CITY/BOROUGH COUNCIL RULES/NOTES

Allentown City Council
Citizens’ Right to Be Heard: The Council must provide reasonable opportunity for interested citizens and taxpayers to address the Council on matters of general or special concern. Citizens’ right to be heard will be the first order of business at all public meetings and before a vote on any Council business. The public will be granted the opportunity to comment at Council meetings without time limitations, except when the Council President, imposes a reasonable time limitation deemed necessary. Council members, by a vote of a majority plus one (1), may override the Council President’s time limitation. (Art. II, §213)

Pittsburgh City Council
To register for public comment and receive three (3) minutes to speak at Council’s Regular and Standing Committees meetings, and Council’s Public Hearings, please use the online Speaker Signup form, filling it out in its entirety; or you may register by calling the City Clerk’s office at (412) 255-2138.
Registration for Regular and Standing Committees meetings will close at 9 AM the morning of each meeting. Written statements may also be submitted via the City Clerk’s email, but are not usually read during meetings/hearings.

This process will be in effect until further notice.

Philadelphia City Council
Speakers interested in participating in public comment at the next meeting* scheduled may call 215-686-3406 by no later than 3 p.m. the day before next meeting and must submit the following information:

• Full name (including proper pronunciation and spelling)
• Identify the bill number or resolution number that will be addressed
• State whether you support or oppose that particular bill or resolution
• Callback telephone number where you can be reached

Website states comment must be related to items printed on the meeting agenda.

Wilkes-Barre City Council
City Council Meeting Speaker Registration Form
570.208.4117

Upload file: city_council_speaker_registration.pdf

• You will be allowed a maximum of five(5) minutes to present your address to City Council.
• It is requested that speakers speak in as loud a voice as possible, so that not only the Council, but also the Clerk, who must take the record, can hear what is being said.
• No one addressing Council will be able to transfer their time allotted for addressing Council to anyone else.
• The Chairperson will call your name from your completed sheet.
• You must complete this form and submit it to the Clerk prior to the start of the meeting for the Chair to recognize your appearance.
• When speaking, talk directly into the microphone and address the chair at all times, and maintain the proper decorum.
• Council will address the issue after you have made your address.
• Your cooperation will assist your address being recorded properly.
• If you have written notes available on your address, kindly supply the City Clerk with a copy.

Lancaster City Council
How to Make Public Comment
Public comment is intended to be an opportunity for the public to address Council and should not be expected to be a discussion or debate. Click here to read Council Resolution No. 30-2015 regarding public comment during regular Council meetings. General public comment is not taken during Council’s monthly committee or work session meetings.
There are three opportunities to make public comment during a regular City Council meeting:

1. During Agenda Item VI. This public comment period is reserved for citizens who have contacted the City Clerk prior to the meeting to request the opportunity to address City Council about an issue NOT on the agenda. Duration of comments limited to three minutes. Complete the form at www.cityoflancasterpa.com/public-comment to arrange to make public comment. All requests for public comment under Agenda Item VI must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the day of the meeting. 
2. During Agenda Item X. This Public Comment period is open for those who did not contact the City Clerk in advance and would like to comment on an issue NOT on the agenda. Duration of comments is limited to three minutes.
3. You may comment on a specific agenda item when prompted to do so by the Council President. Duration of comment is limited to three minutes.

York City Council
Phone: 717-849-2246

Public Comment: (a) General: A time established by Council in which a member of the public may comment about any concern they may have regarding city business not on the legislative Council agenda. (b) Legislative: A time established by Council in which a member of the public may comment on a legislative agenda item.

Bethlehem City Council
Public Comment taken immediately after the Approval of Minutes

Public Comment is extended as set forth in Rule 3 hereinabove but in no event shall one individual address Council during Public Comment for a period of time in excess of five (5) minutes. (Resolution 14,485 – passed 10/5/2004; Resolution 14,751 – passed 12/6/2005; Resolution 2011-214 – passed 12/21/11)
Public Comment is extended for individuals to address through the Chair City officials on problems and issues of relevance to the operation of City government. (Resolution 2011-214 – passed 12/21/11)
Public Comment will not be extended for personal insults or personal attacks on any individual, name calling or other behavior that is inconsistent with the purpose and intent of Public Comment. (Resolution 11,908 – passed 9/7/93; Resolution 2011-214 – passed12/21/11)

Bethlehem City Council (Per City Clerk):
During Bethlehem City Council meetings there are five-minute time limits designated for citizens to offer public comment. We have sign-in sheets located on the table outside of the meeting room for citizens to sign up to be able to offer public comment. There are two sign-in sheets: one sign-in sheet for comments pertaining to agenda items and one sign-in sheet for non-agenda comments, on any subject not being voted on that evening (five-minute limit for each). The public comment times are relatively early during the City Council meeting unless there is a Public Hearing which occurs first, at which time public comments are held thereafter approximately 20-40 minutes into the meeting.

West Chester Borough Council (Per Council President):
Public comment is allowed without prior notification to Council. Usually the 2^nd or 3^rd agenda item at each meeting is to allow comment on issues that are not on the agenda. Public comment is also allowed after each agenda item as well. We ask that individuals keep their comments to no longer than 3 minutes.