ST. GEORGE — In what may be seen as somewhat of a reversal of her recent decision to put a pause on public input, St. George Mayor Michelle Randall released a statement Tuesday afternoon announcing that once-a-month public input at City Council meetings would return, albeit in a modified and more limited fashion.

The mayor originally announced in early May the city would be pausing the council taking in-person public input during the first meeting of the month. Randall said this was due to some people abusing the forum for their own agendas and using it to create division within the community.

Some topics brought before the council also seemingly had nothing to do with the city proper but were national and social issues currently being played out on the national stage.

During these meetings, the mayor and council would tend to find themselves on the receiving end of accusations of being “un-American” and “woke.”

“The public input has devolved into statements unrelated to City business and at times, has disrupted the regular conduct of the City’s meetings and business,” Randall said in the statement. “As a result, as Mayor, I put a ‘pause’ on public input at City Council meetings in order to create more efficiency in accomplishing the City’s business.”

The announcement was met with protests by several people in attendance at the council’s May 5 meeting. The incident went on to gain state-level attention through the Salt Lake Tribune and other Utah news outlets.

In place of in-person public comment, the mayor said people can submit written comments to the City Council either directly via the city offices or the [email protected] email. These comments are collected and published on the city’s website each Friday after 3 p.m. and are not subject to some of the restrictions that in-person comments are.

While there has been opposition to the change, there has been support as well.

“I agree that public comment has (gotten) out of hand,” St. George resident Roberta Robinson wrote in an email to the city of St. George via its public input email. “National and social issues not related to local government are not appropriate for disrupting local government issues.”

The mayor further stated that in the coming weeks, the council will be discussing the 2023-24 city budget and taking comments on the budget during public hearings to be held on June 1 and 15. These hearings are required by law to be held as a part of the proposed budget’s review process.

“Opportunities for public input are not required by law at any Council meeting but can be allowed by the Mayor,” the mayor wrote. “… Public hearings are conducted under the rules set forth in Utah law and comments must relate to the specific application or issue under consideration.”

New public input policy

The new policy, as outlined in the mayor’s statement, allows for the return for public input, though in a more limited fashion beginning in July.

Only 10 people will be allowed to speak and will be given 2 minutes each to make their points. If there are more than 10 people who wish to comment, then the council will randomly select 10 speakers from the signup sheets handed to the council prior to taking public input.

Also, in order to allow a “broader scope of residents” the opportunity to speak, once a person gets the opportunity to address the council directly, they are prohibited from giving in-person comment for the next three months. However, there is no limit on how often they can comment through letters or emails.

Some elements of the previous policy remain the same, such as commenters being residents of St. George and not being allowed to comment on an issue currently on the agenda or pending land use application. Comments must also be free of offensive or obscene language and must also be free of any attacks toward the mayor and council.

Individuals who are considered to be disrupting meetings in any way will be asked to leave the council chambers.

Below is the mayor’s statement and new policy outline in full:

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR MICHELE RANDALL

Since 2014, the Mayor and members of the Council have enjoyed having the opportunity to hear public input from citizens at one meeting each month on matters of City business. Opportunities for public input are not required by law at any Council meeting but can be allowed by the Mayor.

Recently, however, the public input has devolved into statements unrelated to City business and at times, has disrupted the regular conduct of the City’s meetings and business. As a result, as Mayor, I put a “pause” on public input at City Council meetings in order to create more efficiency in accomplishing the City’s business.

As we enter into the budget approval season in the next few weeks, it is crucial to be able to devote as much time as possible to that process. There will be a public hearing specifically on the budget prior to adoption in June. It should be noted that public hearings required by law are very different from public input. Public hearings are conducted under the rules set forth in Utah law and comments must relate to the specific application or issue under consideration.

Beginning July 6, 2023, I will be placing public input on the City Council agenda, however, going forward these comments will be limited in nature and subject to the following rules:

1. Those wishing to provide public input must reside within the City of St. George, providing their name and address to the City Recorder prior to commenting. Public input shall not be allowed on any agenda item or pending land use application.

2. All public input should relate to City business, be respectful with no obscene or profane language used, nor contain attacks on any individuals.

3. There will be time to hear from up to ten (10) persons with a limit of two (2) minutes per person. The Council may not respond to comments or questions but will take the comments under consideration for possible discussion at another time. If there are more than 10 persons wishing to give public input, they will be selected by random draw.

4. In order to provide an opportunity for a broader scope of residents to give public input, any person selected to provide input at a meeting will not be able to provide public input again for three (3) months (once per quarter), but written comments may be submitted any time (see Rule 6 below).

5. Members of the public who disrupt the meeting with undue applause, jeering, uninvited comments, or other protests will be asked to leave the Council Chambers but may view the meeting from the lobby or other location.

6. Written comments will continue to be accepted at any time by residents of the City by either hand delivery or mailed to the City Recorder at 175 E. 200 N., St. George Utah 84770 or via the City’s Website at or email at [email protected].

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