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Florence, SC & the Pee Dee Region
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Florence City Council passed Bill 2026-31 on second reading on October 12, 2026, creating monthly Citizen Engagement Sessions where residents can meet the mayor and city manager, and rewriting the rule for speaking at regular Council meetings. Under the ordinance text in the City's agenda packet, a resident may speak at a regular meeting only on an item on that meeting's published open-session agenda, for up to five minutes, after notifying the City Clerk in writing before the meeting starts. Council voted by voice, and added phone calls as a way to request a session. Officials said at the meeting that public speaking is not being removed, while WPDE reported the ordinance still needs final approval; the text says it takes effect on second and final reading. We checked the agenda packet, the meeting video transcript, WPDE's report and past agendas on October 14, 2026; official minutes are not yet posted.
The ordinance does two things. It sets up a monthly way to reach the mayor and city manager outside a Council meeting, and it changes who can speak at Council meetings. Quotes below are from the ordinance text in the October 12 agenda packet.
The record runs from the first reading to WPDE's report two days after the second. Newest first.
| Date | Step | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 2026 | WPDE reports on the ordinance | Describes monthly sessions and the Section 2-24(h) change, matching the packet text. Says the ordinance still requires final approval. (WPDE) |
| Oct 12, 2026 | Second reading, Bill 2026-31 | Staff report calls it "Ordinance 2nd Reading." Passed by voice vote after about 20 minutes of debate. Amendment adds phone calls as a way to request a session. A motion to call the question came before the amendment vote and again before the final vote. (Agenda packet pages 42 to 47; Council meeting video, about 20:51 to 40:12) |
| Sep 14, 2026 | First reading | Discussed in executive session first. A council member then moved to amend the bill to incorporate its provisions into the existing Council citizen engagement and public appearance process and to have staff explore other engagement options before second reading. Passed 7-0 as amended. (Draft Sept 14 minutes, agenda packet pages 14 to 15) |
It does not set a schedule or a response time. One council member proposed a window of 48 to 72 hours for staff to contact a resident, and another asked that requests be taken on a rolling basis instead of by a month-end deadline. The City Attorney warned that putting times in the ordinance could box residents in, and no vote on either idea appears in the recording. The sessions are left to the city manager's office to schedule.
It does not say sessions will be recorded or written up. A council member asked whether sessions would be recorded so residents would not keep asking the same questions. The city manager said recording every meeting would be "a little extreme" but that a resident who wants one recorded could have it. Nothing in the discussion says whether notes, outcomes or follow-up are kept or published.
It does not leave open-topic speaking in place. At the meeting, the mayor, the city manager and the City Attorney each said the ordinance adds to public speaking and takes nothing away. The staff report says the ordinance "preserves the opportunity for citizens to speak at regular City Council meetings on open-session agenda items." That is narrower than a general public comment period. Under the text, a resident who wants to raise a topic not on that day's agenda would use a Citizen Engagement Session instead. For context, the November 18, 2024 agenda lists six separate requests to speak "regarding water issues" under Section 2-24(h), so topic-based appearances have been routine. We have not seen the previous Section 2-24(h) wording, so we cannot say exactly what changes. One council member also asked whether an ordinance is needed at all to make officials available. The city manager said other entities do not offer a session like this; we have not checked that.
What are Citizen Engagement Sessions?
They are meetings where a resident can discuss a concern about city services or operations with the mayor and the city manager, or their designees. Council passed the ordinance creating them on second reading on October 12, 2026.
How do I request one?
In writing or by email to the City Clerk's office by the last business day of the month before the session, with your name, address, contact information and a detailed description of the issue. Council added phone calls on October 12. Each resident gets 10 minutes.
Can I still speak at a Council meeting?
Yes, but only on an item on that meeting's published open-session agenda. The ordinance text allows up to five minutes and requires written notice to the City Clerk, naming the agenda item, before the meeting begins. Confirm the process with the clerk before you plan to speak.
What topics are off limits?
Personnel matters and pending or threatened litigation, according to the ordinance text.
Will sessions be recorded?
The ordinance does not say so. The city manager said a recording could be made if the resident wants one.
Is it final?
The ordinance says it takes effect on adoption at second and final reading, and the October 12 vote was second reading. WPDE says it still requires final approval. Official minutes should settle it.
Know the answer to any of these? Send us the source and we will check it and update this article.
Checked October 14, 2026. Primary sources first.