping public-comment registration open until the final speaker rather than closing it earlier.

Councilmember Suely Saro supported moving comment earlier in meetings, saying it could make participation easier for residents who cannot remain at City Hall late into the evening.

Allen and Duggan voted against the proposal. The remaining seven councilmembers supported moving it forward. A final version of the changes must return to the council for approval before the new public-comment system takes effect.