(ATLANTA, GA) — The Atlanta City Council postponed changes to its public comment rules on Monday, saying it wanted more feedback from residents and neighborhood planning leaders before moving forward.
The council voted to keep Ordinance 26-O-1344 in committee after several council members said the proposal needed more public discussion before any changes were made.
The proposal would move public comment ahead of proclamations during council meetings, limit the initial public comment period to one hour, and reduce the number of proclamations from five to four.
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Councilmember Byron Amos, who sponsored the ordinance, said the proposal was intended to make it easier for residents to know when they would be able to speak.
"People just do not know when they are able to speak," Amos said. "I think this is a wonderful compromise."
Amos said the changes were not intended to reduce public participation, but to create a more predictable schedule for residents who take time off work to attend meetings.
"No way am I trying to limit participation and or public comment," Amos said. "To address one of the biggest concerns that we have heard over the years from people saying they do not know where they're gonna be able to speak."
Several council members said they wanted more public input before changing the rules.
Councilmember Eshe Collins said she was not comfortable at all limiting public comment.
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"I do think it's important for us to get more feedback and communication from the public at large on this," Collins said. "While I understand that this may be an inconvenience to certain individuals or organizations that are more poised and prepared to offer their public comment, I am not at the comfort right now of limiting and tailoring our public comment. We offer this one full council twice a month [at] a dedicated time. I would love to have more community feedback on this in its entirety."
Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari said the proposal still needed work but argued the council should continue pursuing changes.
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"I think we need structure in a way that both sides have to make compromises, and respectfully, you're not going to make everybody happy," Bakhtiari said.
In other business, the council unanimously approved three mayoral appointments, naming Tony Martin and Rosalind Elliott to the Atlanta Housing Authority Board of Commissioners and Nicole Moore to the Chattahoochee Brick Company Memorial, Greenspace, and Park Board.
The council also unanimously approved a resolution authorizing Mayor Andre Dickens to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Fulton County to hold a special election on a proposed 1% sales and use tax for educational purposes alongside the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
Please email mia.s@lead4earth.com for questions, concerns or comments.
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