‘Back to business Loveland’ takes aim at city council comment rules – Loveland Reporter-Herald

According to a group of concerned local business owners and citizens, “divisive” public comment at the Loveland City Council meeting took up too much precious public time.

On Tuesday, the group announced an online letter signing campaign urging the council to limit general public comment meetings to once a month.

“A group of Loveland business and community leaders today launched an initiative called ‘Loveland Back to Business,'” reads part of the media release. “Because of their frustration with the ongoing distractions and drama at the Loveland City Council meeting, the group proposed immediate restructuring of the meeting.”

Currently, at the start of the biweekly general meeting, when Council votes on pending matters, citizens have three minutes to address Council on any topic that is not on the regular agenda.

The proposed changes would eliminate comment periods for regular or ad hoc meetings and replace them with information-only monthly research meetings.

The move follows recent comments about Loveland City Manager Steve Adams, who entered a pretrial transfer program last month after facing criminal harassment charges.

In the weeks since, both supporters and opponents of Adams have spoken at city council meetings as his continued employment in the city has been called into question.

“Looking at the situation from a problem-solving standpoint, we know we can’t sustain the status quo,” Loveland Chamber President and CEO Mindy McCloughan said in a media release. “A small group of citizens appears to be intent on disrupting the normal functioning of City Council, and we’ve been working hard.”

McLeon went on to condemn the “continuous drama and name-calling,” which she called “frustrating.”

As to whether the proposal to limit public comment would limit free speech or political expression, Alana McGough, a spokeswoman for the group, wrote in an email interview that citizens have “ample opportunity” to express their opinions in Loveland. concerns.

“We propose monthly public comment,” she wrote. “People can also email their councilors or council at any time. They can also write to the editor. When the concerns of a few distract the attention of the rest of the community, something has to change in the structure of the meeting.”

Loveland City Council does have the power to make or change public comment rules, but according to City Attorney Moses Garcia, there could be a barrier to eliminating citizens’ opportunities to address council.

The Loveland City Charter states that before a vote is taken on any ordinance, “the people shall have a reasonable opportunity at each meeting to express their opinion” and, in addition, “the council shall allow the public to express its opinion.”

Garcia said the word “reasonable” could be interpreted differently and could extend to once a month, but he doubts it.

“The city of Loveland has probably one of the broadest public comment policies in all of Colorado,” he said. “Restrictions can be imposed on that, but our bylaws do have some restrictions.”

One of the council members opposing the proposed action was Mayor Jacki Marsh, who was a frequent commenter at meetings before she was elected in 2017.

Citing several examples of recent city action — from COVID-19 aid to metro area reforms to encampment bans — she argues that engaging with citizens is one of the commission’s most important tools and that limiting access is short-sighted of it.

“It has had a positive impact on where Loveland is going,” she said. “…I think it’s our job to listen. We don’t want to operate in a bubble.”

The group plans to present its proposal and signatures to City Council in December.

To read or sign this letter, visit backtobusinessloveland.org.

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