During the Oct. 28 Port Orchard City Council meeting, several individuals did not provide their names or addresses during public comments while addressing issues concerning the Bay Street pathway and proposed stormwater rates.

During the summer, Mayor Tim Matthes decided to allow residents to speak during public comments without giving their name and address, according to City Clerk Brandy Rinearson.

“There are no requirements under state law that states an individual has to give their name or address before citizen comments,” Rinearson said.

But some councilmembers feel it would be beneficial if residents would provide their name and address when addressing the council.

Councilman Jerry Childs said Mayor Tim Matthes has moved away from requiring residents to give their names and addresses.

“I think this was a mistake,” Childs said. “As a council, we need to know who we are addressing and whether they live in the city — to me it just makes sense. Providing this information allows both council members and the city staff to write down the speaker’s name and follow up as appropriate.”

“I like it when people do give their name and address because it helps me understand if they live in Port Orchard or not,” said long-time Councilman John Clauson.

Councilman Fred Chang said individuals hiding behind “anonymity” or “privacy” raises questions about why they are not giving a full disclosure of their information.

“I think people should realize that giving their name and address strengthens their testimony,” Chang said. “Some people give post office boxes as their address or decline to give a street address.”

Childs said the council should continue to give residents three minutes each to speak, but public-comment sessions should be no more than 20 minutes with priority given to those who signed up.

Chang said he doesn’t feel residents need to sign up before they speak during public comments.

“Often people are inspired to speak based on what they hear from others giving testimony,” he said.

Clauson said he thinks residents should sign up before speaking, but does not have a problem giving individuals an opportunity to speak if they have not.

“Sometimes you don’t plan on speaking but after you hear someone comment you may want to speak,” he said.

Childs noted that the Oct. 28 meeting, which lasted four hours, eliminated any chances for the public to give comments at the end of the meeting.

“Council meetings are primarily for conducting city business with some time given at the start and end for citizen comments,” Childs said. “While we don’t want to stifle people who come to share their thoughts and concerns; I think excessively long meetings actually do that.”

He said when the meetings go past 9, 10 or 11 p.m., residents who come to speak may be “forced to leave without having their say.”

The late meeting forced four items to be taken off the agenda. One item was placed on the Nov. 4 special council meeting agenda.