The council voted 7-2 to advance a proposal that would move most public comment to a single block near the beginning of meetings.
Long Beach is moving toward a major change in how residents speak at City Council meetings after the council voted 7-2 to advance a proposal consolidating most public comment into one period at the beginning of each meeting.
The Sept. 1 action directs the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance amending the municipal code. Councilmembers Kristina Duggan and Cindy Allen opposed the motion.
How the Current System Works
Under the existing structure, public comment occurs at several points during council meetings, including opportunities tied to specific agenda items as they are considered. There is also general public comment for non-agenda matters.
The proposed system would consolidate most of those opportunities into an early public-comment block. According to reporting by the Long Beach Post, the proposal could cap the initial period at 90 minutes, with the meeting chair able to extend it in 30-minute increments. The council also added a requirement for a verbal report on written comments.
Why City Leaders Proposed the Change
Supporters said consolidating the periods could reduce overtime and make meetings more efficient. Critics argue that moving agenda-item comment to the beginning could make it harder for residents to respond to council discussion or staff presentations that occur later in the meeting.
Dozens of residents opposed the change in written and in-person comments before the council vote, according to the Long Beach Post.
What Happens Next
The change is not yet final. The City Attorney must draft the ordinance, which will return to the City Council for another vote before the new process can take effect.
