(Des Moines, IA) -- The Des Moines City Council approved an amendment that prevents residents from using audio, video or other materials while making public comments.
Instead, these materials will be reviewed by the City Clerk before being passed along to council members to view in their own time.
The rule change comes weeks after a resident used their two minutes to show a video about climate change.
Resident Bridget Botkin says the council has had a pattern of restricting public comments since 2020.
She pointed out that, between 1987 and 2019, there were 10 rule changes.
Botkin says, since 2020, there have been 10 more changes, with several pertaining to public comment.
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