Public Comment Period Information
Pursuant to Rule 28, effective October 3, 2024, all public comment speakers must be residents of Tennessee. This update will be in effect for all Council committee meetings and Council meetings starting on October 3, 2024.
Pursuant to Section 8-44-112 of Tennessee Code Annotated and Rule 28 of the Council’s Rules of Procedure, the Metropolitan Council will reserve time for Public Comment during all regular and special Council and Council committee meetings where there are actionable items on the agenda.
The Public Comment Period provides the public with an opportunity to speak about both legislative and non-legislative items. Additionally, the public will have time available to speak on items appearing on Council Committee Agendas during Committee meetings. Please note, this public comment period does not allow for discussion between Councilmembers and the speaker, nor is it a time for obtaining either answers to questions raised or responses to requests made for information or action.
The Metropolitan Council also holds public hearings on particular items when required by law. Items that receive a public hearing include: rezonings of property, amendments to the Metropolitan zoning code, location exemptions for beer permits, location exemptions for short term rental properties, and the annual operating budget and capital improvements budget. For items that receive a public hearing, members of the public do not need to sign-up to speak.
All speakers and members of the public are asked to be respectful. The Presiding Officer or Committee Chair has discretion to end a speaker's time if speakers are disruptive or off topic.
The Council Office shall make policies and procedures necessary to facilitate the public comment period, including access to language interpretation and other related accessibility needs.
Public Comment Procedures
- Pursuant to Rule 28, effective October 3, 2024, all public comment speakers must present proof of Tennessee residency. A list of acceptable items is available below under "Public Comment Acceptable Items for Proof of Tennessee Residency".
- The Public Comment period is limited to twenty minutes total at regular and special Council meetings and limited to eight minutes total at regular and special Council Committee meetings.
- Each speaker is allowed up to two minutes to speak.
- The public comment period for regular and special Council meeting is not limited to items on the Council meeting agenda.
- Persons speaking on agenda items during the public comment period for regular and special Council meetings must be prioritized to comply with state law.
- The public comment period for regular and special Council Committee meetings is limited to matters listed on the Committee agenda.
- For persons wishing to speak, a physical sign-up sheet will be available on the day of scheduled meetings.
- Council Committee sign-up sheets will be posted one hour prior to the scheduled start time either outside the committee room where the committee is scheduled to meet, or, if the committee is scheduled to meet in the David Scobey Council Chamber, the sign-up sheet will be located at the table under the tv outside of the Chamber.
- Council meeting sign-up sheets will be located at the table under the tv outside of the David Scobey Council Chamber on the second floor of the Historic Courthouse and City Hall on the day of the scheduled Council meeting. Speaker sign-up for Council meetings begins at 5:00 p.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m.
- Pursuant to Council Rule 25, any written materials such as handouts or other literature must be delivered to the Vice Mayor, Metropolitan Clerk, or Council Office before 4:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting. These items must contain the speaker's name, organization name (if applicable), telephone number or email address, street address, and signature affixed to the front of the document. Electronic presentations or presentations requiring equipment (PowerPoint, pre-recorded audio/video, etc.) are prohibited.
- Persons needing interpretation services and/or accessibility accommodations should contact the Council Office at 615-862-6780 forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting.
- Public comment periods will not be held for any meeting where there are no actionable items on the agenda.
Public Comment Proof of Tennessee Residency Accepted Document List
Pursuant to Rule 28, public comment speakers must be residents of Tennessee. Speakers must present documents from either List A, List B, or List C below.
A. One Current Photo Identification With Tennessee Address:
- Tennessee Driver's License
- State of Tennessee Issued I.D.
- Student or School I.D.
B. Two Current Documents with Tennessee Address from the Following List:
- Tennessee voter registration card
- Internet/Cable service bill
- Phone service bill
- Water/Sewer service bill
- Electricity service bill
- Natural Gas service bill
- Lease agreement
- Mortgage statement
- Bank or credit card statement
- Personal mail with name and Tennessee address
- Photo I.D. without Tennessee address plus one other document from the above list showing Tennessee address
- Other documents not listed may be approved by the Council Office Director
C. Letter Confirming Unhoused Status:
A letter from a Tennessee-based service provider confirming unhoused status
Public Comment Period Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Public Comment Proof of Tennessee Residency Accepted Document List
Other Resources
Metro Government Legislative Information Center
Metro Council Committee Meeting Schedule
Directions to the Metropolitan Nashville Historic Courthouse and City Hall