How to speak at a Louisville Metro City Council meeting

Eleanor McCrary, Louisville Courier Journal
Updated ·4 min read

Louisville citizens have exercised their right to speak at Metro City Council meetings for years – from expressing concerns about affordable housing to how tax dollars are spent.

"The council addresses are absolutely an exercise in democracy and can be an extremely effective way to shape public opinion and public policy," Metro Council member Andrew Owen said.

The Louisville Metro City Council allows up to 10 people to voice their thoughts for three minutes each at every meeting. Here’s how to secure a slot and make the most of your time before the council.

How to reserve a slot to speak at Louisville Metro City Council

Metro City Council meetings are held every other Thursday at 6 p.m. on the 3rd floor of Metro Hall, 601 W. Jefferson St. Signups to speak begin at 9 a.m. the Friday after a council meeting and close at noon the Wednesday before the next meeting.

Citizens can reserve a slot either in-person or by calling the Louisville Metro Clerk's Office at 502-574-3902.

Prospective speakers should call right at 9 a.m. to have the best chance of receiving a spot, said Marissa Brown, an assistant clerk at the County Clerk's Office.

Speaking slots sometimes fill up quickly – especially because only three people can speak about the same issue with the same “stance" per meeting. The clerk’s office defines a stance as being “in support,” “against” or “neither” about a particular topic, Brown said.

The office will need several pieces of information when someone signs up, including the resident’s:

  • Name

  • Address and/or council district

  • ZIP code

  • Phone number

  • Discussion topic

  • Stance

  • Accommodations needed

Unhoused individuals who are unable to provide a permanent address are still able to participate, Brown said.

Residents have three minutes to speak during the meeting unless they have a "medically recognized disability" under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which would allow them an extra minute, according to the Louisville Metro Government website.

An individual must wait for five consecutive council meetings to pass before they are able to speak again. This is done to give different people the opportunity to speak, Brown said.

How to make the most of your time in front of the council

There are a few ways to best take advantage of the time in front of the council, according to communications and public speaking professors from Louisville universities.

It's important to lay out a plan for your speech ahead of time, said Simmons College cross-cultural communications professors Johnny Jones and Deborah Carlton.

The most effective speeches will have a clear main topic, said Jones, who teaches an urban and suburban communications class. Lara Needham, a public speaking professor at Bellarmine University, agreed.

"For a three-minute speech, you'd need to focus on just one issue," she said. "If you find yourself wanting to pursue multiple issues in this short timeframe, it's a good sign that you probably haven't fully developed your primary topic."

Speakers are prohibited from electioneering or promoting a particular product or business, according to the Louisville Metro Government website. To get the most out of the experience, focus on an issue the Metro Government has jurisdiction over.

After you've nailed down your topic, think of a short but captivating hook for your speech.

“If you don't have their attention from the beginning, you risk them using your three minutes for a brain break,” Needham said.

Aim to make a strong logical or emotional appeal either by using statistics, bold imagery, examples or a short story, the professors suggested.

"In my experience, a personal story relayed with real-life details and consequences, is the most effective presentation," Owen said. "And if you can present a clear 'ask’ to council members, that is even better."

From there, limit yourself to three pieces of supporting evidence – if not less, Carlton said.

“You can’t share with them everything you’re thinking of,” she said. “You need to have some strong evidence to support what it is you're talking about."

Once you've outlined your topic and main speaking points, practice saying them aloud – over and over again.

“Rehearse it in the mornings, over your lunch break, and again in the evening,” Needham said. “Practice in your work clothes and practice in your pajamas. The more familiar you become with your speech, the more confident you'll be leading into the big event, and you'll end up with a better overall performance.”

The professors also suggested:

  • Knowing what district you’re in and who represents you

  • Timing yourself when you practice

  • Creating notecards to bring with you

  • Discussing how the issue affects the entire community, not just your street or neighborhood

  • Being prepared to answer questions

While speakers can give educational materials to the clerk's office to disseminate to council members, they may not use "props, displays or other objects" during their presentation, according to the Louisville Metro Government website.

Using expletives, profanity or approaching individual council members is not permitted, Brown said.

More: Louisville Metro Council approves Greenberg's inaugural budget. Here are the highlights

Reach Eleanor McCrary at emccrary@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: How to sign up and speak at a Louisville Metro Council meeting