The Bothell board meeting last Tuesday completely changed how I think about public comment

I went to the city council meeting at Bothell City Hall expecting the usual 3-minute time limit for speakers. I was there to talk about the proposed changes to parking near the library. Right before my turn, a guy got up and went way over his time, ranting about something totally unrelated to the agenda. The mayor had to cut him off, and by the time I got to speak, they were rushing everyone and I barely got my main point out. Now I'm writing everything down and practicing to keep it under 2 minutes, just in case. Has anyone else had to completely rework how they prepare for these meetings because of one bad experience?

2 comments

2 Comments

brown.gavin1d ago

Always prepare for the worst.

aaron8841d ago

Yeah but if you're always bracing for disaster, you might miss the good stuff right in front of you.