Let's Save the Riverside Library

Attend the Public Hearing

Public Hearing
Monday, September 8
3:00pm - 9:00pm
City Council Chambers
307 W. 2nd Street

The City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed 1997/98 budget on September 8. This will be our opportunity to make the case to save the Riverside Library. We can save Riverside -- but we'll need your help to do it. Please plan on attending the hearing.

Maybe you've never attended a public hearing. If not, this page will tell you a little bit about how they work, and what your options are. Remember, this is the opportunity for ordinary folks like you and me -- the public -- to have their say in City policy.

How it all Works

• If you wish to speak, you will need to signup. The City Clerk will be at the Council Chambers Monday at approximately 2pm to accept signups. You can sign up before then in the Clerk's office in City Hall. (Signups won't begin until the City Manager posts official notice of the meeting, which probably will be sometime Friday.)

• Signup is easy. The Clerk will give you an index card that you should fill out with your name and address.

• Signups continue through the entire duration of the hearing. You can sign up at any time right up until the very last speaker.

• Although it's best to arrive as early as possible and stay as long as you can, you are free to come and go as you wish.

• The speakers are called in the order in which they signed up. When your card comes up, you must be present. Otherwise, you will lose your spot and your chance to speak.

• It is a good idea to write a brief comment on your card. That's just in case something happens and you miss your speaking slot. You will lose your chance to speak, but at least your opinion will be registered.

• When it is your turn, you will be called to one of the two podiums at the front of the room. You will be given up to three minutes (strictly enforced) to discuss whatever you choose. There is a little yellow light that will go off to warn you that the end is approaching and you'll need to wrap up.

• We will have a volunteer at the hearing handing out colorful "Save Riverside" badges for people to wear. Please be sure to get one and put it on. It will show the Council the strength of support the Riverside Library enjoys. The volunteer will be glad to answer any questions you may have.

• We need your help even if you cannot speak. If you simply attend the hearing and wear a "Save Riverside" badge, you will be contributing to our efforts. Even if you don't want to address the council, you ought to fill out a speaker card and write on it, "I do not wish to speak, but ..." and indicate your support for Riverside. The Mayor will read your card aloud, in front of the TV cameras and Council. This is a quick and easy way to register your support. Even if you have no more than fifteen minutes to give us, please stop by to fill out a card.

• Be advised that the topic of this hearing is the entire 1997/98 City Budget -- not just the Riverside Library. That's why it is such a long hearing (six hours). There will be a lot of people there to talk about Riverside, but that's not the only thing that people will be discussing.

Hints for Speakers

If you've never addressed the Council before, we've got some tips that you may find useful.

• Plan your presentation ahead of time. Write out exactly what you want to say.

• Practice your presentation. You may feel like a dork talking to yourself, but the practice run-throughs will help tremendously. The practice will give you a chance to clean up the rough edges, and it will make you feel more comfortable with your presentation.

• Time yourself. Make sure you'll be able to say everything you want to say in your alloted three minutes.

• The Mayor and Council will be courteous and respectful towards you. You should do the same for them. Remember, the goal of our efforts is to get the Council to restore funding for Riverside, not to get them pissed off at us.

• Talk about what you know. If you know the facts and figures and policies, then go ahead and present them. If you've got a good story about Riverside, then tell it. If you just want to tell the Council why you like Riverside and how the closure will affect you, then do it. It's your three minutes -- use it in whichever way you chose. We hope that the combination of all the individual presentations will present a compelling case to save Riverside.

If you have any additional questions about the hearing, feel free to email us for help.