From September to June, City Council meets on most Thursdays for “stated meetings” to introduce and vote on bills and resolutions addressing issues ranging from housing to public health to safety. While it’s up to City Council to pass or reject proposed legislation before it reaches the mayor’s desk, Philadelphians have the right to voice how the proposals may impact their lives and try to sway City Council’s decisions.
Here’s how you can be part of this process.
Prepare Your Statement in Advance
If you’d like to give public testimony, be sure to prepare ahead of time. Public testimony is supposed to be limited to legislation up for vote that day (although that hasn’t stopped commenters from going off-script in the past). You can find the upcoming agenda on Legistar and use its search tool to find more information on specific legislation.
Thoroughly research your topic. This is your opportunity to convince councilmembers why they should or shouldn’t support the bill or resolution. Gather the facts to back up your argument but also draw from your personal experiences to make your statement impactful. Consider the people you may wish to advocate for who are unable to attend.
Speakers are usually given three minutes to speak, but that can be shortened if there are too many speakers to get through. Consider timing yourself and concisely practice the key points you’d like to make, so you don’t get cut off mid-sentence.
Sign Up To Speak
If you’d like to give a comment at a stated meeting, call 215-686-3406 before 3 p.m. the day before the meeting to submit your information. You’ll be asked to give the following:
- Full name, including pronunciation and spelling
- The bill or resolution you intend to address
- Whether you support or oppose the proposed legislation
- Contact information
You can also sign up to speak the day of the meeting at Room 400 in City Hall. If you need any assistance such as language interpretation or disability accommodations, you can alert the Chief Clerk’s Office. Written comments can be sent to chiefclerk@phila.gov.
Bring These Items With You
The stated meeting begins at 10 a.m., but it is best to arrive early to pass through security and grab a good seat. Enter City Hall through the northeast entrance. Be prepared to show a driver’s license or state ID to security before walking through the scanners. Items like food, noisemakers, and large banners are not allowed.
Consider bringing some note cards to help guide you through your speech.
Get Ready To Wait a While
Depending what’s on the agenda for the day, stated meetings can often be long. The introduction of resolutions, reports, and special business precede public testimony so you may be waiting inside the council chambers for some time. Once it's time to speak, the clerk will call for registered speakers in order.
When called, walk up to the podium and state your name for the record. The timer will begin, with lights flashing when your time is ending. If you are unable to keep your testimony within the allotted time frame, you can submit your full written testimony.
Take Advantage of Other Opportunities
The stated meeting isn’t your only chance to interact with City Council and the city’s democratic process. Be on the lookout for when its committees meet for hearings that may also allow for public comment.
You can contact councilmembers by emailing, calling, or visiting their offices.
If you’d like to watch the hearings but are unable to attend, City Council meetings are streamed.
