Haven’t attended a public hearing before? Here’s how it works.
First of all: what is a public hearing? A public hearing is an opportunity for members of the public to speak directly to their elected or appointed representatives about a policy proposal they are considering. So why is it important? These hearings are the designated time for decision-makers to hear what the public thinks about a particular issue to help them decide how to vote. Showing up and speaking directly to these public officials is a proven method to make your voice heard.
To speak at a public hearing:
Make sure you know which governing body is holding Public Hearing, and when and where their meeting is scheduled. (Almost all of the Public Hearings that Sustain Saint Paul members attend are hosted by either the Planning Commission or the Saint Paul City Council. Scroll down in this article to learn more about those governing bodies, and when and where their meetings take place.)
Show up at the meeting where the public hearing will occur. (You don’t necessarily need to arrive when the meeting begins. At many City Council meetings, the public hearing is scheduled in the second half of their agenda, and might not begin until 4:30 or 5pm. So don’t worry if you can’t make it to City Hall by 3:30pm!)
Sign Up to Testify. At the entrance to the room you will typically find a sign-in sheet for people who want to make a public comment. Put your name there and keep in the mind the order - you will be called by name in the order that you signed up!
Come prepared. We suggest writing your comments down, in case you get nervous and forget what you wanted to say. A few sentences is all you need: the City Council usually asks people to keep their comments under 2 minutes– sometimes 30 seconds, if there are lots of people. Start your comments with your name, which neighborhood you live in, and whether you’re speaking in support or opposition to the policy being discussed. Then explain in a few sentences why you support or oppose the policy.
Have your say! Follow along with the meeting agenda until its time for the public hearing. At that point, the person presiding over the meeting will say something like “This is a public hearing: Is there anyone who wishes to speak on this matter?” This will be your cue to line up near the podium, along with anyone else who has come to speak. When it’s your turn, go to the microphone and speak your mind! Pro-tip: City officials, like most people, respond best to positive feedback delivered with respect! Afterwards, you’ll be asked to sign your name to a sign-in sheet for the public record.
That’s it! Attending a public hearing is a great way to be engaged in local politics, to meet other active members of the community, and to see up close how our city government works.
Questions? Concerns? Need a pep-talk? Email our board at info@sustainstpaul.org - Melissa Wenzel or another board member is happy to provide support!
Here’s some more information about the Planning Commission and City Council:
The Saint Paul Planning Commission is a 21-member advisory body made up of resident volunteers appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. It makes recommendations on planning and zoning issues, studies, and amendments: for example, changes to the City’s rules about what kind of housing can be built where. Their recommendations are then passed on to the City Council, which has the final say on city laws.
The Planning Commission often schedules public hearings during their meetings, which take place every other Friday morning in the basement of City Hall (15 W Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55102). To find out what the Planning Commission is working on, and whether or not they’ve scheduled a public hearing, visit their webpage on the City website and scroll down to find their upcoming agenda, which is typically posted about a week before their meeting. (You can also find an archive of past agendas and minutes.)
The Saint Paul City Council is the 7-member elected legislative body of our city: they enact and amend Saint Paul’s city policies. They meet every Wednesday afternoon at 3:30pm on the third floor of City Hall (15 W Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55102). To find out what they’re working on, and whether or not they’ve scheduled a public hearing, visit the agenda for their upcoming meeting at this website: look for the row nearest the top of the grid named “City Council,” and open the PDF file in that row under the “Agenda” column. Scroll through the Agenda PDF until you find the heading “PUBLIC HEARING,” and see if there are any issues you care to speak about.
Pro-tip: you can sign up to have City Council and Planning Commission agendas emailed to you! Scroll to the bottom of this webpage, and submit your email address into the field under the heading “Sign Up for City Council Agendas.” From there, you’ll be given the option to subscribe to receive email updates from the Planning Commission, as well as updates on other city topics that may interest you.
