• City of Greensboro Official Seal

    Public Comment Period - Sign Up to Speak

    Greensboro City Council encourages citizen input
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  • The period for submitting a City Council Speaker Form is currently closed for the upcoming meeting, and will re-open tomorrow at 12AM.

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    Sign Up to Speak

  • Anyone who submits a form should be aware that in accordance with the North Carolina Public Records law, found in North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 132, their e-mail address is considered a public record. A valid name, address, phone number and email address must be provided for a speaker to be added to the speaker list.

  • The period for submitting a City Council Speaker Form is currently closed for the upcoming meeting, and will re-open Wednesday at 12AM.

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  • For Reference
    Link to City Council Meeting Schedule

  • **IMPORTANT**

    It is MANDATORY for Pre-registered Speakers to
    check in with courier upon arriving at the Council Chambers.
  • *Please Note* All materials/presentations need to be emailed to the City Clerk, Tory.Frink@greensboro-nc.gov.

     

  • PUBLIC FORUM (Speaker from the Floor)

    • Submit public forum (Speaker from the Floor) comment OR
    • Request to participate in public forum (Speaker from the Floor)

  • PUBLIC HEARING ITEM

    • Submit public hearing comment OR
    • Request to participate in public hearing

  • CONSENT/BUSINESS ITEM

    • Submit consent/business item comment OR
    • Request to participate in consent/business item

  • ALL ELECTRONIC REQUEST TO SPEAK IN PERSON OR VIA ZOOM
    MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5PM THE DAY PRIOR TO THE MEETING.

    RESIDENTS HAVE THE OPTION TO SIGN UP IN PERSON
    ON THE MEETING DATE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.

    The City Council Comment/Speaker Form form allows the public to:

    • Submit comment only in public forum (Speaker from the Floor) 
    • Request to participate in public forum (Speaker from the Floor)
    • Submit comment only regarding specific public hearing item on the City Council agenda
    • Request to speak to a Public Hearing Agenda item on the City Council agenda
    • Submit comment only regarding agenda item on the City Council agenda
    • Request to speak to a specific agenda item on the City Council agenda 

    PLEASE NOTE there are three options available to participate as a speaker:

    • Virtual Sign-up: Residents interested in speaking virtually are encouraged to complete this form. A unique Zoom link will be emailed to the address provided in this form. Do not share the Zoom login information provided.
    • Pre-Meeting Day In-person Sign-up: Residents are also encouraged to complete this form to appear in-person before the Council.
    • Day-of Meeting Sign-up: In-person attendees have the option to sign up on the night of the meeting using an on-site Qminder kiosk. A Qcode will be available for use to scan onto personal cell phone devices should residents prefer.


    Attendees will be allowed inside the Council Chamber to appear before Council during the appropriate time requested, and must exit immediately after the item has been discussed or voted on to allow others to enter under the limited capacity model.

    Anyone who submits a form should be aware that in accordance with the North Carolina Public Records law, found in North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 132, their e-mail address is considered public record.

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    General Information

    The North Carolina Building and Fire Safety Code has determined the Katie Dorsett Council Chamber's capacity is 170 individuals. All weapons are prohibited. No food, beverages or smoking is allowed. While service animals are welcome, all other pets are prohibited. (Ordinances 10-6, 18-25, and G.S. 168-4.2)

    JUMP TO...

    PUBLIC COMMENT SCHEDULE 
    COMMENT FOR AGENDA ITEMS 
    DEADLINES AND HOW TO PARTICIPATE 
    PROCEDURES FOR SPEAKING 
    RULES OF DECORUM 
    HOW TO WATCH COUNCIL MEETINGS 
    SIGN UP TO SPEAK 

     

    Public Comment Schedule

    The City of Greensboro City Council encourages resident input. Individuals may speak during the public comment period on the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm during the City Council meeting. For most up-to-date meeting updates, including time or location changes or cancellations, please visit the City Council Meeting Schedule.

     

    Comment on Agenda Items

    Individuals may sign up to speak to specific consent or business agenda items. City Council meeting agendas are historically posted online, five days before a meeting. Agenda item reference numbers should be indicated as the alphabetical assignment and the number associated with said alphabetic letter. Ex:  G.1., H.1., I.1., etc.

     

    Deadlines and How to Participate

    1. Speakers shall provide a valid name, address, phone number, and email address when registering to speak at a Council meeting. The subject will be noted and if it requires action or a request, the City Clerk and/or the City Manager will note it as such and provide steps for any required response or after action.

    2. Written Comment Only.  Residents wishing to provide written comments only for the public comment period or regarding agenda items may submit comments using this form or contact individual Council member(s) by 5 pm the day before a Council meeting. Comments are provided to the City Council for consideration prior to the meeting.

    3. Speak in Person. If Residents wish to speak in person during the public comment period, you may sign up in advance by 5 pm the day before a Council meeting using the Speak in Person form. Residents may also register with the courier on the day of the meeting when the Council Chamber opens and must be signed up by 5:30 pm.

    4. Speak via Zoom. Residents who wish to speak via Zoom must sign up in advance by 5 pm the day before a Council meeting using this online form. Speakers will be allotted a Zoom link that is unique to that speaker’s email address. Zoom links are not to be shared. Any resident who attempts to sign into the Zoom meeting and has not been properly registered, will not be allowed into the Zoom room. Zoom links will not be provided for residents who wish to observe the meeting in person. View options are provided in How to Watch Council Meetings.


    Procedures for Speaking

    North Carolina Law requires all municipal governing bodies provide at least one public comment period a month during a regular meeting. See N.C. General Statute § 160A-81.1.  The Greensboro City Council will entertain a public comment period at the meeting on the first Tuesday of the month during the “Public Comment Period.” This portion of the agenda is not intended for public hearings. Sign up for public hearings using this form.

    Residents who wish to provide public comment shall adhere to the following procedure:

    1. Complete this online form by 5 pm the day before the Council meeting or register with the courier in the Council Chamber by 5:30 pm the day of the meeting (doors open at 5 pm).

    2. To be added to the list of speakers, an individual must provide a valid name, physical address, phone number, and email address. Speakers will also be required to acknowledge the Rules of Decorum listed below as set by the City of Greensboro.

    3. Speakers may, but are not required to, provide additional information about the topic of discussion. All materials for distribution to the City Council must be provided to the City Clerk via email (Tory.Frink@greensboro-nc.gov) by 12 noon on the day of the meeting or to the courier upon arrival (prior to 5:30 pm) to the Council Chamber. 

    4. All electronic materials (videos, tapes, cds) must be emailed to the City Clerk by 12 noon on the day before the meeting. This requirement is associated with technology security needs, to prevent compromise of the City's computer network, and to maintain decorum.
       
      • Disclaimer on videos/electronic materials and written handouts: Speaker may have the City IT team play videos that have already been sent into the City Clerk by 12 noon on the day before the council meeting for IT security protocol check. Any videos, media or supplemental documents utilized by speakers during the meetings are not reviewed or verified by the City for accuracy, completeness, or authenticity. The City does not endorse or adopt the content and all opinions and views expressed are solely those of the speaker.

    5. IMPORTANT: Pre-registered speakers must check in with the courier upon arriving at the Council Chambers.

    6. The City Clerk will provide a list of people who have pre-registered to the Council on meeting days. The order in which speakers are called to speak is at the discretion of the Mayor or presiding officer.

    7. Speakers will be allotted 3 minutes each and may not relinquish remaining time to another speaker. Speakers are limited to three (3) minutes only to speak, play a video, and/or refer to supplemental materials - in whatever order the speaker chooses, but they will be allowed only three (3) in totality to present. If there are more than twenty-five (25) speakers signed up to speak, the time will be reduced to 2 minutes each.

     

    Rules of Decorum

    Public input and participation are of the utmost importance to Greensboro City Council. The Council encourages individuals to use the public comment period to bring attention to community concerns and events. 

    It is the goal of the City Council that the Katie Dorsett Council Chamber is a welcoming space and that residents feel empowered to bring issues of concern before their elected officials.  

    North Carolina General Statute § 160A-81.11 allows the City Council to adopt reasonable rules that govern the conduct of the public comment period, including rules to maintain order and decorum. The Rules of Decorum, set forth below, are not intended to limit the content of the speaker’s message but to ensure this part of the Agenda is conducted in a civil and orderly manner.  

    1. The City of Greensboro is committed to promoting an environment free of discrimination, bias, and bullying. Therefore, speakers shall refrain from personal attacks and/or threats directed toward the City Council, City staff, or members of the public. To maintain a safe space for all speakers, members of the audience or speakers from the podium who intentionally disrupt the meeting or ridicule other speakers will be given a warning, and if unheeded, they will be removed from the meeting. That person will be suspended from in-person participation for a minimum of three months. To preserve their right to free speech, they may attend virtually by Zoom, by phone, or may submit comments via email.

    2. Speakers shall be civil and courteous in their language and presentation. Insults, profanity, use of vulgar language or gestures, or other inappropriate behaviors that are directed at the Council, audience or City staff are not allowed. Speakers who disrupt the meeting in this manner will be given a warning, and if unheeded, will be removed from the meeting as stated in #1.

    3. Speakers shall address the Council ONLY during the public comment period. Speakers shall not address, direct comments at, or respond to members of the audience. Speakers shall not address or direct comments to the staff of the City of Greensboro. Violation of this policy will result in the immediate loss of the rest of the speaker’s allotted time.

    4. All electronic devices should be turned off or turned to silent mode. If you must make or receive a phone call, please do so from outside the Chamber.

    5. Speakers are allowed to address Council at the discretion of the Mayor or presiding officer, on consent or business agenda items at both the first and third Tuesday meetings. During the first meeting of the month, time is dedicated for speakers to address Council on non-agenda items during the public comment period.

    6. Speakers are allotted three (3) minutes for comments. The Mayor or presiding officer may, at their discretion, increase or decrease this allocation.

    7. Speakers may not share or relinquish any remaining time they have not used to another speaker.

    8. Speakers are only allowed to speak one time during the Public Comment period.

    9. The Public Comment period is an opportunity for Council to hear from Residents and not necessarily for a dialogue between speaker and council. It is the intention of Council to hear from Residents during this time. The subject will be noted and if it requires action or a request, the City Clerk and/or the City Manager will note it as such and provide steps for any required response or after action.

    10. A resident may speak only if they have signed up in accordance with the City’s procedures outlined above. Speaker substitutions at the meeting are not allowed.

    11. All speaker-written handouts that have not already been provided should be provided to the City Clerk or courier prior to 5:30 pm to be distributed to Council.

    12. Residents are not allowed to approach the Council dias- unless invited to do so by City Council.

    13. Zoom participants shall mute their microphones until they are called upon to speak. All meeting attendees, including Zoom participants, are expected to respect speakers and Council deliberations.

    14. The Mayor, or presiding officer, has the authority to interpret and enforce the Rules of Decorum.  Failure to obey these Rules may result in the forfeiture of any remaining speaking time.  Speakers who engage in egregious or repeated violations will be removed from the meeting as stated in #1.


    Policy on ban limits from city council meetings and the building during meeting hours

    ALL SPEAKERS ARE EXPECTED TO ADHERE TO ESTABLISHED RULES OF DECORUM. ANY
    INAPPROPRIATE OR DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE REMOVAL.

    1. First Violation: 3-month suspension from in-person participation/attendance in the building during city council meeting hours at the Mayor’s or presiding officers’ discretion.
    2. Second Violation: 6-month suspension from in-person participation/attendance in the
      building during city council hours at the Mayor’s or presiding officers’ discretion.
    3. Third Violation: 12-month suspension from in-person participation/attendance in the
      building during city council hours at the Mayor’s or presiding officers’ discretion.
    4. Any issue involving a physical altercation with the speaker, personal attacks or vulgar
      language toward council or anyone in the audience to include city staff, at the Mayor’s or       presiding officer’s discretion may result in an immediate 12-month suspension from the building during city council hours.
    5. Any ban that involves the action any violation of state criminal laws may subject the
      individual to criminal charges.
    6. Those suspended from in-person participation will retain the ability to attend virtually via zoom, ensuring their right to free speech. If personal attacks or vulgar language occurs via zoom, at the Mayor or presiding officer’s discretion the Zoom will be muted.

     

    How to watch Greensboro City Council meetings 

    Greensboro City Council meetings are available:

    • City's website: https://www.greensboro-nc.gov/council-meetings
    • City's live stream: https://video.isilive.ca/greensboro/live.html
    • City's YouTube Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/user/CityofGreensboroNC
    • Greensboro Television Network (GTN) is available on Spectrum channel 13 with a digital cable box, Lumos channel 31, AT&T U-verse channel 99.
    • Roku Streaming: GTN is available on the Roku streaming platform by going to “add channels” and searching for Greensboro Television Network.
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