Request to Speak - Community Matters

City Council holds a public comment session, called "COMMUNITY MATTERS", for up to 16 speakers during each regular City Council business meeting, starting generally at 6:30 PM. Speakers may sign up in advance of the meeting for 8 of the 16 slots. You may request a speaking slot starting at 9:00 AM the day after the previous Council meeting through 9:00 AM the day of the Council meeting at which you would like to speak.

SIGN UP TO SPEAK

To sign up in advance to speak at the next regular City Council meeting:

Fill out the Community Matters Request to Speak FORM, OR
Email the Clerk of Council office, OR
Call the Clerk of Council Office at 434-970-3113.

Provide your NAME, ADDRESS, and the TOPIC about which you wish to speak. Please be specific.

If you miss the 9:00 AM signup deadline on Council meeting day, you will have an opportunity during the meeting to raise your hand to speak after pre-registered speakers until a total of 16 slots are filled. There is also time at the end of the meeting for Matters by the Public.

Process for Determining Speaker slots 1-8 and Wait List

Each request is assigned a number. All numbers are submitted to an online random number sequencer that generates random numbers in the range of total sign-ups. (Example: 30 people sign up, and 30 random numbers are generated between 1 and 30.) The first 8 randomly generated numbers are given speaking slots. The remaining speakers are placed on the wait list in the randomly generated order. Both the list of eight speakers and the wait list are published on the City’s website by Noon on the day of the Council meeting. Clerk staff will notify speakers of their status. Waitlisted individuals may fill speaker slots if any of speakers 1-8 are unable to attend the meeting.

Pre-registered Speaker list for May 15, 2023 City Council meeting

James Orchard-Hays
Derek Weakley

Other Guidelines

Speakers may speak for up to three minutes and shall begin by identifying their name and place of residence.
Matters being considered under Public Hearing should not be discussed during Community Matters.
Once pre-registered speakers have spoken, the mayor will open the floor for the remaining slots during Community Matters.
Participants wishing to speak by electronic means should indicate so by using the Raise Hand icon on the Zoom webinar or by pressing *9 by phone. If a speaker is not present when their name is called, the slot will be forfeited.
The person whose name is listed on the speaker sheet must be the person who begins speaking, although they may be accompanied by others and may share or concede their time.
Matters by the Public is also held at the end of each meeting; there is no limit on the number of speakers, and the same three minute time limit applies for each speaker. Advance sign-ups are not required.
For public hearings, the presiding officer will alternate calling on in-person and virtual speakers.
In rare cases when a meeting is postponed or continued, the Speaker List for the original meeting will remain in place for the new date. No additional sign-ups will be processed.

Community Matters Request to Speak

Community Matters Request to Speak
City Council holds Community Matters for up to 16 speakers toward the beginning of each regular meeting Business Session. Individuals wishing to speak about local matters may sign up two weeks in advance of the meeting by filling out the form below by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the Council meeting. Each request that comes in over email, phone, or in person is given a number. All numbers are submitted to an online random number sequencer that generates random numbers in the range of total sign-ups. (Example: 30 people sign up, and 30 random numbers are generated between 1 and 30.) The first 8 randomly generated numbers are given speaking spots. The remaining speakers are placed on the wait-list in the randomly generated order. The list of 8 speakers and the wait-list will be published on the City's website by 12:00 Noon on the day of the Council meeting and speakers will be notified of their status. For the remaining slots, participants will be given an opportunity to raise their hand during the meeting and the presiding officer will alternate between in-person and virtual speakers. If you have questions, or require assistance, please contact the Clerk of Council office at 434-970-3113 or clerk@charlottesville.gov.
Virtual participation is conducted via the Zoom webinar which requires advanced registration (access the registration link from the meeting calendar on the main page of the City website). You may also participate via telephone and a number is provided with the Zoom registration or by asking the clerks for the dial-in phone number for each meeting.
Your Name*
Title
Address*
Association or Organization
Preferred Contact Method*
Email Address*
Phone Number*
Topic About Which You Would like to Speak*
Date of Meeting at Which You Would like to Speak
Date of Meeting at Which You Would like to Speak
This meeting will be held on a Zoom webinar. How would you like to speak to Council?*
1. By Phone (long distance charges will apply - we will provide dial-in #)
2. On my Computer or Smartphone (register in advance at www.charlottesville.gov/zoom)

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