Upon reflection, and after my experience at the August 11 City Council meeting, I have some requests for consideration by our Council. First, that the three-minute timer rule imposed on residents be amended to reflect only the time in which a resident is speaking; the clock should not be kept running during interruptions or answers from staff or Councilmembers. Secondly, that members of the Council refrain from making accusations or characterizations about the intent of resident remarks from the dais without that resident being given the ability to respond.
I also reiterate my request (which is not audible on the recording of the August 11 Council meeting) that Councilmember Johnson personally and publicly apologize to me for her prepared statement at that meeting, which began: “I want to personally and publicly apologize to Kristen Wilson because she was attacked by a resident…”
At no time did I attack Ms. Wilson by speaking to her, and no reasonable person would believe that asking a question of fact at a public meeting should be construed as such. Councilmember Johnson’s mischaracterization of my exercise of my right to speech is deeply harmful to me, both personally and professionally, as well as being untrue.
I request that these amendments and this apology be acted upon at the next City Council meeting, September 22.
Respectfully,
Susan H. van Dijk
