This article originally appeared in the Nov. 30, 2007, issue of the Valley News.

Participating in a public meeting, like a city council or county commission, may seem intimidating to private citizens. But these meetings are the appropriate places for community members to make their feelings known to locally elected officials.

Councils are democracy in action at the local level, and it is important that citizens know how to participate should they choose.

Councils and commissions establish policy, let contracts, adopt budgets and decide issues related to public safety and welfare, among other things.

Voting every few years to let your views be known is fine, but attending council meetings can have an immediate effect on issues that impact your family.

Here’s how you can make your position known on an issue at your city council meeting.

First, contact the city (or county, as the case may be) staff to find out when your participation will be most effective and appropriate based on the agenda.

Generally speaking, there are two types of meetings, legislative sessions and work sessions.

Legislative sessions include council votes on issues where public comments are accepted. There is a time set aside for comments on each issue at a legislative session.

Usually it is asked that you reserve your comments on a specific issue until the council addresses it, rather than speaking during the public comment period.

At most public hearings you will need to sign up in order to speak. Sometimes the speakers are called to speak in the order in which they signed up. Other times separate sides of an issue will be recognized as Advertisement

[ Chatton and Associates ] a group, with first pros and then cons commenting.

When you come to the podium give the council your name and street address. The council wants to hear from everyone who comes to speak, so you will typically have about three minutes.

You will usually be given some sort of indication that your time is nearly up. Some podiums utilize a system of lights for this purpose.

You may also present written testimony which will be included in the official record of the hearing.

At work sessions, council members discuss the specifics of issues and hear reports from staff. Public comments are also accepted at these meetings, following the same guidelines as the Legislative meetings.

Let your councilmember know if you are interested in an issue and they may ask that you be included in the discussion.

Since you only have a limited time, it is important that your comments be well thought-out. Have your facts straight, and remember that decisions made by the council are for the benefit of the entire community, not just you.

It is in your best interest to be able to demonstrate why your position on an issue is beneficial to the community as a whole.

Public comment at government meetings can have an important effect on the decision making process of elected officials.

To have a say on issues important to you and your community, speak up at a council meeting. There’s really nothing to it.

Dave Reynolds is a political consultant/writer currently residing in Menifee. During the 1990s he served as chief of staff to the State Assembly Representative from the 66th District.