Mobile Resident Pushes for Greater Voice in City Council as Proposal for Extended Public Speaking Time Hits Roadblock

Staff Report

Mobile, AL (BuzzReport)– In a city where civic pride runs deep, one Mobile resident is sounding an alarm about a quiet but critical issue: the right to be heard.

Paul Onderdonk, a longtime advocate for civic engagement and neighborhood transparency, has submitted a formal proposal to the Mobile City Council calling for extended public speaking time during official meetings — a request that, more than four months later, remains unanswered by city leadership.

Onderdonk’s proposal, filed on December 1, 2025, urges city officials to consider increasing the current three-minute time limit for citizen speakers at council sessions. Under current protocol, residents are granted a brief window to voice concerns on local issues — from infrastructure woes to public safety — often forcing complex community problems into soundbites.

But for Onderdonk, who has attended dozens of meetings over the past decade, that window is simply too short.

“We’re talking about real people, real neighborhoods, and real consequences,” Onderdonk said in an interview at a bustling downtown café. “How can we expect someone to properly explain the flooding on Prichard Avenue, or the noise from a 24-hour construction site, in three minutes? You’re lucky to get through the first paragraph before the gavel comes down.”

His proposal recommends increasing public comment time to five minutes, with an option for follow-up questions from council members. It also calls for a formal agenda item to be dedicated to extended community dialogue at least once per quarter, allowing for deeper discussions on critical citywide matters.

The idea is not without precedent.

Cities like Asheville, North Carolina, and Tacoma, Washington, have implemented similar changes in recent years, citing better public trust, increased civic participation, and more informed policy decisions as outcomes. In Birmingham, a 2021 rule change expanded citizen testimony to five minutes and added a public questions segment — a move widely praised by community advocates.

“Longer speaking time isn’t about letting people ramble — it’s about listening,” Onderdonk emphasized. “It’s about creating space for nuanced conversation. When residents feel heard, they’re more likely to engage constructively.”

Despite the proposal’s straightforward nature and growing grassroots support, it has yet to receive any official acknowledgment from city staff or council leadership. Onderdonk says he’s followed up via email, phone, and even hand-delivered correspondence to City Hall — all with no substantive response.

“I’m not angry,” he said. “I’m concerned. It sends a message that citizen input is optional, not essential. If we want Mobile to be a city that listens, we need systems that invite dialogue, not discourage it.”

City Clerk Marla Thompson confirmed that the proposal was received but offered no timeline for review, citing “ongoing procedural assessments” and council workload. Council President Denise Tate’s office declined to comment, stating that all proposals go through a “routine evaluation process” without guaranteed deadlines.

Meanwhile, Onderdonk’s call for reform is resonating beyond City Hall.

At a recent South Mobile neighborhood association meeting, residents applauded the effort, with one attendee calling the current system “a charade of participation.”

“If they only want polite, 180-second performances, we might as well just submit haikus,” joked longtime Eastside resident Calvin Reed, drawing laughter—and nods of agreement—from the crowd.

Experts in municipal governance say the issue strikes at the heart of democratic accountability.

“Public comment periods aren’t just ceremonial — they’re a vital feedback loop,” said Dr. Rebecca Langston, a public policy professor at the University of South Alabama. “When cities ignore citizen proposals, especially those designed to improve access, they erode trust. Mobile has the opportunity to lead here. All it needs is the will to listen.”

For his part, Onderdonk remains committed to dialogue.

“I’m not demanding a revolution,” he said with a smile. “Just a conversation. A response. A chance to sit down and ask, ‘How can we do better?’ That’s all I want — for Mobile to live up to its promise as a city that values its people.”