City checks revision to comment policy

SANDPOINT - Even with a contentious sidewalk reimbursement plan on the agenda, the most heated debate at Wednesday's City Council meeting centered on a seemingly innocuous proposal to revise the city's public comment policy.

At its July Administrative Committee meeting, Councilwoman Helen Newton proposed changing the city's current policy of omitting speakers' addresses from the online version of the council's minutes.

Until recently, the city clerk posted the names and addresses of those who spoke at council meetings on the city's Web site, but, after receiving a complaint from someone who did not want their address known, the policy was changed.

Newton wanted to reinstate the previous policy because she said it made the governing process more transparent, calling it a “critical component of making sound decisions.”

The proposal did not receive support at the Administrative Committee meeting, and Newton admitted before Wednesday's meeting that she did not expect support from the full council either.

Speaking during the public forum section of the meeting, Sandpoint resident Sandra Deutchman argued that requiring addresses in the minutes would only keep residents from speaking during council meetings.

“I urge you to vote no,” Deutchman said. “To vote yes would put your motives and integrity in question.”

Sandpoint Police Chief Mark Lockwood also voiced opposition to the policy change. Lockwood said the safety of city residents should be paramount in the council's decision-making process and argued that posting addresses could put citizens at risk. While he acknowledged that the addresses are available to the public with or without being posted on the city's Web site, Lockwood said making the addresses easier to locate intensifies the risk.

“(The information) is accessible - yes it is - but why should we serve it up on a platter?” Lockwood said.

Facing off against Lockwood, Councilman Michael Boge repeatedly touted the safety of the area and suggested those who choose to speak at council meetings should not look for anonymity in any form.

“It's important for the better good of the city to say who you are and where you're from,” Boge said.

In an effort to find compromise, Councilwoman Carrie Logan suggested the city amend its sign-up sheet to add language that would allow speakers to check a box if they did not want their address included in the minutes.

The council voted 4-1 in favor of Logan's suggestion, with Councilman John Reuter dissenting.