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Government

Public Testimony Guidelines

Submit your testimony

The Gresham City Council encourages community members to talk about issues important to them. Here is how to address City Council.

If you have questions, concerns or ideas for Council, you can contact us directly. Correspondence with Council is considered public record and is accessible on request through our public information request process.

If you would like to address Council in a public forum, you may do so at any Council Business Meeting in the public testimony timeslot. Public testimony is written or oral comments submitted for or during a council Business Meeting and can be about any City-related topic. These comments are entered into the official meeting record and are accessible on the meeting agendas and videos page.

Public testimony

Any community member may submit written testimony or request to speak on any City-related subject, unless it is the subject of a public hearing that has been closed, during the specified portion of a Council Business Meeting. Testimony will not be heard if related to a public hearing that has been closed.

Written testimony

  • Must be received 24 hours in advance of the Council meeting; submit via the public testimony request form above, or by email at Rachael.Gangelhoff@GreshamOregon.gov.
    • If you do not receive a confirmation email within one business day, please reach out to us at 503-618-2695.
  • Please include your name and the date of the meeting on your submitted document.
  • Testimony will be posted online with the meeting agenda and included in the official record of the meeting.
  • Comments will not be read aloud during the meeting.

Oral testimony

  • Register at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting using the public testimony request form above, or by email at Rachael.Gangelhoff@GreshamOregon.gov.
    • If you do not receive a confirmation email within one business day, please reach out to us at 503-618-2695.Oral testimony is permitted in Council Chambers or remotely by Zoom.
  • You can speak in Council Chambers or from home.
  • There is a three-minute limit per speaker.
  • You may submit written testimony to accompany or expand upon your oral comments.
  • Visual aids may be submitted for inclusion in the meeting record but will not be displayed during the meeting.

Public hearing testimony

  • During a public hearing, you may address City Council following the staff report.
  • Time available for testimony will be limited.
  • The presiding officer will read complete hearing instructions before the testimony.

Questions?

Questions regarding public testimony may be directed to the City Recorder at 503-618-2695 or Rachael.Gangelhoff@GreshamOregon.gov.

Need interpretation services? Check the box on the form above or contact Alex Logue at Alex.Logue@GreshamOregon.gov or 503-618-3214.