Palm Bay deputy mayor seeks tighter rules on public comments, meeting broadcasts

Palm Bay, Fla. — Palm Bay’s deputy mayor is pushing a policy overhaul that would bar last-minute PowerPoint presentations and keep the city’s cable cameras dark during the open-mic portion of council meetings.

Deputy Mayor Mike Jaffe has asked colleagues to amend three sections of the City Council’s Policies and Procedures “to streamline meetings and to reduce risks of purposeful or inadvertent violations” of Federal Communications Commission indecency rules, according to a legislative memorandum dated May 1. The language tracks restrictions the Brevard County School Board adopted earlier this year.

What the draft says

• Video blackout: The city’s television feed would not air the call to order, invocation, pledge, roll call, proclamations, recognitions or the non-agenda public-comment segment. Broadcasting would begin with “Announcements” and continue through adjournment.
  
  
• Forty-eight-hour file deadline: Residents planning to use electronic slides, audio or video must submit files to the city clerk 48 hours before the meeting for screening. The current deadline is 2 p.m. on meeting day.
  
  
• Expanded gavel powers: The presiding officer could interrupt, warn or end statements deemed “profane,” “obscene,” “inciting,” “irrelevant” or otherwise disruptive. Profanity is defined as “vulgar and commonly considered expletives,” while incitement is language “likely to produce imminent lawless action.”
  
  
• Decorum rule: Yelling, shouting or side conversations could trigger a warning, removal or recess if order cannot be restored.
  
  
• Agenda shuffle: The non-agenda public-comment slot would move earlier, preceding proclamations and recognitions. 

City staff list the fiscal impact as none. Any changes would take effect immediately if approved.

Early public reaction

A Palm Bay Live Facebook poll attracted nearly 400 responses. Roughly 93 percent said they oppose the changes, 4 percent expressed support, and the remainder were undecided. 

Commenters voiced concern that the blackout could mute uncomfortable criticism. “They don’t want their misdeeds advertised,” one resident wrote. Another called the revisions “an unconstitutional censorship measure,” while others warned the 48-hour requirement could deter working residents from speaking.

Next step

Council members will debate the amendments Thursday at 6 p.m. in City Hall, 120 Malabar Road. Anyone wishing to address the issue must submit an orange public-comment card before the item is called.