City Council looks at possibility of not televising public comments on non-agenda items

During Tuesday's South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting, the Council gave direction to the City Attorney to create a policy on how non-agenda item public comments are televised.

While the public is always invited to speak during the public comment period, the Council will look at not televising the portions that aren't about agenda items. They will also look at continuing to televise those comments made by non-profits and other groups to publicize their activities and events.

Immediate criticism arose and accusations of the Council trying to stifle their freedom of speech. The public always has a right to speak on any issue in accordance with the Brown Act, and the Council isn't asking to limit this freedom, just to not televise that portion.

Many people in the community come to Council meetings only to speak during the first few minutes of the meeting, get on TV, then leave without watching the rest of the meeting. Others use this time to criticize staff, and on one recent incident, a man protested chemicals by threatening to drink Drano.

Another issue is the public asking questions during the public comment period on non-agenda items. The Council may not violate the Brown Act which determines how the balance should be struck between public access to meetings of multi-member public bodies on the one hand and the need for confidential candor, debate, and information gathering on the other.

The purpose of public comments in accordance with the Brown Act is to provide direction for future meetings, or permit a member of the public to raise an issue or problem with the legislative body.

The issue of televising public comments has arisen before, and there have been some years they have not been televised, as well as years they have been.

Discussion and a possible ruling will be made during a City Council meeting in the near future, perhaps as early as the next one on April 19. Once the agenda is posted on line, the public can use the e-comment feature to make their feelings heard.