Addressing the City Council

The Mayor and the members of the Chesapeake City Council welcome and encourage all Chesapeake residents to bring issues and concerns before the Council whenever there is a need. The Council members are your elected representatives. It is both your right and your responsibility to make your voice heard.

Citizens wishing to present matters to the Council must register with the City Clerk no later than 6:30 p.m. on the evening of the meeting. You may register earlier by contacting the City Clerk's office at 757-382-6151.

Specific rules and time limits apply to each speaker, based on the type of agenda item upon which they are speaking. The basic time allotted is five minutes per speaker, though this may be shortened if there are a large number of speakers. No speaker will have less than three minutes to address Council.

• When speaking before Council, there are several things to keep in mind:
• Speakers must speak from the podium in the well of the Council Chamber. Disabled speakers may use the seated microphones just inside the doors to the Chamber, if they choose.
• When you begin your remarks, state your name for the record.
• Speak in a normal voice and relax. Council is interested in hearing what you have to say, and will carefully consider your input.
• Address the Council as "Mr./Madam Mayor and Members of Council."
• You must confine your remarks to the topic you signed up to speak about. If you stray into other areas, you may be ruled out of order.
• If you have materials you wish Council to view or consider, please provide these to the City Clerk for distribution to Council. You must provide ten copies of the material to be distributed to Council.
• Speakers must refrain from making personal verbal attacks on members of Council or other citizens, as well as using vulgar language during remarks.
• Council may, at its option, recall any speaker during Council deliberations on an issue, if there are questions or a need for clarification.