• City of Tacoma QA
  • City of Tacoma Data




Appear Before City Council

Presentation Guidelines for City Council Meetings

You may not promote or oppose any candidate for public office or any ballot proposition.

You may not use this time to advertise. Announcements of public events can be made through the Council’s proclamations process.

Speakers who disturb the orderly conduct of the meeting may forfeit their right to address the Council and be asked to leave the Council meeting.

Meetings will follow the Rules of Procedure of the Council of the City of Tacoma and/or Robert’s Rules of Order.

Procedures for Speaking at a Regular City Council Meeting

The Public Comment period is reserved for citizen testimony on items on the agenda.

Comments will not be accepted on ordinances or communication items forwarded to the Council by the Hearing Examiner for which a public hearing has already been held.  The Clerk will announce these items at each meeting prior to Public Comment.

Comments will be limited to five minutes, unless otherwise announced by the presiding officer.

Speakers may address the Council once during the Public Comment period.

Write your name on the sign-in sheet on the table at the back of the Council Chambers in order to speak.

The Mayor or presiding officer will begin the Public Comment period by calling names from the sign-in sheet.  

You should approach the podium and identify yourself and topic(s) on the agenda you will address for the public record. Please address all remarks to the Council as a whole.

The Council may allow testimony on a resolution or ordinance at a time other than the Public Comment period if the item is new or has substantially changed.

You also may provide the Council with written comments or materials (ten copies).

Procedures for Speaking at Community Forum

Community Forum (formerly known as Citizens' Forum) shall be held monthly at a date and location to be determined by the City Council and provides an opportunity for citizens to speak on items under the City Council’s jurisdiction that are not on that evening’s agenda.

You may speak up to three minutes or the time limit determined by the Mayor or presiding officer.

Write your name on the sign-in sheet on the table at the back of the Council Chambers in order to speak.

The Mayor or presiding officer will begin the Community Forum period by calling names from the sign-in sheet.

You should approach the podium and identify yourself and topic(s) you will address for the public record. Please address all remarks to the Council as a whole.

Your comments during the Public Comment period or any public hearing do not preclude you from speaking during Community Forum.


To comply with Governor Inslee's Order, Tacoma City Council meetings are not currently being conducted in-person. Only written comments will be accepted for items on the agenda. Verbal comments may be made during the Community Forum portion of virtual-only City Council meetings at this time. Your comments may be submitted to cityclerk@cityoftacoma.org on Tuesdays before 4 PM prior to that evening's City Council meeting. Comments will then be compiled and sent to the City Council and posted on the City’s web page at cityoftacoma.org/writtencomments.

Contact Us
City Clerk’s Office
(253) 591-5505

City Council Rules of Procedure

Individuals can submit written testimony at City Council meetings, public hearings or Council Committees, Boards, and Commissions.