Public Meetings & Workshops

All public meetings of the Board of Commissioners are open to the public. Members of the public are invited to speak at the meetings at specific times during each meeting:

• Early in the meeting, prior to consideration of action items on the agenda, the public will be invited to comment on any item or matter on that meeting’s agenda that is not scheduled for a formal public hearing. This allows community members an opportunity to address agenda matters before the Commission takes action on them.

• Toward the end of each meeting, the public will be invited to provide comment that is not related to action items on that meeting’s agenda.

• The public will be invited to provide testimony on any item scheduled for public hearing. Speakers will be called to testify during the relative public hearing.

To ensure that meetings are orderly and effective, speakers who wish to comment before the Board of Commissioners are required to comply with these procedures:

• Comments are limited to three minutes unless otherwise announced by the Commission President.

• The Commission President will announce that public comment or a public hearing is open. At the appropriate time, speakers should approach the podium and state their full name. All remarks should be addressed to the Commission as a whole.

• You may also provide the Commission with written comments or materials to accompany your comments. These materials should be submitted to Port staff prior to the meeting via hard copy or email at info@portridgefield.org.

• Each person who addresses the Commission shall do so in an orderly manner and shall not make disruptive, disparaging, or disrespectful remarks or unreasonably disturb the business of the Port. Any person who makes such remarks or who becomes unruly, threatening or personally abusive to a member of the Commission, staff, or public shall be asked to leave, or be removed from the meeting. That speaker may also be issued a 90-day or 180-day suspension from verbal testimony.

• To maintain a respectful and orderly environment, members of the audience are asked to refrain from clapping, booing, cheering, or other audience demonstrations during the meeting.

• Signs, placards, and similar displays are not permitted in the meeting room.

• Speakers may not promote or oppose any candidate for public office or any ballot proposition unless the comment is for a specific public hearing or agenda item.

If you're unable to attend a meeting or prefer not to give verbal public comment, you may provide written comments 48 hours in advance of the meeting by:

• Dropping off a hard copy at the Port offices, located at 101 Mill Street, Suite 100, Ridgefield. Office hours are 8 a.m. - noon and 1 - 4 p.m., Monday - Friday.

• Emailing your comments to info@portridgefield.org.

• Mailing your comments to PO Box 55, Ridgefield, WA 98642.