Tumwater City Council 
Attending a City Council Meeting

At each council meeting there is an opportunity for the public to address the council concerning issues that are not on the agenda. The public comments are taken at the beginning of each meeting.

What to do if you want to give testimony:

1. Sign up on the sign-in sheets provided just inside the council chambers, on the tables. Persons on the sign-in sheets will be called in order. When your name is called, come to the podium. State your first and last name for the record and your address. If you have a particular qualification by education/training, state that. "I am a civil engineer." (If you can't find a sign-up sheet, the Mayor will ask if there is anyone else who wishes to testify after everyone on the sign-up sheet has been called to the podium.) Please note that the sign-in sheet is a public record, potentially eligible for release upon request.

2. Address the Mayor as "Mr. Mayor" or "Your Honor."

3. Address Councilmembers as "Councilmember _________."

4. Use your time at the podium to give your testimony. Direct your comments to the Council, not to members of the audience. This is not a dialogue, this is testimony for purposes of creating a legislative record. The Council will use your testimony to help them adopt findings of fact after the public hearing is closed.

5. The Council may question you about your testimony, ask for clarification, etc.

6. If you have documents to submit, hand it to the Mayor and ask that it be admitted into the record. The Mayor decides whether to admit the documents for purposes of the record. If it is admitted, the recording secretary will assign each document an Exhibit number or letter.

7. Whe you are finished with your testimony, please take your seat, unless the Mayor or Council has questions for you.

What not to do at a public hearing:

1. Do not attempt to ask questions of the Council or the Mayor from your seat in the audience. If you wish to give testimony during the public hearing, please use the sign-up sheet, or, when the Mayor asks if anyone wishes to give testimony, please raise your hand. You will be invited to the podium.

2. Do not ask to take the podium after the public hearing has been closed. Once the public hearing is closed, no further testimony of any kind will be taken - even to ask/answer questions.

"Public Hearings" are scheduled at the beginning of the regular meeting. A sign-up sheet is available for those wishing to testify. Following a brief presentation by staff, the Mayor invites the public to testify from the sign up sheet first. (Please follow the "Suggestions" as stated above.) The Mayor will also ask if there is anyone present who would like to speak but has not used the sign up sheet. After everyone is finished speaking, the Mayor will close the public portion of the hearing and the Council will discuss the matter and may take action.

The "Consent Agenda" contains routine business items which are not controversial in nature and which do not need further discussion. Items the Council removes from the Consent Agenda will be considered and acted upon following adoption of the remaining consent items or moved specifically to another section on the agenda.

"Old Business" and "New Business" contain items which may require input from individuals. The City Council generally takes actions on these items. Public comments on discussion items may be taken upon Council's consensus.

The Council may recess the regular meeting for "Executive Session." This is a closed portion of the meeting where the Council can discuss confidential legal matters, personnel matters, labor negotiations, property transactions, and/or matters of national security. These are the only issues which may be discussed in executive session. If there will be an Executive Session, it will either be listed on the Agenda or announced at the beginning of the meeting. The Mayor or the Agenda will always list the subject of the Executive Session.

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Updated: March 11, 2010