Why Are We Still Requiring People to Share Their Addresses at City Council Meetings?
Florida lawmakers are moving to protect elected officials from harassment. One proposed bill would keep their home addresses and phone numbers private. Senator Shevrin Jones said it best in the Tampa Bay Times:
“No one needs to know where you and your family live.”
That’s common sense.
So why are ordinary citizens still required to state their home addresses when speaking at St. Petersburg City Council meetings?
These meetings are livestreamed, recorded, and archived. If you speak on a controversial topic, your name and address become part of the permanent public record. In today’s climate of political tension and online harassment, that’s more than uncomfortable—it’s potentially dangerous.
It’s Time to Update St. Petersburg’s Public Comment Policy
Currently, speakers at City Council meetings must say their names and home or business addresses. This requirement doesn’t reflect today’s realities.
The good news? There’s an easy fix.
I’ve formally requested that the City Clerk and City Council modernize this outdated policy. My proposal includes three key changes:
Stop requiring public disclosure of addresses. It’s unnecessary and puts speakers at risk.
Revise the sign-in process. Collect only names and discussion topics—no addresses.
Protect private information. If addresses are needed for internal purposes, keep them confidential and off the public record.
Here’s the policy language I submitted:
“The City shall not require any speaker to publicly disclose their home or business address or neighborhood when participating in public comment. Such information, if requested, shall only be submitted on a confidential sign-in sheet used for administrative purposes and shall not be included in the public record.”
What Happens Next?
I’ve asked for this issue to be added to the agenda or reviewed by the appropriate City Council committee. I’ll post updates as soon as I hear back.
How You Can Help
Want to make an impact? Here are three simple ways:
Email City Council members. Ask them to support privacy protections for speakers.
Share this message. Help raise awareness and start a conversation.
Speak up. You have a right to be heard—without giving up your privacy.
Together, we can make St. Petersburg a safer, more inclusive place for civic participation.
Full Text of the Letter I Sent to City Council
Here’s the exact letter I submitted. Feel free to reference it or adapt it for your own message:
Dear City Clerk and Members of the City Council,
I am writing to request changes to the City Council Policy and Procedures Manual regarding public comments during City Council Meetings and Open Forums. These changes are essential to protect residents’ privacy and safety while maintaining compliance with F.S. 286.0114 and local procedures.
1. Protect Speakers’ Personal Information
City policy should no longer require speakers to publicly state their home address, business location, or neighborhood. This practice increases the risk of harassment and undermines personal safety.
2. Update the Sign-In Sheet Process
While sign-in sheets remain public records under Florida law, the City should only collect essential details—names and topics. If addresses are needed for internal purposes, they should be collected privately and excluded from the public record.
3. Suggested Policy Language
To clarify this change, I propose the following amendment:
“The City shall not require any speaker to publicly disclose their home or business address or neighborhood when participating in public comment. Such information, if requested, shall only be submitted on a confidential sign-in sheet used for administrative purposes and shall not be included in the public record.”
These revisions would align City procedures with the spirit of Florida’s Sunshine Law while addressing valid public concerns about safety and privacy.
Please let me know the process for placing this request on a future City Council agenda or for review by the appropriate policy committee.
Thank you for your attention and consideration.
Sincerely,
Ron Diner
