FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The Fairhope City Council is considering an ordinance that would end Fairhope public comment on items not on the council’s agenda.
The Proposal
The proposed ordinance would amend Ordinance No. 1692, the Rules of Procedure for City Council meetings, by removing Section IX, Item 12, Public Participation (Non-Agenda Items).
Under the current rules, members of the public may address the council for three minutes on agenda items before a meeting begins and for three minutes after the meeting on issues not on the agenda. If the change is adopted, public comment would be limited to agenda items.
Extended Terms
The proposal comes as Fairhope’s elected officials serve an additional year in office. The Alabama Legislature moved municipal elections that would have been held in 2024, a presidential election year, extending the terms of the mayor and City Council members. The appointed city attorney and municipal judge also remain in their positions.
Previous Litigation
The issue of public comment at council meetings has been the subject of litigation before. A Fairhope resident previously filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama after he was not allowed to speak at a council meeting.
