Round Rock officials repealed a 48-year-old ordinance allowing citizens to submit requests to add items to future City Council agendas and speak for 15 minutes on June 11. The move will not impact residents’ ability to sign up for public comment and address the Round Rock City Council for up to three minutes, officials said.

Background

The ordinance required residents to submit their request to add an item to the agenda six days before the Thursday meeting, in conflict with the Texas Open Meetings Act’s posting requirements that went into effect last year. As residents have attempted to submit items through this process in recent months, city staff said they were received too late to be included.

City Manager Brooks Bennett said the timing of the measure comes as cities are required to post agendas three full business days in advance, rather than 72 hours. Citing procedural ambiguity, legal risks, the potential for misuse, and a goal of efficient government, city officials chose to repeal the ordinance rather than amend it.

Reactions

Former City Attorney Steve Sheets said he was in the room when the ordinance was approved—and it had not been used in the 45 years he represented the city of Round Rock. Several residents addressed council, asking that the ordinance be amended to comply with TOMA posting requirements, rather than repealed, as the ordinance provided the opportunity to bring presentations to council in a public forum.

Round Rock resident Nathan Chapman said, ‘It would be a mistake to repeal this just because it hasn’t been used that often.’ Council members asked those in attendance and watching the meeting to reach out to speak with them directly about matters community members feel would warrant putting on an agenda.

Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.