Resident urges more open process after public‑comment limits draw criticism

During the public‑comment period at the Sept. 3 Board of Public Works meeting, Darla Meschke, who gave her address as 1615 Nassau Street, told the board the current public‑comment format left her unable to engage with agenda items. "If this is not a public meeting, if it's a closed meeting and I can't speak only in the beginning, then it's a waste of my time," Meschke said.

Meschke said she had reviewed meeting notices and that an item she expected to speak on had changed without community notice. She expressed frustration that officials direct people to recorded meetings on YouTube for information while many residents lack social‑media access. "When there's things that are this important to We The People ... we need to get everybody involved, not a closed meeting where it's up to certain people," she told board members.

Staff response at the meeting: the chair and staff clarified the session was the public‑comment period, which is not intended for question‑and‑answer dialogue with the committee and that detailed follow‑up can be handled outside the meeting by contacting staff. Chad (staff member) said the city has been posting education and Q&A material to social media to correct inaccurate claims and invited residents to contact staff directly for more information.

Ending: The board did not change the public‑comment rules at the Sept. 3 meeting. Staff encouraged residents with concerns to contact city staff and watch the posted educational materials; the resident said she would not rely solely on the posted video and urged the city to improve direct community outreach.