Here's how to participate in Springfield local government, speak at meetings
Whether you are new to Springfield or an Ozarks native, navigating how you can follow and participate in local government can be complex. Here's a guide to making your voice heard when it comes to local decision-making.
Springfield City Council meets every other Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Springfield Regional Police & Fire Training Center located at 2620 W. Battlefield Road. Springfield Planning & Zoning Commission meets at the same facility every other Thursday. Up-to-date information on meetings and their agendas are available on the city's website.
How do I address city council?
Citizens can speak at council meetings either on particular agenda items or about more general issues. If you are looking to address council on a topic not on the agenda, you will have to register with the Springfield City Clerk by 5 p.m. Friday before the Monday meeting. If you speak on a topic not on the agenda, you will be added to the "Petitions, remonstrances and communications" section of the agenda.
To sign up to speak, you can fill out the form online or call the city clerk at 417-864-1650.
If you wish to address a particular agenda item, it is important to note that a public forum for council bills is included in the bills under these sections of the agenda:
Amended bills (though usually public input is limited to the amendment only)
Emergency bills
First reading
Public hearing
Resolutions (May be voted on after public hearing)
Items that fall under the consent agenda or are up for a second reading and final passage will not include a public comment portion. However, members of the public can request to remove an item from the consent agenda prior to council taking it up, in which case you can then address it.
While those speaking on agenda items can sign up ahead of time by 3 p.m. on the night of the meeting, they can also fill out a comment card at the meeting and give it to the City Clerk ahead of council's discussion of the bill. The same process works for addressing Planning & Zoning Commission.
The clerk will call speakers up by name. When your name is called, state your name at the podium and proceed with your comment.
While public forums are only a part of regular Monday night council meetings and P&Z meetings, public comment cards are available at council's Tuesday lunch and committee meetings.
What restrictions are there when making comments to City Council?
All public comments are limited to five minutes. If eight or more speakers are signed up for a particular item, speakers will be limited to three minutes each.
Comments must be made to council, not addressed to staff or any member of the audience and must pertain to the subject being discussed in the agenda item.
What if I can't be at a meeting?
Speaking at meetings is not the only way to make your voice heard at the local government level. If you are unable to attend a meeting in person, they are also livestreamed on the city's Facebook and CityView pages.
You can share your input with the entire council or individual council members via email. To submit comments to the council as a whole, email citycouncil@springfieldmo.gov.
Contact information for each council member is available on the city's website. To find out which council member represents your zone, you can search a map on the website.
How to follow city government discussions and actions
All times, dates and agendas for city council meetings, committee and board meetings are posted on the city website. For Monday night meetings, the agendas are posted by 5 p.m. the Wednesday prior to the meeting.
You can also set up alerts to be notified when certain agendas are posted.
Council meetings, P&Z meetings and board meetings are livestreamed and then posted on the city's CityView page.
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How to apply to serve on a board
Beyond voicing your opinions to the decision-makers, members of the public can also apply to serve on a variety of city boards, commissions and task forces.
By filling out an online application, citizens can apply to serve on volunteer boards and commissions, subject to appointment by City Council. Requirements for the city's boards and commissions vary. To see a full list of opportunities to serve and more information on each, visit the city's website.
Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader. Have feedback, tips or story ideas? Contact her at mmieze@news-leader.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Here's how to address Springfield City Council, voice your opinion
