Apopka City Council

Velazquez urges Nelson to move the invocation and pledge ahead of public comments

PHOTOS BY ISABEL LECOMPTE (@ISASBEL.LECOMPTE), INTERNING PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE APOPKA VOICE.

Posted Thursday, July 17, 2025 8:33 pm

By Reggie Connell, Managing Editor

Why do public comments come before the invocation, pledge of allegiance, and fact of the day at Apopka City Council meetings?

It's a question asked by commissioners, residents, and on social media.

At the July 16th meeting, Commissioner Diane Velazquez gave voice to that frustration, directly asking Mayor Bryan Nelson to reconsider the current agenda order that places public comments ahead of what is typically the ceremonial and spiritual beginning.

“It’s been asked even at the public comment,” Velazquez said. “I did get calls from residents that I know personally, and they are asking for the invocation and pledge to be conducted before the public comment… It only takes less than four or five minutes. I don’t understand why it can’t be done. So, I’m asking.”

The invocation, pledge, and fact of the day took approximately 83 seconds earlier in the 7/16 meeting.

Her remarks came after several complaints in recent weeks, both at the dais, during public comments, and on social media.

Until recently, public comments were at the end of council meetings, and the live feed was turned off before residents spoke. After heavy criticism, the City moved public comments to the start of meetings, but now they are before the invocation and pledge, drawing new criticism.

Nelson defended the arrangement by citing developers and staff:

"The reason I do it is that the developers don't have to come for the public comment. They can wait, yet they would still be there when we do the prayer, pledge, and the fact of the day. Our staff doesn't have to be there if they don't have issues until their item comes up. So, it's more about getting people in the right spot at the right time."

Despite Nelson's explanation, Velazquez urged Nelson to reconsider.

“The residents are asking and they keep asking,” she said. “I’m respectfully asking you, as the Mayor and the Chair, to please consider bringing back the invocation and pledge before public comment.”

Keywords

Apopka City Council, public comments, Diane Velazquez, Bryan Nelson, invocation and pledge, council agenda order, residents’ concerns, developers and staff, Apopka meeting tradition

Comments

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AVoice2024

As someone said, “follow the money”. He must have the developers on speed dial as, depending upon how many Citizens speak during Public Comment depends upon when the meeting moves to the Prayer, Pledge and the developers opportunity to put more stress on the City. If any previous questions in the past as to Citizen-focus vs. developer-focus is no longer a question - “follow the money”.

This administration continues in a reactive, let’s not worry about streets, sidewalks, school overcrowding, water, sewer and lack of infrastructure to support the unmetered growth they continue to approve until it becomes a problem like flooding and Children walking to school along the road “an accident waiting to happen” as one of the 3 pointed out because of their failure to have the developer pave the sidewalk.

Next time She should put it in the form of a motion, get on the record by getting it to a vote to further expose those on the Dias who are opposed to hearing from the Citizens.

How can a minister sit on the Dias support the only City meeting that doesn’t start with prayer and pledge, especially given City Council meetings are the most attended of all City meetings?

Wake up Citizens. 3 on the Dias supported moving Public Comment to the end of the meeting after dismissing Department Heads and cutting off the live YouTube feed so other Citizens couldn’t hear for 9 months.

Then reinstate it only because 2 of the 3 supporting censuring and denying Citizens the right to be heard have an election coming up. Then add 2 slaps in the face to Citizens - less time to speak (4 to 3 minutes) and before the Prayer & Pledge!

Speaking of a slap in the face, the least engaged member on the Dias is more interested in a raise than listening to the People and doing the People’s work. Given the responsibilities, Commissioners should be better paid, but coming from this member?!

Remember this with our upcoming March election. Time for a change!

Friday, July 18, 2025 Report this
MDuran

A Voice 2024- That could not have been better said. What I think is completely obvious to all, this is about power, control and poor management. It is completely obvious that this current format isn’t about developers or staff.

And why hide from developers and staff what the residents have to say ? Did the city forget that it’s the residents that have given them the privilege to sit on the Dias ? Apopka can do so much better. You deserve much better.

Friday, July 18, 2025 Report this