Public comment at the City Commission in the little City of Lake Worth: Useful tips, “How To” and “How NOT To”.

If you’ve never given public comment before understand that it is very easy. And you are not required to complain! It’s actually permissible to say good things or maybe even express how grateful you are for something the City did or didn’t do.


Tip: Once you’ve made your point at public comment don’t go on and on repeating yourself. You don’t have to keep on talking until the little bell rings. When you’re finished say, “Thank you” to the chair and make way for the next person in line.


However, it is required that all comments MUST be directed to the “Chair” of the meeting which will be Mayor Pam Triolo at the City Commission who is tasked with this essential duty.

How to give public comment
and two instructional YouTube
videos are below.

One video is HOW TO give public comment as demonstrated by Catherine Turk. Note that Turk has since become a member of the City’s Planning & Zoning (P&Z) Board. The other video is of Mr. Ryan Hartman from 2016, an excellent example HOW NOT TO give public comment.

Please note: The time limit for public comment at the City Commission is two (2) minutes. The exception is “nonagendaed items”, which is a three-minute limit.


For a bit of historical context, it was whilst Jeff Clemens was mayor that some former commissioners, including Cara Jennings, pushed for lowering the time limit from three minutes to two minutes at the City Commission. Last year the Commission raised the time limit for public comment on “nonagendaed items” back to three minutes so consider this a test!

If the civil and polite behavior by the public at City Commission meetings continues to go well, then possibly the time limit will be raised once again to three minutes for all items on the Commission agenda.

But only. .  .

If. . . The public can remain civil, behave themselves, and respect the Chair at public meetings.

And. . . At public meetings the public doesn’t get silly, ramble on repeating themselves, e.g., make Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell say, “Is there a doctor in the house?” or get all conspiratorial about the government, “forcibly medicating an entire population”.

Remember. . . You are NOT REQUIRED to use all the time allotted you. If you’ve made your point, it’s perfectly OK to smile, say “Thank You” to the Chair, then return to your seat giving way to the next person waiting in line.

So, “How do I give
public comment?”

Below are two instructional video examples of public comment. This first one is uncivil and un-charming public comment by Ryan Hartman followed by civil and respectful public comment by Catherine Turk (the second video).

Watch this video for how not to give public comment:

Now for an example of civil and
respectful public comment.

Below is another video, an excellent example how to give public comment at a City Commission meeting from January 2017. Note how City resident Catherine Turk approached issues of importance to her.

Read the bullet list and then watch
the video for yourself:

• At the 10:50 mark (click play and go to the minute marks) she begins her comment at the January 10th City Commission meeting.
• At the 11:50 mark she begins speaking about the issue of unanswered emails and phone calls.
• At the 12:50 mark about the pay increase for elected officials, she says, “. . . the pay is well worth the hours you put in.” She should know having 25 years of experience in Human Resources.

Hope you find this video helpful.
Click play and fast forward to the 11:00 minute mark):

One last thing: It’s always a good idea to prepare your remarks ahead of time and use a timer to make certain you will stay within the time limit for public comment. But if the little bell rings and you have not finished, hand your comment card to City Manager Michael Bornstein and he’ll make sure to have it all entered into the record for posterity.

And always be respectful and polite to the Chair running the meeting!