Proposed Edinburg Public Participation Rules Pulled from Council Agenda

Arnoldo Mata

EDINBURG, TX — A proposed ordinance that would have established new rules of decorum and public participation during Edinburg City Council meetings was pulled from consideration by City Manager Mayra Ayala during this past Tuesday’s meeting.

No explanation was provided for why the item was removed from the agenda, and there was no indication of whether it would be brought back at a later date.

The proposed ordinance sought to amend the city’s Code of Ordinances to include “Rules of Decorum,” setting stricter time limits and guidelines for public speakers. Under the proposed rules, speakers addressing specific agenda items would have been limited to two minutes, or four minutes if using a translator. Open Forum speakers would have been allowed three minutes each, with a total of 30 minutes allocated per meeting.

The ordinance also included provisions allowing the presiding officer to revoke speaking privileges or remove individuals for disruptive behavior, including exceeding time limits, using abusive language, or engaging in disorderly conduct.

The item was initially scheduled for consideration during the May 6 regular meeting, with a proposed immediate implementation if approved.