Ypsilanti City Council members voted to change the council’s public comment rules.
Introduced by Council Members Desirae Simmons and Me'Chelle King, the new rules adopted state that the public comment section at the beginning of council meetings will be expanded to 60 minutes, more than the previous 45 minutes allotted. Public comments will be alternated between in-person and Zoom attendees in 10-speaker increments.
Council members voted to amend the resolution, removing a third rule change that would reinstate a second unlimited public comment period at the end of the meeting. The council retains the rule that commenters who sign up at the beginning of the meeting who are not heard from in the first public comment portion can speak at the end of the meeting.
In November 2024, city council changed the rules regarding public comments, sparking pushback from some Ypsilanti residents. The 2024 change required residents to sign up for comment with their name and address ahead of time, reduced total public comment time from one hour to 45 minutes, and limited individual speaker time to two minutes instead of three minutes if more than 30 commenters signed up.
Jennifer Heimberg, a Superior Township resident, voiced support for expanding time for public comments at council meetings. At past meetings, Heimberg has repeatedly urged council members to reconsider the previous public comment limits.
"When people come to speak at council, they should be heard before (...) a potential vote," Heimberg said.
King said the council has received what she called constant calls from the community to expand public comment rules. She said for many constituents, council meetings are the only opportunity they have to address all members of the council.
Mayor Pro-Tem Steve Wilcoxen said he could not a support a rule that allowed for a second, unlimited public comment section at the end. He said he has been in council meetings that went on until early morning hours in the past due to unchecked public comment time.
In an interview with The Eastern Echo, Heimberg said that tonight's resolution is a start in the right direction.
"I do think that there are some unnecessary restrictions still that are exclusionary, specifically to some of our more vulnerable folks," Heimberg said, voicing concern especially for those who may have elder care or childcare considerations, or transportation or mobility issues. "Having to sign up at the beginning to be able to speak at the end is a barrier; an unnecessary barrier."
