Appearing Before the Council

Regular City Council Meetings:

The purpose of the City Council meetings is to conduct city business. The City of Daingerfield encourages citizens to participate in their local government. City Council meetings have time set aside for Public Comment near the beginning of the meeting, and there are additional public comment opportunities on the agenda if a particular item requires a public hearing by law.

Signing up to Speak:

Citizens wishing to speak during a City Council meeting must write their name and the topic they wish to speak about on the Public Comment sign-in sheet PRIOR to the start of the meeting. The sign-in form will be available on the table by the entrance, next to the agendas, prior to the meeting. If you do not sign up to speak prior to the start of the meeting, you may not have an opportunity to speak. Citizens are not allowed to speak openly during the meeting unless first recognized by the presiding officer (typically the Mayor). When the presiding officer calls their name, citizens may speak for 3 minutes (or at the discretion of the presiding officer). 

Providing Written Comments/Documents to City Council:

All written comments or other documents you would like to provide to the Council Members should be emailed to the City Secretary at least two (2) business days prior to the day of the meeting. If you wish to bring hard copies of documents to the meeting to be given to Council Members, you must bring 10 copies and provide them to the City Secretary(not the Mayor or Council Members) prior to the start of the meeting. In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, documents cannot be accepted by Council Members directly. The City Secretary will ensure the Mayor, Council Members, City Manager, and City Attorney each receive a copy. If fewer than 10 copies are provided to the City Secretary, the document may not be provided to Council Members until after the meeting when sufficient copies can be made for each member. Anonymous or unsigned comments will not be forwarded to, or considered by, City Council.

When to Speak:

If you wish to speak on an item that is on the agenda under the Public Hearing section, please wait to speak until that item is addressed by City Council and you are recongnized by the presiding officer. If you wish to speak about an item on the agenda that is not in the Public Hearing section or on an item that is not on the agenda, you will have an opportunity to do so during the Public Comment section when your name is called, if you sign up to speak prior to the start of the meeting. 

Please remember that during public comment, in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Council Members are prohibited from answering questions (other than to make statements of fact or to recite existing policy), discussing issues raised by citizens, or taking any action on any item that is not on the agenda for that meeting. Issues raised may be referred to staff for research and possible future action. 

Rules for Speaking during Public Comment/Hearings:

1. Members of the public may address the City Council at the following times during a meeting:
   • During the Public Comment section of the agenda after your name is called by the presiding officer
   • During the Public Hearing section of the agenda when the presiding officer opens the public hearing and calls your name
   • When the presiding officer invites you to speak
2. Speakers must go to the podium and state their name for the record, prior to making their comments.
   • Do not speak from your chair in the audience
   • Speak clearly so that everyone in the room can hear you.
   • If you are physically incapable of standing at the podium, please speak to the City Secretary prior to the start of the meeting for accommodations.
3. Speakers must address all comments to the presiding officer; not to the audience or staff members.
4. Speakers must limit their comments to the time allowed. You may be allowed to speak longer at the discretion of the presiding officer.
5. Speakers must not employ tactics of defamation, intimidation, personal affronts, profanity, yelling, or threats of violence. Anyone who demonstrates these behaviors will be removed from the Council Chambers.
6. Members of the audience are not allowed to speak out of turn or to interrupt the Mayor, Council Members, staff, or other speakers when they are speaking. If you would like to comment, please sign up to speak and wait until the presiding officer calls your name and you will have an equal opportunity to be heard.  Out of respect for everyone in attendance, any disruptions will result in the offending party being removed from the Council Chambers.  

Please silence all phone or devices before entering the Council Chambers out of respect for everyone in attendance. If you need to take a call, please step out of the meeting to avoid disrupting the meeting or preventing other from being able to hear the proceedings.