Citizens won’t wait as long to testify at meetings after Mat-Su assembly change

What you need to know:

• A change to Matanuska-Susitna Borough law adds a new public testimony slot early in regular borough assembly meetings, potentially eliminating hours of wait time for those who want to speak.
• The previously scheduled "audience participation" slot also remains on the agenda later in the meeting. Individuals are allowed to speak on any issue during only one of the open testimony slots and are capped at three minutes per person. They may also testify during each public hearing for legislation or resolutions under consideration, but may only speak about the designated topics.
• The new participation slot replaces a rarely used section known as "persons to be heard." That section of the meeting agenda has not been used for more than a decade, borough officials said.
• Individuals can attend the meetings in person or call in to participate. Upcoming meeting dates and agendas are posted on the borough's website. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 20 at 6 p.m.

It just got easier for members of the public to testify at borough assembly meetings — or at least less time-consuming.

An update to a Matanuska-Susitna Borough law governing how assembly meetings are conducted adds a public testimony slot early in the meeting's regular agenda. The change doubles the amount of time on the agenda set aside for public comment and allows individuals to address the assembly without waiting for lawmakers to debate and vote on new ordinances and resolutions, a process that can take hours.

The change is intended to make it easier for members of the public to speak before the assembly, borough officials said.

The ordinance making the change was unanimously approved by the assembly on Tuesday during its regular meeting. It was sponsored by Assembly member Dmitri Fonov, whose district includes parts of Wasilla.

The newly added time slot is typically reached within the first 30 minutes of each regular assembly meeting. It is sandwiched between a time set aside for comments and information submitted in writing by citizens or official borough boards and councils, and the section designated for public hearings and votes on new legislation.

Under the previous rules, anyone planning to speak had to wait until after the public hearings. During Tuesday's meeting, three individuals waited more than four hours to testify during the audience participation slot.

Going forward, individuals who wish to speak before the assembly on any issue will have two designated slots to do so: before public hearings on legislation and in the original "audience participation" slot immediately after public hearings. Only one audience participation slot is allowed per person, and speakers are limited to three minutes each, according to the ordinance.

Individuals may also testify for three minutes each about specific legislation under consideration during the “public hearings” section of the agenda. Borough rules allow anyone to speak on any subject during “audience participation” and to also speak for each piece of legislation if desired.

The new audience participation slot replaces a rarely used "persons to be heard" section of the agenda. That section was designated by law for individuals who had a matter for the assembly that did not fit anywhere else on the agenda and was not appropriate for a hearing before another borough or alternative process. No one has spoken during that designated time in more than a decade, borough officials said.

Anyone wishing to speak at a borough assembly meeting can do so by attending the meeting in person or by calling in and following the prompts provided. Individuals attending in person can sign up to speak on a sign-up sheet found outside the assembly chambers or by waiting until those who have signed up have spoken.

Borough assembly meetings are generally held every other Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the assembly chambers at the borough administration building in Palmer. Those who want to call into the meeting can dial 1-855-225-2326. Dates for upcoming assembly meetings are available on the borough's website, and agendas for each assembly meeting are posted one week in advance.

The next regular borough assembly meeting is scheduled for Aug. 20 at 6 p.m.

-- Amy Bushatz can be contacted at abushatz@matsusentinel.com.