FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 10, 2022

MEDIA CONTACTS

Tanisha Jumper, Media and Communications,tjumper@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5152
Maria Lee, Media and Communications, maria.lee@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2054

Latest Updates to City Council Rules Include New Guidance
on Written Public Comments and Standing Committee Meetings

TACOMA, Wash. – The City Council Rules of Procedure have been updated in compliance with the latest changes to the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA).

Public Comment

The OPMA requires public comment before or during any meeting where final action is taken. The City Council takes public comments in writing before, and orally during, such meetings.

The City Council Rules of Procedure now indicate that if the City Council accepts written comments, then those written comments must be compiled and distributed to the City Council before that meeting. 

To ensure the City of Tacoma’s ongoing compliance with the OPMA, the updated City Council Rules of Procedure require that written comments must be provided to the City Clerk’s Office a minimum of 24 hours prior to the meeting.

The latest guidance on written public comments is available here.

City Council Standing Committee Meetings

Per the Mayor’s Proclamation of Emergency Rule No. 6, City Council standing committee meetings will be conducted in a hybrid format that allows for in-person attendance (Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St., Room 248) and the ongoing option to follow the meeting remotely on Zoom or by phone. 

The latest guidance relating to City Council meetings, community and virtual forums, study sessions, Committee of the Whole and standing committee meetings is available here. 

Agendas, minutes, recordings and access details are available at cityoftacoma.legistar.com. 

Notices from the City Clerk’s Office are available at cityoftacoma.org/notices. 

Questions, or requests for information in alternate formats, can be directed to the City Clerk’s Office at cityclerk@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 591-5505. 

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