Planning Commission

How to Provide Testimony

In-Person or Telephonic Testimony

Once an agenda is published, citizens may sign up to testify in person or telephonically by doing one of the following:

1. Calling the Clerk's office at 907-459-1401 no later than 4:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting;
2. Completing the online sign-up form no later than 4:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting; or
3. Signing up in person before the meeting.

During the meeting, the Chair will invite citizens to the table or ask the Clerk to call citizens when it is their turn to speak. Please note the following:

• Phone calls to citizens will come from an out-of-state number.
• If a phone call is not answered, the Chair will move to the next citizen who has signed up.
• Testimony will be heard in the order in which citizens have signed up.
• Each citizen will have three minutes to provide testimony.
• Other citizens attending in person may provide comments after those who have signed up.

Written Testimony

Citizens may submit comments using the online contact form or at Planning_Commission@fnsb.gov.

Agenda items include, but are not limited to:

• Conditional uses.

• Variances.

• Highway project variances.

Who can provide testimony on quasi-judicial hearing agenda items?

• Applicants or their representatives.
• Staff.
• Interested persons.

Interested persons are individuals who:

1. Are required to be mailed specific notice of a quasi-judicial hearing;
2. Provide an affidavit or other adequate proof that they reside within that hearing notification area; or
3. Timely apply to participate and prove that they possess a specific property interest that may be significantly affected by the proposed action in a way different than that of the general public.

When an applicant is a public entity, interested persons include the citizens of that entity for purposes of verbal testimony only.

Were you mailed a "Dear Property Owner" letter?

Citizens who receive a "Dear Property Owner" letter are considered interested persons and may testify using one of the methods outlined below.

Others who wish to participate may do one of the following:

1. Request an interested person determination during the hearing if attending in person; or
2. Submit a completed Interested Person Application (PDF) to the Clerk's office at clerks@fnsb.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Monday one week before the hearing for a pre-hearing determination.

How to Provide Testimony

In-Person Testimony

Once an agenda is published, interested persons may sign up to testify in person by doing one of the following:

1. Calling the Clerk's office at 907-459-1401 no later than 4:30 p.m. on the day of the hearing; or
2. Signing up in person before the meeting.

During the hearing, the Chair will invite interested persons to the table when it is their turn to speak. Please note the following:

• All testimony must be taken under oath or affirmation.
• Testimony will be heard in the order in which interested persons have signed up.
• Each interested person will have three minutes to provide testimony.
• Other interested persons attending in person may provide testimony after those who have signed up.

Telephonic Testimony

Once an agenda is published, interested persons may submit a completed Telephonic Testimony Application (PDF) to the Clerk's office at clerks@fnsb.gov no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Monday one week before the hearing for a pre-hearing determination.

During the hearing, the Clerk will call interested persons who have been approved to provide telephonic testimony when it is their turn to speak. Please note the following:

• Phone calls to interested persons will come from an out-of-state number.
• If a phone call is not answered, the Chair will move to the next interested person who has signed up.
• All testimony must be taken under oath or affirmation.
• Testimony will be heard in the order in which interested persons have signed up.
• Each interested person will have three minutes to provide testimony.

Written Testimony

Once an agenda is published, interested persons may submit a completed Testimony by Affidavit Application (PDF) to the Clerk's office at clerks@fnsb.gov no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Monday one week before the hearing for a pre-hearing determination.

What is ex parte communication?

Ex parte communication is any communication regarding a quasi-judicial hearing agenda item without the knowledge of the applicant, the applicant's representative, staff or interested persons. Ex parte communication includes, but is not limited to, contact in person, by phone, by email or by text message.

Borough Code requires commissioners to disclose any ex parte communication regarding a quasi-judicial hearing agenda item at the beginning of the hearing.

Agenda items include, but are not limited to:

• Rezones.

• Ordinances.

How to Provide Testimony

In-Person or Telephonic Testimony

Once an agenda is published, citizens may sign up to testify in person or telephonically by doing one of the following:

1. Calling the Clerk's office at 907-459-1401 no later than 4:30 p.m. on the day of the hearing;
2. Completing the online sign-up form no later than 4:30 p.m. on the day of the hearing; or
3. Signing up in person before the meeting.

During the hearing, the Chair will invite citizens to the table or ask the Clerk to call citizens when it is their turn to speak. Please note the following:

• Phone calls to citizens will come from an out-of-state number.
• If a phone call is not answered, the Chair will move to the next citizen who has signed up.
• Testimony will be heard in the order in which citizens have signed up.
• Each citizen will have three minutes to provide testimony.
• Other citizens attending in person may provide testimony after those who have signed up.

Written Testimony

Citizens may submit comments using the online contact form or at Planning_Commission@fnsb.gov.