From Staff Reports
Despite complaints from city commissioners and firefighters and an extreme backlash from residents on social media, public comments will again appear at the end of the Apopka City Council's August 21st meeting.
It's the second meeting in a row for its new position, right after the Mayor's Report. There is also no acknowledgment that the live feed, which was turned off for public comments at the August 7th meeting, will be turned off again once public comments begin.
And the backlash from residents will extend to Apopka City Hall Wednesday night. In fact, it might look a little more like Chicago than Apopka.
A group describing itself as "concerned citizens of Apopka" sent The Apopka Voice a release and posted it on local Facebook pages announcing its intention to stage a protest at Apopka City Hall to move public comments back to its normal position near the beginning of the meeting.
Its organizer, Apopka resident Megan Garcia, wrote the following statement:
"Concerned citizens of Apopka will be rallying to protest Mayor Bryan Nelson's recent decision to move the public comment section to the end of future city council meetings ahead of the next city council meeting on August 21st at 6pm.
This response comes after Nelson's actions at the August 7th city council meeting where Nelson's change to the placement of public comment was made before city council had the opportunity to agree to make this change. Commissioner Nick Nesta led much of the discussion against this change, but ultimately, the council voted in the affirmative to leave public comment at the end of the meeting with a 3/2 vote. This change, combined with the abrupt cutting of the live feed during the public comment section of the meeting, has sparked widespread outrage within the community. Commissioner Anderson cited 'several' emails she received asking that public comment be moved to the end of the meeting due to the, 'drama' that ensured week after week- however- the organizers of Wednesday's protest would like to bring attention to the fact that none of those people have stepped forward, nor has anyone organized a protest to call for that change..
During the August 7th meeting, Mayor Nelson cited that developers should not have to sit through an hour of public comment as his reasoning for the change. However, when pressed further, the Mayor refused to provide additional justification for his decision. This move has been perceived by many residents as a disregard for the voices of the people of Apopka, prioritizing business interests over community engagement.
Based on the widespread discussion across multiple social media channels, the community's concern is deeply rooted in the belief that the people come first, as clearly stated in Apopka’s city charter. It is clear that the people of Apopka believe that this change undermines their rights to participate in local governance and diminishes the transparency and accountability expected of their elected officials.
In response, a community protest has been organized to demand that the public comment section be restored to its former position at the beginning of city council meetings, with all parts of city council meetings being available for viewing via the Youtube live stream. The protestors are also calling for a formal apology from Mayor Nelson for his actions and for cutting off the live feed without warning, which they view as an unacceptable suppression of public discourse.
The protest will take place August 21st, at 6pm on the perimeter sidewalk of Apopka City Hall. Participants are asked to park in the public parking lot on 5th street in leu of parking at city hall. This protest is expected to draw a large number of participants. The organizers of this protest ask that all participants make themselves aware of Florida State protest laws to ensure all participants stay within their boundaries.
"This is about more than just the timing of public comments; it's about ensuring that our city leaders prioritize the needs and voices of the people they serve," said Megan Garcia, a community leader and organizer of the protest. "We believe that the public's right to speak and be heard should never be compromised in favor of business interests."
The Apopka Critic Facebook Page posted about the protest and made this comment above the post along with this graphic:
"Grass root effort. Many citizens were not happy about the Mayors decision to move the public comments portion of City Council meetings to the end of
what can be sometimes marathon meetings. The fact that developers items, presentations, zoning changes, and other agenda items all go before the opportunity for taxpayers to speak has many residents upset. Another hot topic is the possibility of a major fourty percent utilities rate hike. You can show your displeasure by protesting peacefully at 6pm on Wednesday before the 7pm City Council meeting. If you want your voice to be heard on these topics please attend. Parking will be at the 5th Street public parking area. The peaceful protest will be outside the City Hall perimeter. You can contact the organizer at megan.I.garcia15@gmail.com."
The Apopka City Council's August 21st meeting is scheduled for 7 pm at the Apopka City Hall Council Chambers.
