Access to City Council Public Meetings

Any meeting where City Council is taking action on items (i.e. voting on resolutions or ordinances) will be streamed live on City 12 TV, YouTube, and Facebook.

ASL interpreters are provided at City Council Committee Meetings, Public Hearings, Speak to Council, and the full City Council meetings. Interpreters can be requested for other City Council meetings by emailing Council@CityofRochester.gov or by calling 585-428-7421 at least 24 hours in advanced. Please note, City staff will request interpreters but cannot guarantee the request will be fulfilled by the providing agency. 

Public Hearings vs. Speak to Council

Public Hearings and Speak to Council differ in nature. Please read below for more information:

• Public Hearings are required by Law for certain legislative items, such as amending the Official Map. The list of legislative items requiring Public Hearings is below.  The public is invited to speak about those specific items at Public Hearings.  Advanced sign up prior to the meeting date is not required for Public Hearings.  Public Hearings begin at 6:00PM the day of the meeting. 
• Speak to Council is not required by Law and not restricted by certain pieces of legislation.  Advanced sign up is required ahead of time for Speak to Council.  Sign ups close at 4:30PM the day of the meeting and we cannot accept any additional speakers after this time or during Speak to Council.  Speakers signed up ahead of time that do not show up to the meeting may not "give" their spot to someone not signed up. Speak to Council begins immediately after Public Hearings conclude.  

To participate in the Public Hearings: Anyone wishing to participate in Public Hearings may sign up ahead of time, or simply join in-person attend in-person - the City Clerk will open the floor to comments at 6:00PM. 

• Participants must include their first and last name, mailing address, phone number, and the Introductory Number they are commenting on
• If you cannot attend in-person, you may share comments via email or mail. Please note, these comments will be shared with the Council but will not be read into the record during the Public Hearings
• Email written comments directly to council@cityofrochester.gov  
• Mail written comments directly to the City Council and Clerk's Office - Attn: Public Hearings, Room 301A, 30 Church Street, Rochester, NY 14614 
• Participants must include their first and last name, mailing address, phone number, and the Introductory Number they are commenting on

To participate in Speak to Council: Anyone wishing to participate MUST sign up ahead of time. Sign-ups close at 4:30 p.m. on the day of Speak to Council. 

Speak to Council is an opportunity for the public to address the Council directly. Speakers are welcome to address a topic Council is voting on that month, or may comment on any topic they are interested in. 

• Speak to Council sessions are held after the Public Hearings are complete.  
• Speakers will have either two minutes or three minutes to speak at the session.    
• If there are 20 or less speakers signed up to speak, each speaker will be allotted three minutes to speak.  
• If there are more than 20 speakers signed up to speak, time is reduced to two minutes to speak.  
• A staff member will time each speaker.         
• Speakers can sign up by calling 585-428-7538 or 585-428-7421 or emailing council@cityofrochester.gov  
• if you cannot participant in person, you may share comments via email or mail. Please note, these comments will be shared with the Council but will not be read into the record during Speak to Council. 
• Participants must include their first and last name, mailing address, phone number, and the Introductory Number they are commenting on.    

For more information, please call  585-428-7538 or 585-428-7421, or email council@cityofrochester.gov

Click here to view the City of Rochester meetings calendar