MASON CITY — The Mason City Council has formalized new procedures for its public meetings, introducing stricter time limits for public comment and specific protocols for how agenda items are managed. While city officials frame the changes as a move toward “fairness and effective government,” some local residents are labeling the shift as a suppression of public speech. These rules were introduced and adopted by the council at the February 2, 2026 meeting.
New Rules for Public Participation: Under the updated “General Policy Statements,” the window for public engagement now carries specific constraints. The Public Forum and Public Hearing portions of the meetings are now limited to three minutes per person, a reduction from the previous five-minute standard.
Furthermore, public comments are strictly required to pertain to agenda items only. To manage lengthy sessions, the city has implemented a tiered priority system if a public session exceeds its initial 30-minute block:
- Mason City residents receive first priority.
- Property and business owners follow.
- Individuals with a direct connection to the agenda item.
- All other speakers as time allows.
If a meeting reaches the end of its allotted time—including a potential 30-minute extension granted by a majority council vote—any remaining speakers will be asked to submit their comments in writing for the record.
Efficiency vs. Expression: The change has sparked pushback from community members, including Mason City resident Scott Stadtlander. “Mason City people have a right to know when their speech is being suppressed,” Stadtlander said, expressing discouragement over the dwindled speaking time.
Mayor John Lee, however, defended the policy in a response to Stadtlander, maintaining that the three-minute rule is a “common standard” across the state and country.
“Council meetings are business meetings with full agendas,” Mayor Lee stated. “The reason for moving from five minutes to three is fairness and effective government… it allows more voices to be heard and keeps the meeting moving while still giving time to make a clear point.”
The Mayor emphasized that the policy does not limit freedom of speech, noting that residents can still submit written documentation or contact him directly via phone or email outside of the formal meeting structure.
Protocol for Council Members: The policy also clarifies how the Council itself must operate. To place an item on a future agenda, two Council members must now coordinate with the City Administrator or Deputy City Clerk by noon on the Thursday preceding the meeting.
During deliberations, Council members are allotted two opportunities to speak: an initial five-minute window, followed by a three-minute rebuttal after all other members have spoken. In an effort to maintain a professional “business” environment, Council members are prohibited from directing questions to audience members, except for specific factual clarifications authorized by the Mayor.