DOWNTOWN TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Tallahassee City Commissioners voted 3-2 to impose a 30-minute time limit on unagendaed speakers during commission meetings Wednesday.
WATCH THE REPORT BELOW:
The motion passed with support from Mayor John Dailey, Mayor Pro Tem Curtis Richardson, and Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox. Commissioners Jeremy Matlow and Jack Porter voted against the measure.
Dailey said the change would restore decorum and civility in city chambers while noting that similar restrictions are in place in other Florida counties.
"What I am proposing is we set some parameters and we try to bring unagendaed speakers where it is a positive influence on this community and a positive public participation," Dailey said.
The mayor emphasized that the Commission would have the opportunity to extend the 30-minute time frame if they saw fit.
Richardson and Williams-Cox stressed that the motion only applies to unagendaed speakers, meaning those addressing items not on the official agenda.
"They will be heard if it's an item on our agenda. If it's an item not on our agenda, we can request the City Manager bring it back as an agenda item at our next meeting," Richardson said.
Commissioner Matlow called the change undemocratic.
"We should not be discouraging the public from interacting with our elected officials," Matlow said.
Commissioner Porter expressed concern that imposing the time limit could actually worsen meeting decorum rather than improve it.
"I think people feeling restricted and limited is unlikely to help that problem," Porter said.
The new rule took effect immediately, applying to Wednesday's meeting and all future Commission meetings.
Some neighbors criticized the change during the unagendaed comment period after the change passed.
"Instead of making it more difficult for citizens to speak, you should be making it more easy for citizens to speak," one neighbor said to the commissioners.
Commissioners say any speaker addressing items on the official agenda will still be heard.
"This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy."
Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website.
Stay in touch with us anywhere, anytime.
