The City of Winona has had a longstanding tradition of only allowing public comment during specified hearings for major topics requiring council action. However, in recent months it’s become apparent that council members can easily ignore comments from the public submitted to them via the city’s contact portal or email, and the citizens of Winona deserve a chance to be heard in-person by their elected officials. Too often it’s clear that council members are not truly hearing the input of the citizens, and those citizens are left wondering if their emails and virtual comments to their elected officials are ever even opened and read, let alone taken into consideration.

There are clear guidelines for a public comment period at council meetings, which the city of Winona could easily introduce and replicate from examples in other cities with restrictions on time, place, and manner. For example, the city of Northfield, MN has clear and specific guidelines on how public commentary can take place during council meetings: “Commenting in person: Members of the public are allowed and encouraged to speak to the city council during the open public comment or during a public hearing of a council meeting. During the open public comment portion you may take one opportunity to address the Council for two minutes (not including interpreter’s time) on any topic, even if on the agenda, with the condition that you may not speak on the same item later in the meeting.”

In fact, Northfield has an entire section on their city website defining the multiple types of public comment allowed, and how and when to communicate in-person, at meetings, via virtual meetings, and other manners of connection, outlining clear information for residents wishing to reach out to their elected officials. Public comment periods are common practice in many cities and towns. Minnesota cities that include public comment on their meetings are Wabasha, Red Wing, Rochester, and Mankato, just to name a few.

While the council maintains that they want to keep meetings concise and timely, it’s their job to hear from their constituents and there are clear guidelines we can use to operate meetings in a fair way. It’s time to hold our city council members accountable and have them hear directly from us.

Please add your name to this petition to be presented to Winona City Councilors and staff to institute the inclusion of a public comment period in all regular city council meetings. You can also reach out directly to your council representative to share your thoughts on public comment inclusion. 

All digital contact is through the portal provided at https://www.cityofwinona.com/319/City-Council-Mayor
 
Map of Winona Wards: https://www.cityofwinona.com/DocumentCenter/View/183/2020-Ward-and-Precinct-Map-PDF

Mayor | Scott Sherman | 507-313-0676

1st Ward Council Member | Steve Young | 507-312-4491

2nd Ward Council Member | Eileen Moeller | 847-890-5478

3rd Ward Council Member | Pamela Eyden | 507-454-6758

4th Ward Council Member | George Borzykowski| 507-454-4463

Council Member At-Large | Michelle Alexander | 507-474-9179

Council Member At-Large | Aaron Repinski | 507-458-7485