Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Article Image Alt Text
  • Article Image Alt Text

Mayor’s Corner

Council Meetings and Public Input

Life is a learning experience. One thing recently reinforced with me is that often times established structure and rules are there for good reason and, although may be tweaked, should generally be followed. This is something I seemed to temporarily forget at the last City Council meeting in my efforts to accommodate and involve as much of the public as possible. Perhaps I let that get in the way of the primary reason for the Council meeting – that being the conduct of important City business by the City Council. Public participation is important, but cannot get in the way of achieving this primary goal.

The meeting process is already quite structured, much of it required by Texas law such as advance notice and agendas that must be followed. The City and its presiding officer (the mayor) do have considerable discretion as to how the meeting is carried out. Here are my goals in the conduct of a successful meeting:

• Follow the Agenda

• City Staff involvement in providing relevant information

• Using an established method for Council deliberation

• Civil debate among Council Members

• Efficiency in the meeting process

• Hearing public comments when allowed, and as time allows

• Proper decorum in Council chambers

With regard to the method for conducting the meeting, most of you have likely heard of Robert’s Rules of Order. This is a standard that is most widely used by governmental entities and other organizations. They provide common rules of parliamentary procedure for deliberation and debate. Some might see them as unduly complex and burdensome. However, they can be very effective in establishing a consistent standard. Some organizations modify or adapt them to their circumstances. The City of Wimberley has used Robert’s Rules over the years, with varying degrees of strict adherence to them.

Another important element is for the Council to hear input from the public – most importantly its Citizens and those who have a direct stake in the City affairs. That being said, the primary goal is for the Council to debate and take action on the City business before them. Citizens have many ways to communicate to the City Staff and their elected officials. Our City Hall is open to the public during regular business hours. The Councilmembers and I all have city email accounts to receive public input, ideas and opinions. Another opportunity that may be afforded to the public is to speak at Council meetings. Some may object to this statement, but the opportunity to speak at a Council meeting is not a right, rather it is a privilege granted by the Council. To restate – the primary goal is for the City Council to conduct its business. But I think it is great when we can also entertain comments from the public.

However, there are limits in the ability of the City to hear from everyone who wants their voices heard. In particular, there are limits and priorities about who should be allowed to speak. For example, I believe Citizens of Wimberley should rank first in the priority, followed closely by those who own property or businesses in Wimberley. And there may be other times when someone may have an important stake in City affairs. There are time limits for public comments. This includes the time each person can speak (generally three minutes). This can also include the imposition of a total time limit, thus necessitating limiting the number of speakers.

I would like to set expectations for the next meeting where public speakers are allowed, and get back to the rules that are there for a reason. First and as a matter of safety, is that we will strictly adhere to the Fire Marshall’s limitation on the number of individuals allowed in the room. The City further reserves the right to prioritize seating in accordance the above paragraph – i.e. Wimberley citizens, Wimberley property and business owners, those with direct business with the City. Allowed speakers will be in two categories. The first is for general comments that are NOT agenda items. When speakers want to comment on an agenda item, such comments will occur before each relevant agenda item. The presiding officer (the mayor) will reserve the right to limit public speakers based on priority (i.e. Citizens and those with a direct stake in City affairs). The per speaker time limit as well as total time allocated to public comments will also be at the discretion of the presiding officer.

Lastly, the Council members and I deserve and expect proper decorum in Council Chambers. About the only acceptable sound from the audience may be a polite, short round of applause. Any disruptive behavior, including booing and other disorderly actions will not be tolerated and the consequence will be removal from the Chambers.

Wimberley View

P.O. Box 49
Wimberley, TX 78676
Phone: 512-847-2202
Fax: 512-847-9054