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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – APRIL 19, 2021 16 Mayor Grant commented items on the consent agenda are not discussed, unless they are pulled from the consent agenda for an individual vote, at which time discussion could be held. Councilmember Holmes stated the Public and Informational section on the agenda may be misleading because the public may think they are able to make comments on any item on the agenda. Mayor Grant recommended the language be tightened up regarding the Public and Informational section of the agenda to be clearer. He reported the Council must understand and appreciate that all other items on the agenda are to be discussed and debated only by the Council, except the consent agenda, which is approved without discussion. Councilmember Holden stated she understood the Mayor sets the agenda and therefore can hold the public comment portion how he wants. She indicated there were many cities that don’t have a public comment period. She discussed how nasty some public comments have been at the Council meetings. She recommended public comments be made at public hearings when the Council has information in front of them. Councilmember Holmes explained she understood the Mayor set the agendas, but she did not understand why a resident could not come and comment on an item on the agenda. She supported the Council allowing public comments for three minutes and there should be no response until the next Council meeting. Councilmember Holden feared City Council meetings would turn into Planning Commission meetings if this were allowed. Councilmember Holmes noted that many of the comments are for items that were not Planning Commission items. Councilmember McClung stated many of the issues brought to the Planning Commission require a public hearing before the City Council so there is an opportunity for the public to speak. He explained he agreed with Councilmember Holmes on this noting he did not see why the public couldn’t speak to an item, even when a public hearing was not associated with it. He reported a specific amount of time could be set aside for the public to speak and after that time the public would not be allowed to speak further on that item. He wanted to see the Council being open to what residents had to say. Councilmember Scott agreed with Councilmember McClung. He indicated the public comment period allows residents to enter the public record along with being able to voice their opinion. He noted public hearings are more formal. MOTION: Mayor Grant moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to extend the City Council meeting to 8:15 p.m. A roll call vote was taken. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). Mayor Grant stated as the Mayor leading the meeting, he did not want to turn every item into a public hearing. He explained further the intent of the public comment portion of the meeting. He indicated he would clean up the wording for this portion of the agenda to make it more clear. He