During the next two months it would not be unusual, due to the upcoming Council election, for more citizens to take advantage of the Public Comment section during the City Council meeting. This agenda item is provided to the public so that they may make comments or express their concerns about any item not on the agenda.
It is an appropriate time to communicate to the Council, in a civil, non-threatening, concise and clear manner, the citizen’s opinion on any municipal matter.
It is not, in my opinion, an appropriate time to verbally attack a member of the Council or other citizen of the community. Certainly, it is appropriate to ask the Council to take action on any municipal activity or to disagree with actions taken by the Council.
Communication is best accomplished when a civil approach is taken by all parties interested in the topic. While the Council cannot take action during these Public Comment periods, they may ask points of clarification.
I would hope that any citizen who wishes to take advantage of this Public Comment opportunity, would keep in mind that the members of the City Council are citizens, like themselves, who have been elected to the Council to use good judgment in acting in the best interest of all the citizens and business community of Foster City.
I would hope that we remember that the keystone to public discourse is a civil approach to communication.
Mayor Rick Wykoff may be contacted via e-mail, rwykoff@fostercity.org.
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