Raleigh City Council will soon implement a new public comment period to maximize public participation at its meetings. After hearing recommendations from the Community Engagement Board last March, City Council agreed to move one of its two public comment sessions to another day and guarantee a set amount of time for each speaker.

"Our goal is to make it more accessible, encourage broader participation, and not have it compete with the public hearing process," Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin told RALtoday. "The [first Tuesday] meetings at times run until midnight, which is hardly fair to those waiting to speak at the public hearings [which take place after public comment]."

The new public comment period, time dedicated solely for Raleighites to voice their opinions about any topic related to the city, is planned to be held the second Tuesday of the month following the council's afternoon work session. This will replace the public comment period that was previously held on the first Tuesday of the month, which began at 7 p.m.

The second monthly public comment period will still be held every third Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Help the city decide what time the new the public comment period will begin — 6 or 7 p.m. — by responding to this one question poll. The results will be presented during City Council's meeting on Tuesday, May 2.

Additionally, City Council agreed that each speaker is guaranteed three minutes to speak. Citizens are able to comment in person at the Raleigh Municipal Building at 222 W. Hargett St., or leave a message remotely by voicemail. Learn more about how to sign up, procedures, and rules.