Public Comment at Council Meetings

 

The City of South Fulton will continue to conduct public comment virtually through the use of the Zoom communication platform. The City of South Fulton encourages citizens to communicate with the Mayor and City Council. View the Mayor and City Council's contact information.  


 To submit public comment at the next Council Meeting, complete the proper public comment form below. Please review the process to communicate with the Mayor and City Council and the rules for providing public comment. The public comment form will be activated no later than the Friday prior to the next Council Meeting. The public comment form will be deactivated at 12:00 PM on the day of the Council Meeting.
    
                 

NEW PUBLIC COMMENT RULES (PLEASE READ) (Revised and Approved April 25, 2023) 

 

CLICK the LINK BELOW

Public Comment  FORM for City Council Meeting (MAY 23, 2023)  Please read rules and instructions 


PUBLIC COMMENT OPTIONS FOR MAY 23, 2023

Comment In Person

Persons who physically attend the Council Meeting will have to complete their speaker's card at the meeting and provide it to the City Clerk by 3:50 PM. Citizens may also utilize the online public comment form and indicate on the form that they will provide In-Person comments.

Comment Via Zoom                                                                                                                                              

Persons who wish to provide their comments via Zoom may do so by completing the online public comment form and indicate on the form that they will provide a Live Zoom comment. To provide zoom credentials in adequate time, zoom comments must be received by 12 Noon on MAY 23, 2023

Written                                                                                                                                                          

Citizens may submit their comments in writing by completing the online public comment form. Written comments will not be read during the Council Meeting; however, all comments received from the online comment system will be provided to the Mayor, City Council, and staff. Written comments will be received up until the start of the meeting.


Providing General Public Comment Virtually

Members of the public who would like to address the Mayor and City Council during the public comment portions of a Regular Meeting may participate using one of two options.  

  • First, submit the public comment form by 12:00 PM on the day of the next Work Session, Zoning Public Hearing or Regular Council Meeting.
     We ask that you submit your comment form as far in advance as possible of the meeting time to give staff adequate time to receive your comments and prepare for the meeting. The comment can be no longer than 2 minutes each. 
     
  • Second, you can join the live virtual meeting via Zoom Meetings. You will be able to personally address the Mayor and City Council. To verify your identity, you must submit a public comment form and indicate you wish to address the Mayor and City Council. Submit the public comment form by 12:00 PM on the day of the next Work Session, Zoning Public Hearing or Regular Council Meeting.
    We ask that you submit your comment form as far in advance as possible of the meeting time to give staff adequate time to receive your comments and prepare for the meeting. The comment can be no longer than 2 minutes each. Requirements for appearing on Zoom are as follows:
    •  Your Zoom Meetings display name MUST MATCH the name you used on your public comment form. If it does not match, you will not be called on during the meeting. 
    •  You will not be called on by the Clerk during the Zoom Meeting if you have not submitted your comment in advance using the public comment formZoom link will be sent on the day of the meeting "IF" you have submitted your public comment form by the stated deadline.

 

RULES FOR REMARKS DURING COUNCIL MEETINGS 

  • Speakers must limit their remarks to no more than (2) minutes.
  • The Public Comment Period will last no longer than 30 minutes total.
  • Speakers must not employ tactics of intimidation, profanity, or threats of violence in their comments.
  • Anyone who demonstrates these behaviors will not have their comments read into the record and/or will be removed from the meeting.
  • The Mayor and Council will listen and receive a copy of your public comment form. No response will be provided in the meeting. Concerns or issues will be forwarded to the City Manager for appropriate follow up.
  • Once you complete your public comment, you will be removed from the Zoom meeting to allow the Mayor and Council to complete the business of the day. You may view the live Council Meeting on the City’s YouTube channel HERE.




PUBLIC HEARINGS (Zoning or Alcohol License)
Those who wish to speak during a Public Hearing item (not Citizen Remarks) can choose to do so during that portion of the agenda. 
 


Members of the public who would like to address the Mayor and City Council during the public hearing for a specific case at the Zoning Meeting may participate using one of two options. 

  • First, submit the public comment form by 12:00 PM on the day of the next Work Session, Zoning Public Hearing or Regular Council Meeting.
     We ask that you submit your comment form as far in advance as possible of the meeting time to give staff adequate time to receive your comments and prepare for the meeting.  The comment can be no longer than 2 minutes each. 
  • Second, you can join the live virtual meeting via Zoom Meetings. You will be able to personally address the Mayor and City Council. To verify your identity, you must submit a public comment form and indicate you wish to address the Mayor and City Council. Submit the public comment form by 12:00 PM on the day of the next Work Session, Zoning Public Hearing or Regular Council Meeting.
    We ask that you submit your comment form as far in advance as possible of the meeting time to give staff adequate time to receive your comments and prepare for the meeting. The comment can be no longer than 2 minutes each. Requirements for appearing on Zoom are as follows:
    • Display Name Requirement: Your Zoom Meetings display name MUST MATCH the name you used on your public comment form. If it does not match, you will not be called on during the meeting.
    • Comment Card Requirement: You will not be called on by the Clerk during the Zoom Meeting if you have not submitted your comment in advance using the public comment form. Zoom link will be sent on the day of the meeting "IF" you have submitted your public comment form by the stated deadline.


RULES FOR REMARKS DURING COUNCIL MEETINGS 

  • Speakers must limit their remarks to no more than (2) minutes.
  • The applicant and those speaking in support of a case are afforded 10 minutes and those speaking against a case are afforded 10 minutes. Citizens are encouraged to be mindful of the time to allow other citizens to voice their opinion regarding the subject.  
  • Speakers must not employ tactics of intimidation, profanity, or threats of violence in their comments.
  • Anyone who demonstrates these behaviors will not have their comments read into the record and/or will be removed from the meeting.
  • The Mayor and Council will listen and receive a copy of your public comment form. No response will be provided while the public hearing is open.  
  • Once you complete your public comment, you will be removed from the Zoom meeting to allow the Mayor and Council to complete the business of the day. You may view the live Council Meeting on the City’s YouTube channel HERE.




ZOOM MEETING INSTRUCTIONS

Please refer to the following information to join speakers' queue:

  • Download the free Zoom app (https://zoom.us/) to connect using a smartphone or tablet (search for "Zoom" in your app store). Please make sure you do this in advance, so that you already have the app before you try to connect on the day of the meeting.
  • Click on the link below to join the meeting no earlier than 15 minutes before the meeting scheduled start time, using your computer, tablet, or smartphone:

Zoom link will be sent "IF" you have submitted your 
 Public Comment Form by the stated deadline. 

  • When you join, you will be asked to type in your display name. Please use your real name for public record purposes.
  • Your display name MUST MATCH the name you used on your public comment form. If it does not match, you will not be called on during the meeting.
  • When you address the Mayor and City Council, you will also be asked to state your name and address as is the practice during in-person City Council meetings.
  • You will be added to virtual "waiting room" when you join, and your microphone will be disabled until it is your turn to speak.
  • When the Clerk calls on you, you will receive a request to unmute your microphone. Once you unmute your microphone, you will be able to speak for up to 2 minutes. You may only speak once during the meeting.
  • There will be no option to "share your screen" during the meeting, so if you have a presentation or documents to share with Mayor and Council, please send them ahead of time to [email protected].
  • When you have finished speaking or have reached your maximum allotted time (the Clerk will let you know), you will be moved back to the "waiting room," and your microphone will be muted again. At this time, you may click the "leave the meeting" option to exit. You may view the live Council Meeting on the City’s YouTube channel HERE. 

These instructions only apply to those who want to address the Mayor and City Council. If you just want to watch the meeting, you can do so HERE
 
To see a list of upcoming public meetings and agendas, click HERE.