Middleton committee splits on public-comment rules for advisory meetings

The Middleton Pedestrian, Bicycle and Transit Committee spent a large portion of its meeting discussing draft public-comment rules the City Council asked committees to review. Staff said the council wants consistent standards across committees and asked for committee feedback on whether to allow public comment on topics not on a meeting's agenda.

Committee member Brad asked directly, "is the intention to let the public do that?" and staff replied that practice varies and that chairs generally have discretion to limit non-germane remarks. Chair Tad and several other members opposed an open, off-agenda public-comment period for this technical advisory committee, citing risks that free-ranging remarks would derail meetings and that volunteer committee members lack the capacity to respond to all comments in real time. Tad said the council is the proper venue for political decisions and cautioned that "the opt in public comment period... is at odds with, like, what we do as a committee."

Other committee members argued for a constrained approach: allow public comment tied to specific agenda items, keep it moderated by the chair, post clear rules on agendas and the city website, and provide alternative written or email comment channels for people who cannot attend. Keaton recommended specifying that the comment period be limited and that chairs have authority to moderate and police time. Several members suggested posting standards and work plans online so the public can prepare and use scheduled channels.

Staff concluded it will summarize the committee's feedback and forward it to the ordinance committee drafting the citywide policy. The committee's guidance emphasized limiting off-agenda comments at its meetings while expanding outreach and written-input options so a broader cross-section of residents can participate without disrupting technical deliberations.