The City of Chesapeake requires individuals who wish to address City Council at meetings to complete a speaker card with their name, address (home or business), telephone number, who they represent, whether they support or oppose the item(s) selected for discussion, and which agenda item they are addressing.  When I call the speakers forward, the name and address is cited from the speaker card.  The speaker is supposed to repeat their name and address to Council when they come to the podium.  Recently, one of the Council Members (who is a former Police Officer) has questioned why the speaker’s address must be stated and repeated publicly, citing personal safety concerns for the speakers.  I would like to  find out from my colleagues around the State whether or not speakers at your meetings;  (1) must provide their home/business address when signing up to speak at your meetings; (2) is that address stated publicly by whomever calls the speakers to the podium; and (3) are the speakers at your meetings required to restate their names and addresses before making their comments?  Is there a requirement in your locality’s code or rules of procedure that establish the requirements for speakers?

Thank you for any assistance you can provide to me on this issue.

Dolores A. Moore, MMC
City Clerk, City of Chesapeake
306 Cedar Road
Chesapeake, VA  23322
Phone – 757-382-6151
Fax – 757-382-6678
E-mail – dmoore@cityofchesapeake.net