Culver City : 5-Minute Limit Remains

Members of the public who address the City Council will have five minutes to speak, instead of the three-minute time limit sought by Councilman Albert Vera.

Council members voted 4-0 Monday to adhere to a five-minute time limit that is already part of city code. In addition, speakers will be allowed to return to the podium for an additional three minutes after everyone has had a chance to speak.

Vera brought the item up for discussion last month in hopes of shortening speeches so more people would have a chance to address the council, especially at large meetings.

City staff members discovered, however, that a five-minute limit was already on the books, although it has rarely been enforced.

Mayor James D. Boulgarides was opposed to reducing the allotted time to three minutes, citing a staff report that showed that most cities in the area allow five minutes.

“I would not like to think of Culver City as more restrictive than most communities,” he said.

Because a large crowd is expected to testify at the Aug. 31 public hearing for the proposed Sony Pictures Studios expansion plan, the council voted to limit speakers to three minutes the first time they speak, with an additional three minutes for the second round.