Council members unanimously passed a resolution Monday night that will mean changes to its meeting rules and procedures — including some related to public comment.

While the City asserts these changes are designed for meetings to run more smoothly, some residents voiced concern they may be used to limit the public’s ability to speak directly to council.

One change in particular will now require “a detailed and complete description” of what the speaker plans to address rather than just a topic when he or she signs up to speak. As such, the move would provide “the clerk with an understanding of which city agency the comments pertain to or affects.”

While the city states it will help facilitate better public service by directing issues of concern to the appropriate department, residents who spoke against the resolution were concerned that it could be used to deny or limit some people’s voices and the topics they can raise.

An example includes residents who have been signing up to speak in favor of a proposed resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, which was presented to the City Council at its Jan. 8 meeting.

Since then, audiences for the biweekly meetings have had both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel supporters, and speakers have spoken for or against the proposed resolution, which have at times resulted in disturbances in the Council Chamber at City Hall.

Resident Allan-Charles Chipman spoke against the proposed rule changes.

“I think issues in which we complicate the ability and the process for people to come and speak on what is on their heart is not the best way forward,” he said, before adding a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.”

Other residents took issue with new language that will preclude people from participating in public comment for 90 days if they sign up to present, but do not appear without canceling by noon of the meeting day.

Eight speakers slots, while not specified in the resolution, has been the council’s limit to fit in the 30-minute time period allocated to public comments.

Nicole Jones, who represents the 9th District, noted that there are nine districts and perhaps the number of slots should be raised to 10 to allow for at least one speaker from each district to be able to sign up.

Several members also spoke to there being some leniency regarding absences, with 5th District representative Stephanie Lynch suggesting a type of “excused absence policy” to deal with unexpected situations that may prevent scheduled attendance in person or online.

“The intent is certainly not to reduce voice in this forum,” the 7th District’s Cynthia Newbille said, clarifying that she still would be prepared to consider amendments even after passage to “make this something that works for our city.”

With the council’s unanimous vote in favor of approval, the resolution is now set to take effect immediately.

Residents must sign up in advance to speak either in person or virtually. According to the resolution that passed, each person who desires to speak must make a request to the City Clerk for an allotment of time no later than noon on the date of the meeting when they wish to be heard. They can make their request by calling the Office of the City Clerk at (804) 646-7955 and selecting option 3, or emailing comments to CityClerksOffice@rva.gov.