The agenda for the August 20, 2013, meeting of the Coeur d’Alene City Council notes that the time allowed for public comments is being reduced from five minutes to three minutes.  This reduction emphasizes the importance of preparing and rehearsing public comments if the purpose of your comment is to inform, persuade, or seek action from the Council.

After addressing the Council on May 18, 2004, on the issue of the Idaho Department of Correction’s placing felons on probation or parole in illegal group homes in Coeur d’Alene, I prepared this guideline to help others prepare to speak.  (I’ve lined out the information that is no longer applicable.)

I’d note that our community’s efforts back then to resolve the State’s illegal placement in violation of City ordinances were and remain ignored by the City, so one can make an argument that preparation is of marginal value when the City chooses to ignore the public input.  While that may be true with the present Mayor and some members of Council, that will hopefully change with the installation of a new Mayor and Council in January 2014.  Preparing and rehearsing will still be more effective than “winging it.”