\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPlano City Council is changing the rules for speaking at city meetings.<\/p>\n
The changes will decrease the frequency of comments of public interest and eliminate public comments over Zoom altogether.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re trying to be as productive as we can for the citizens,\u201d Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Rick Horne said.<\/p>\n
Council members decided on the changes at a March 9 meeting<\/a>.<\/p>\n What\u2019s changing<\/p>\n In the past, city officials have set aside time at each meeting for people to talk about issues that are not on the main agenda, usually at the beginning of the meeting after the Pledge of Allegiance.<\/p>\n Council members agreed to limit comments on nonagenda items to one meeting a month, and those comments will take place at the end of the meeting.<\/p>\n Council meets twice a month. Council member Steve Lavine said city staff should have the authority to choose which meeting includes an opportunity for comments of public interest.<\/p>\n Speakers who want to talk about items on the official agenda can still do so at each meeting as each item is addressed.<\/p>\n Boards and committees will also follow the new rules for public comment, Mayor John Muns said.<\/p>\n Another detail<\/p>\n Council decided to remove the option for people to address council members over Zoom.<\/p>\n Mayor Pro Tem Maria Tu said that people who use Zoom because they have difficulty getting to in-person meetings can reach out to council members by calling, texting or emailing. Residents can call council at 972-941-7107, and council members\u2019 official email addresses are listed on the city\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n The context<\/p>\n