HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council has agreed to return to a five-minute public comment period and allow residents to address agenda items as they are considered, following concerns about changes to public participation procedures.
The discussion came during Tuesday's council meeting after several residents and Councilmember Stacy Goss questioned whether the city's recent three-minute speaking limit complied with existing procedures outlined in Chapter 2 of the Hutchinson City Code.
Under the procedures used at the beginning of Tuesday's meeting, residents were limited to three minutes and required to address agenda and non-agenda matters during a designated public comment period.
Goss argued that the city code provides for five-minute comments and permits residents to address matters when they are under consideration.
She said the city's interpretation of the rules had changed multiple times without corresponding amendments to the code.
"I actually don't want any changes to Chapter Two. I want us to practice it as it's written," Goss said.
Goss also said uncertainty surrounding the procedures had discouraged some residents from attending council meetings.
Several residents raised similar concerns during the initial public comment period.
Carlton "Duke" Duvall questioned why the city allowed only three minutes when other local governing bodies provide five minutes.
Resident Brian Davis also questioned why residents were required to speak on agenda items before council members had discussed them.
Later in the meeting, Councilmember Darrin Truan agreed that the procedures should be changed.
"I do believe people should have five minutes," Truan said.
Truan also supported allowing public comments during individual agenda items, acknowledging that meetings could become longer when controversial issues attract significant public interest.
He suggested the council could adjust meeting agendas when large crowds are expected.
Mayor Scott Meggers also supported returning to the previous procedures.
"I like hearing from the public. I like hearing their input on what we're doing up here because again, we're volunteering," Meggers said.
Meggers suggested allowing residents to address non-agenda matters during the initial public comment period, while permitting comments on agenda items when those matters come before the council.
Council members also discussed the ability of residents to question city employees directly during meetings.
The discussion centered on retaining the mayor's authority to determine when questions may be directed to staff members or council members.
Goss expressed concern about placing employees in situations where they might be asked to answer questions without preparation, particularly on individual code enforcement disputes.
The council did not adopt a new ordinance Tuesday.
Instead, members reached a consensus to follow the existing city code and update the public comment language in the council agenda before its next meeting Nov. 17.