FAIRHOPE, Ala. - An ordinance to change the rules for public participation at City Council meetings has been sponsored by Councilwoman Debbie Quinn, who said it is intended to increase citizen involvement at those meetings.

“I thought this would create more transparency and give people more opportunity to speak about issues that concern them,” Quinn said Friday. “We can learn a lot as a council from this kind of participation.”

The proposed ordinance is expected to be introduced at the Dec. 13 meeting and voted on two weeks later.

The current procedure requires notifying the city clerk’s office by noon of the meeting day and limits comments to items on the agenda.

Quinn said she has received comments from residents saying the current procedure restricts their ability to participate and was not in line with other cities or county board of education.

If adopted, the proposed ordinance would allow the public to register on a sign-up sheet just prior to council meetings regarding scheduled agenda items, or about non-agenda items not yet considered by the council at earlier meetings.

“Sometimes things happen you’re interested in, but then you get there and you’re not allowed to speak,” she said. “I just felt like citizens should have that opportunity to speak when they get there.”