As a viewer of the Council meetings, broadcast live, it is both an interesting and sadly entertaining spectacle. Of course, as the Constitution commands, every citizen has a right to their 2 minutes at the podium. What you actually see/hear are many folk signing up for the same topic, like homeless camps...some are local advocates pushing for support, some are newly homeless and tell their story and the often majority are mentally ill, rambling about things unrelated. Sadly entertaining but in fact a real waste of everyone's time, yet a guaranteed right. Aside from the mentally compromised there are 8 or so eccentric individuals, who sign up most every meeting on most every topic..., sharing poems they wrote, jokes, some including extra terrestrial observations, some relating data about the subject under discussion.  Bottom line there is an abundance of time wasted...and the idea of one or two speakers presenting on behalf of the "many" is the best way to regain control of the clock.