Residents press council on meeting access, policing levels and camera use

A prolonged public-comment session raised recurring concerns about meeting accessibility, civic process and public safety.

Several speakers asked the council to allow online sign-ups for speakers and to avoid 10 a.m. meeting starts that limit participation from working residents. Robin Campbell and others said online sign-up is standard in other cities and that late arrival or meeting-length issues make public participation harder. "Why would you not let us sign up to speak unless you are intentionally trying to silence the public?" Campbell asked.

Public safety and policing were central topics. Carrie McNeil and Derek Smith urged more consistent rules in meetings and said the current tone creates escalation; Smith and Shandy Williams both urged the council to address police staffing shortfalls and to better use Flock camera data rather than high-risk pursuits. "We do not have enough police. Plain and simple," Smith said. Paula Morris described alleged errors on her criminal record and asked the city's legal department to investigate and help correct the record.

Councilors and staff responded with points of clarification about enforcement, liens and resources, and said they would take requests about meeting logistics under advisement.