City of Harlingen updates decorum policy for commission meetings
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Harlingen city leaders are updating their rules for attendees during city commission meetings.
The city's new decorum policy replaces guidelines that date back more than two decades.
City leaders said much of the policy simply puts practices already being used into writing, but one of the more noticeable changes deals with recording devices.
People can still record an open city commission meeting under the updated policy. If you're using a handheld device, like a phone, you can record from your seat as long as you remain seated and don't disrupt the meeting.
Tripods or larger recording setups have to be used from a designated area and if someone uses a device while speaking at the podium, they must remove it when finished.
The policy says recording devices cannot be left unattended.
"And so we were getting complaints, and concerns, not only from the public, from staff, saying, hey, what's going on, now with everything AI, you've seen all these videos, people doing it, saying whatever, and that they never intentionally said," Harlingen District 2 Commissioner Daniel Nemecio Lopez said.
Lopez said the policy is also meant to clarify what people can talk about and how those rules are enforced.
The policy also states how long attendees can speak along with the protections they now have at the podium.
Lopez said the goal is clarity. Officials want to make sure the community knows the rules before they walk into a meeting.
While there are guidelines for when and how long a person can speak, city leaders say the right to criticize them remains protected.
Under the updated policy, public comment participants must register with the city secretary by 3 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Registered speakers are given three minutes, while someone who needs a translator is allotted six minutes.
The policy also states that speech or expression alone cannot be considered disruptive. Lopez said that was important to keep clear in writing.
"If people have concerns that they want to share, or they're not happy with my performance, or any member of the commission's performance, please come and share them. We need that feedback so we can improve and we can come in line with what the public wants us to do," Lopez said. "It doesn't take anything away. In fact, it makes sure that everyone's rights are, in fact, protected."
There is one more distinction for items not listed on the agenda; the general public comment period is limited to five speakers.
Lopez said the updated policy is meant to bring the city's rules in line with current state law while making them more consistent from meeting to meeting.
To view the full decorum policy, click here.
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