90-second limit not long enough for Tacoma residents to speak minds to city leaders

Update (9/16/2020): The Tacoma City Council approved an amended version of new public comment rules at Tuesday evening’s council meeting. It takes effect next week and extends the original 90-second time limit to five minutes.

COVID-19 has had a chilling effect on Washingtonians’ interactions with friends, neighbors and co-workers. For six months and counting, we’ve all had to find creative outlets to connect with people in our various circles.

But having meaningful contact with government representatives? That will be really tough as long as elected officials are allowed to meet by Zoom and other web-conferencing apps. Gov. Jay Inslee recently extended his suspension of Washington open public meetings laws until at least Sept. 30.

Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that protesters are showing up at local politicians’ homes, leading to awkward, tense and occasionally hostile encounters.

Fortunately, Tacoma leaders may soon restore verbal public comment at City Council meetings, under temporary provisions that would expire when the virus shutdown does. If approved, Tacomans no longer will have to submit remarks in writing, as has been the pandemic norm.

Giving people a chance to be seen and heard on camera is a welcome step — except for one puzzling aspect. Speakers would be limited to 90 seconds, a fraction of what was allotted in the pre-COVID world.

That’s barely enough time to clear one’s throat, state one’s name and fumble with the mute button. Restive community members are more apt to feel listened to if they have adequate time to make a cogent point before the red light starts flashing.

The City Council is scheduled to take up a resolution Tuesday evening that would let people speak on agenda items at regular weekly council meetings, starting Sept. 22. The public would also be invited to sound off on a broader scope of items at the Community Forum, traditionally held on the second Tuesday of each month.

Also planned: a new opportunity for people to address the council directly. It’s called “The Virtual Forum,” and it would take place the fourth Tuesday of each month.

We’re not sure how the Virtual Forum is markedly different from the Community Forum, since all government meetings are conducted virtually right now. In both forums, people would be limited to speaking on matters over which the City Council has jurisdiction.

But opening any additional line of communication with Tacomans is a good idea. As council member Robert Thoms told us Monday, people need “release valves” in today’s atmosphere of protest-fueled angst.

Tacoma officials seem committed to law-and-justice transformation after the needless deaths of so many Black Americans, including Manny Ellis, who died last spring in Tacoma police custody. But that commitment can fall on deaf ears if residents don’t feel encouraged to open their mouths.

“The wheels of government keep turning, but they don’t turn as fast as people think they should,” Thoms said. “The more people who get to speak to our council, the better.”

Thoms, along with Mayor Victoria Woodards and council member Lillian Hunter, requested the resolution. Protesters recently visited the homes of Thoms and other council members; he said he wants to address feelings of estrangement from local government that the young activists voiced.

But why restrict speakers to only a minute and a half of air time? They used to have three minutes to share their thoughts in person during Community Forum, and five minutes when commenting on an agenda item at a regular council meeting.

The mayor already has authority to shorten individual speaking times if a large number of people are signed up, as long as she gives equal time to all.

Tacoma would do well to mirror another local government: the Pierce County Council. It has been taking public comment in real time throughout the COVID crisis, and it’s kept its usual 3-minute limit without missing a beat.

Yes, remote meetings can be stilted, the technology clunky. But that doesn’t change the fact Tacomans have something to say and deserve to be heard.

This isn’t a final version of the resolution. Thoms believes the council is open to amendments.

In our view, some fine tuning is needed and could even be in Tacoma leaders’ best interests. Several minutes of respectful listening in a Zoom room just might reduce the odds they’ll hear drums and bullhorns outside their homes.

This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 7:00 AM.