Article published Aug 3, 2007

Commission may change 3-minute rule

By RICHARD ECKE

Tribune Staff Writer

Great Falls city commissioners may add two minutes to the three-minute limit on public speeches at the end of City Commission meetings.

The three-minute rule has received heavy criticism from City Commission candidates, frequent speakers at commission meetings, and members of the general public.

Some critics claimed the rule was an attempt to muzzle speakers. Supporters of the rule contend it produces more efficient meetings and gives more people a chance to speak.

Commissioners will vote during their next meeting on whether to increase the speaking time to five minutes. The meeting takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Civic Center.

"We'll try it this way," Commissioner Bill Beecher said this week. Beecher earlier said it's not unusual for city commissions or councils to put a time limit on public comments.

The three-minute limit prompted many speakers to ask for additional time, and Mayor Dona Stebbins usually granted them an extra minute or two.

But the time limit also has produced confrontations. More than one speaker was hauled from the City Commission chambers by plain-clothed police officers at Stebbins' request for violating the limit.

Stebbins said this week that she still believes people should be able to get their points across in three minutes, but she is willing to go along with a five-minute limit.

If the five-minute rule passes, there will be no time extensions, Stebbins said. Carol Fisher of Great Falls said she thinks a five-minute rule would be excellent.

"A lot of times people have more to say," said Fisher, who occasionally speaks at commission meetings. She added that she thinks three minutes is not long enough for someone to discuss a complex issue.

When commissioners vote on the five-minute limit, they also plan to add three additional categories of prohibited language — speech that is racist, discriminatory or incites violence.

"Mr. (John) Hubbard will have to have something else to talk about," Stebbins commented at an agenda meeting.

Hubbard, of Great Falls, is a frequent speaker at the close of city meetings. He discusses a variety of topics, including an industrial accident he suffered.

City Attorney David Gliko will brief commissioners on the proposal during Tuesday night's meeting.