Guide to Participating in City Meetings

Did you know you can participate in Largo City Commission Meetings using electronic communications technology? (Please note that Work Sessions do not typically feature Public Comment) This means that members of the public who wish to comment during the meeting will have several options. Upcoming meetings with public comment options are listed below:

Next Meetings
with Public Comment:

Largo City Commission Meeting
  • Tuesday April 2, 2024, at 6pm
  • Tuesday April 16, 2024, at 6pm
View Agendas: Largo.com/Agendas

WATCH LIVE

TO OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT 
Anyone who would like to comment during the meeting may participate in the following ways:
  • Email Now: Email your comments now or during the meeting to Pu[email protected] and they will be read aloud during the meeting (Please limit your comments to 400 words.). Emails received before 5:00 pm on the day of the meeting will be distributed to the City Commission and not read aloud.
  • Live During Meeting in Person: City Commission Meetings are open to the public and those in attendance can fill out a Public Comment card and turn them in to the City Clerk to speak in person to the City Commission.  Capacity in Commission Chambers may be limited to maintain safe social distancing.
  • Live During Meeting Via Zoom: Webinar participants can share comments live during the meeting by using the 'raise your hand' feature and waiting to be called on. As a courtesy, you are welcome to email Pu[email protected] to notify the City Clerk's Office that you plan to comment using the Zoom webinar.
    • Webinar Link (Registration not required): https://us06web.zoom.us/j/99472811046?pwd=Vm0vbVNvenhBMS9IY2J0M29rbWFyQT09
    • Or join via telephone:   
      1-929-205-6099 (Long Distance Charges May Apply)
    • Webinar ID: 994 7281 1046
    • Passcode: 062310
    • If joining via telephone and you want to speak, please press *9 to raise your hand to share that you want to speak, and when it is your turn press *6 to unmute yourself.
Please note that all speakers will have 3 minutes. You will hear a beep when there is 30 seconds remaining and a series of beeps when time is up.

If you have any questions about how to watch, listen or comment during the Commission Meeting, please email [email protected] or call 727-587-6710 ext. 7003.


Additional information to help you participate in City meetings:

LARGO CITY COMMISSION
The City Commission is the legislative and policy-making body of the City. The non-partisan commission consists of the Mayor and six commissioners who are elected at large for staggered three-year terms. The mayor is the presiding officer of the commission and possesses the same voting powers as a commissioner. On an annual basis, one commissioner is appointed to serve as the vice-mayor and assumes the presiding officer duties in the mayor's absence.

The commission is empowered to establish City policy, to provide for the exercise of all duties and obligations imposed upon the City by the City Charter and applicable law, and to secure the general health, safety, and welfare of the City and its citizens. The commission discusses and adopts ordinances and resolutions to establish policies and programs and to provide public services and facilities for City residents and businesses.

CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS
Regular meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. All meetings take place in City Commission Chambers at Largo City Hall, 201 Highland Avenue NE, in Largo.*

Work Sessions are held on the second Tuesday of the month at 4 p.m. Work Sessions take place in the Community Room, adjacent to the Commission Chambers. Special meetings and additional Work Sessions are scheduled on an as-needed basis.

TELEVISION BROADCASTS
All Largo City Commission meetings and work sessions are shown live on LTV Spectrum Cable ch. 639, W.O.W. Cable ch. 15 or Frontier Cable ch. 45. Rebroadcasts are shown several times throughout the week until the next live meeting occurs. Visit Largo.com/LiveTV to view live, on-demand, or see the replay schedule.

AGENDAS
Meeting agendas are available to the public on the Friday afternoon prior to any Tuesday meeting. Copies of the complete agenda packet are available in the City Hall lobby and at the Largo Public Library. The agenda packet is posted online at Largo.com/Agendas.

REGULAR MEETINGS

Citizen Comment
The City Commission sets aside a portion of each Regular Meeting for citizen comment. This is an opportunity for the public to speak on items not on the agenda that are relevant to the City and the City Commission, or on Consent Docket items. All comments are to be directed to the Mayor; questions cannot be directed to any individual Commissioner or staff member. Any member of the public who would like to address the City Commission during Citizen Comment must complete a speaker card and submit the card to the City Clerk prior to the beginning of Citizen Comment. The City Clerk will call speakers by name when it is their turn to speak. All speakers must address the City Commission from the podium, identify themselves by name, and give their complete address for the record. Speakers are limited to three minutes, however, a representative of a group may speak for three minutes plus an additional minute given for each group member in the audience who has waived their right to speak, up to a maximum of ten minutes. The City Clerk will provide a form to document the request for additional time. Only one representative per group will be allowed.

Speakers shall not:
Engage in loud and disruptive speech
Use profanity or obscenity
Use "fighting words" (e.g. words that are likely to cause a fight, are threatening, annoying, or tending to cause a breach of the peace) or speech that threatens harm
Engage in commercial speech (advertising)
Engage in personal attacks

If an individual is declared out of order, he/she will be requested to leave the podium and will be subject to physical removal from the Commission Chamber. No signs, placards, or banners will be allowed in the Commission Chamber. Clapping, heckling, and verbal outbursts in support of or opposition to a speaker's comments are discouraged.

These policies also apply to those members of the public who wish to speak on Legislative Matters or Public Hearings. A speaker card must be completed and submitted to the City Clerk prior to the item on the agenda. Speakers' comments must be specific to the agenda item.

Consent Docket
The Consent Docket consists of routine items, such as previously budgeted purchases or administrative matters that require final approval by the Commission. Items may be removed from the Consent Docket for discussion upon the request of members of the City Commission. Items removed from the Consent Docket will be considered immediately following approval of the Consent Docket; public input will not be accepted. The Consent Docket is approved or disapproved in a single vote and public comment on any Consent item must be made during Citizen Comment.

Confirmation of Work Session Direction
Confirmation items are those for which there has been discussion at a Work Session and specific direction given to staff. The City Commission votes to confirm or amend the direction given. Public Input is not accepted.

Public Hearings
This portion of the agenda includes all public hearings required by City codes or state statutes. The procedure for public hearings is for staff to provide their report, followed by the reading of the ordinance title, opening and closing of the public hearing, City Commission discussion, and voting. Completion of a speaker card is requested in order to speak at a public hearing. There is no limit for total public input at a public hearing. Regulations for Citizen Comment are applicable and comments must pertain to the specific agenda item.

Any person who appeals any decision of the City Commission with respect to any matter considered at a Regular Meeting will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made. Such record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

Legislative Matters
Legislative Matters include items for which City Commission discussion is anticipated or for which a staff presentation is necessary. Items in this part of the agenda include ordinance first readings and non-routine purchases and administrative matters. The procedure for items in this portion of the agenda is for staff to provide their report, followed by public input, City Commission discussion, and voting. Total public input on a single issue or agenda item is limited to thirty (30) minutes.

Staff Reports
These reports are typically for informational purposes only, however, some presentations may require City Commission direction. Public input is not accepted on staff report items.

WORK SESSIONS
At Work Sessions, the City Commission receives reports from and asks questions of staff and consultants regarding new or ongoing projects, issues being considered, or other topics that require considerable City Commission review and discussion prior to taking formal action at a Regular Meeting. The agenda typically consists of three to five items. No votes are taken at Work Sessions and no public input is accepted.

TERMS TO KNOW...
Amendment: A change to any previously approved document, resolution, or ordinance
Ordinance: A local law approved by the City Commission; requires a public hearing
Resolution: An official decision made by the commission; may require a public hearing
Proclamation: A document approved by the commission officially recognizing an event or accomplishment

Population Size

4th

Largest City in Tampa Bay

Acres of Park Land

4.5K

Largo Businesses