Duluth City Council proposes changes to public comment

DULUTH, Minn. — Four members of Duluth City Council are proposing a resolution to make changes to Standing Rules and Order of council meetings.

The resolution is being co-sponsored and brought forward by councilors Jordon Johnson, Arik Forsman, Roz Randorf and Diane Desotelle.

The series of changes to the city’s council meeting rules, follow recent meetings marked by heated exchanges and disruptions.

The changes vary from splitting public comment into two parts and ending meetings at 10 p.m. with the goal of minimizing disruptive behavior.

“I think we’ve done a really nice job of updating these standing rules to allow to protect the public and allow us to really do meaningful work, because we have to work with city, we have to work with staff, we have to work with our fellow councilors, and we have to work with the public,” Councilor Randorf said.

The council members emphasize that this is not directed at any one group and these rules apply to everyone including councilors.

“This doesn’t get into any one constituent group. It doesn’t hit any one topic. Obviously, there’s been some interesting visuals coming out of this chamber over the last couple of months, but this is something that needed to happen regardless of any of those more contentious meetings,” Councilor Forsman said.

The proposed changes will be on the agenda for the Monday, March 9, city council meeting.