Public Participation at City Meetings

The City of Sebastian welcomes public participation at City Council, board, and committee meetings. All meetings are open to the public under Florida law. Public input is allowed at specific times shown on each meeting agenda and follows procedures adopted by City Council to ensure meetings remain fair, orderly, and efficient.

How to Know When You May Speak

Each meeting agenda clearly shows when public input is allowed. Members of the public may speak only during designated agenda items or when invited by the presiding Chair.

If public input is not listed for an agenda item, the public may observe the meeting but may not speak unless invited.

City Council Meetings

When Public Input Is Allowed

At Regular City Council meetings, public input is allowed during the following agenda sections:

• Consent Agenda, only if a Council Member pulls an item for discussion

• Public Hearings

• Unfinished Business

• New Business

• Public Input

When Public Input Is Not Allowed

Public input is not allowed during the following agenda sections:

• Proclamations, Awards, and Brief Announcements
  Exception applies to individuals giving or accepting proclamations or awards

• Committee Reports and Appointments
  Exception applies to committee members giving reports and applicants being interviewed

• City Council Matters

• Charter Officer Matters

City Council may, by majority vote, invite an individual to provide input at another time.

Council Workshops and Special Meetings

At City Council workshops and special meetings, public input is limited to the specific agenda item being discussed.

Other Boards and Committees

Public input at board and committee meetings depends on the type of board and the agenda for that meeting.

• Some boards allow public input on agenda items.

• Some boards do not take public input but may place items on a future agenda.

The meeting agenda will always indicate whether public input is permitted.

Special Types of Agenda Items

Quasi-Judicial Hearings

Some agenda items are classified as quasi-judicial hearings. These typically include land use matters such as rezonings, variances, special exceptions, and appeals. Appeals, which follow more limited participation, have different rules explained  in the next section.

Quasi-judicial hearings follow additional legal requirements:

• Public input is limited to matters related to the specific case being heard.

• Speakers may be required to provide testimony based on personal knowledge or evidence.

• Comments must address the legal criteria that apply to the decision.

• Communications with decision makers outside the hearing may be disclosed on the record.

The Chair will announce the rules that apply at the start of a quasi-judicial hearing and explain how public participation will occur.

Appeals of Quasi-Judicial Decisions

Some quasi-judicial agenda items are appeals of prior decisions made by a board or commission, such as the Planning and Zoning Commission.

When City Council hears an appeal:

• The hearing is limited to reviewing the existing record that was created during the original hearing.
• City Council may not consider new evidence, new testimony, or new opinions that were not presented at the original hearing.
• Public comment is generally limited or not permitted, except as allowed to clarify the existing record.

This process ensures fairness and protects the legal rights of all parties by preventing decisions from being influenced by information that was not part of the original proceeding.

Because City Council acts as an appellate body in these cases, it cannot reconsider the matter based on new opinions or testimony that were not part of the original hearing. The Chair or City Attorney will explain the appeal process and participation rules at the beginning of the hearing.

Public Input for Items Not on the Agenda

When a meeting agenda includes a Public Input section, it allows individuals to bring new information or requests that are not listed elsewhere on the agenda.

The body will not debate issues during this portion of the meeting. Members may direct staff to follow up or place an item on a future agenda.

Residents are encouraged to work with City staff before meetings and to provide materials in advance when possible.

Participating by Zoom

The City uses Zoom Webinar to allow the public to observe meetings remotely. Remote participation follows the same rules as in-person participation.

Members of the public attending by Zoom may speak only during agenda items where public input is allowed. The Zoom chat feature is not used for public comment and is not monitored.

To request to speak during a Zoom meeting:

A reminder may appear on meeting agendas stating: “Remote participants must use the Zoom Raise Hand feature to request to speak during agenda items where public input is permitted.”

• Use the Zoom “Raise Hand” feature during the applicable agenda item.
• The Chair or meeting staff will call on speakers in the order requests are received, as practical.
• When recognized, the speaker will be allowed to unmute and address the body. Instructions on how to use the Zoom “Raise Hand” feature are available on Zoom’s support website: https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0067237

Speakers who have not raised their hand or who attempt to speak outside designated public input times will not be permitted to speak.

The Chair may limit, extend, or end remote public input in the same manner as in-person participation.

Time Limits

• City Council meetings allow up to three minutes per speaker per agenda item.

• Board and committee meetings allow up to five minutes per speaker per agenda item, unless otherwise stated on the agenda.

• Quasi-judicial hearings may use different time limits depending on the type of hearing and applicable law.

The presiding body may extend or end a speaker’s time by majority vote.

How to Address the Body

• Speak only when recognized by the Chair.

• Direct all comments to the Chair.

• Speak immediately before the body begins deliberation on the agenda item.

• Do not speak after deliberation has started unless invited back by the Chair or members.

Meeting Decorum

To ensure respectful and orderly meetings, the following are not permitted:

• Personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks

• Political campaigning

• Applauding or disruptive behavior

The Chair is responsible for maintaining order. Any decision by the Chair may be appealed to the full body by a member.

Accessibility and Accommodations

The City of Sebastian is committed to providing access to public meetings for individuals with disabilities.

Anyone who requires an accommodation to participate in a meeting, including assistance with remote participation, should contact the City as soon as possible before the meeting.

Phone: 772-388-8222
Email: ADA@cityofsebastian.org

Important Note

Meeting procedures are governed by City ordinances, resolutions, the City Code, and Florida law. If there is any difference between this webpage and the governing documents, the governing documents control.

1. City of Sebastian Resolution No. R-24-02, City Council Meeting and Workshop Procedures

2. City of Sebastian Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article II, Section 2-168, Boards and Committees

3. City of Sebastian Ordinance No. O-24-21, Three Minute Public Input Limit for City Council