COLUMBUS, Ga. - Residents who want to speak at a Columbus Council meeting can sign up through the city's online Public Agenda Application, prepare printed copies of any materials and watch for a second confirmation of their appearance date. The city's meetings portal lists regular council meetings for Tuesday, Nov. 10, and Tuesday, Nov. 17, both at 9 a.m. The Nov. 17 date differs from the city's usual fourth-Tuesday schedule, so it is worth confirming.

The process is outlined on the Public Agenda Application page and the Clerk of Council page, both checked Nov. 3. Residents regularly use the public agenda, including eight speakers listed at the Oct. 27 meeting. The steps below follow what those pages and the recent minutes say.

Step 1: Find the online application

The starting point is the city's Public Agenda Application at publicagenda.apps.columbusga.gov. The Clerk of Council page at columbusga.gov/coc also says the "Application to Appear Before Council" form lives there. Both pages were reviewed Nov. 3, 2026.

The application page requires users to check a box stating, "I have read and understand the guidelines above." That acknowledgment refers to the instructions on the page, so residents should read them before submitting a request. The pages reviewed do not state a submission deadline.

The pages also do not say whether the form can be submitted in person instead of online. The Clerk of Council's Office can be reached at 706-225-4013 with questions. Residents who are unsure should call before the meeting.

Step 2: Check the November meeting dates

The Clerk of Council page says council meets "9:00 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month" and "5:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month." The Municode meetings portal, checked Nov. 3, instead lists two upcoming regular meetings in November. Both are listed at 9 a.m.

• Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026: regular meeting at 9 a.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026: regular meeting at 9 a.m.

Nov. 17 is the third Tuesday, not the fourth. The reason for the difference has not been confirmed, and the status of a possible Nov. 24 meeting is also unknown. Residents should use the dates on the portal and ask the Clerk of Council if they need clarification.

Recent meetings show the usual pattern. Council held a regular meeting Oct. 13 at 9 a.m. and another Oct. 27 at 5:30 p.m., according to the portal. The page also says that in a month with a fifth Tuesday, a consent agenda and Work Session are held at 9 a.m. and "there is no public agenda listed on that date," as with the Sept. 29 Work Session.

Step 3: Print copies instead of planning a screen presentation

The city's guidelines do not allow speakers to show material on the overhead screens. The page says the government "does not allow the showing of presentations, videos, pictures, and/or documents on the overhead screens during public agenda appearances." Speakers who have photos or documents should plan on paper instead.

The page recommends giving 21 printed copies to the Clerk of Council. The copies go to the mayor, council members and city staff, so each receives one. The number is presented as a recommendation.

The pages reviewed do not state a time limit for speakers. Residents who want to know how long they will have should ask the Clerk of Council. This story does not state a limit because none was found.

Step 4: Watch for a second confirmation

Submitting a request is not the last step. The page says, "You will receive a second confirmation" of your appearance date. That message tells applicants when they are scheduled to address council.

If the second confirmation has not arrived by the Friday before the Tuesday meeting, the page says to contact the Clerk of Council's Office at 706-225-4013. That is a follow-up instruction, not a submission deadline. For Nov. 10, the Friday before is the practical date to watch.

The pages do not say that an applicant is automatically scheduled just because the online form was completed. Residents who want to appear Nov. 10 or Nov. 17 should keep an eye out for the confirmation. If it does not come, a phone call is the next step.

Step 5: Know where council meets

Council meets in Council Chambers, second floor, at the C.E. "Red" McDaniel City Services Center, 3111 Citizens Way, Columbus, GA 31906. That location is in the heading of the Oct. 13 and Oct. 27 minutes. The Clerk of Council page also links "Council - Streaming Video" for those who want to follow along.

The Oct. 27 minutes list Mayor B.H. "Skip" Henderson, III, and Mayor Pro Tem R. Gary Allen. The councilors are Simi Barnes, Travis L. Chambers, Joanne Cogle, Cathy Cook, Charmaine Crabb, Glenn Davis, R. Walker Garrett, Bruce Huff and Toyia Tucker. The Clerk of Council is Lindsey G. McLemore.

Step 6: Know what recent public agendas looked like

At the Oct. 27 regular meeting, eight speakers were listed on the public agenda, and each was marked "No Action Taken." That means the council did not vote on any of them. The Oct. 13 minutes list 10 numbered public-agenda items, and some were marked "Not Present."

These records show what happened at those meetings. They are not a promise of any outcome for future speakers. Residents can read the minutes to see how earlier items were recorded.

Where to find agendas, minutes and video

The Clerk of Council's Agenda and Minutes page at columbusga.gov/coc/Agenda-and-Minutes links to the Municode portal. The portal lists the upcoming November dates and the records of earlier meetings, including the Oct. 13 and Oct. 27 summary minutes. The streaming link is a separate way to watch.

Quick Q&A

Is the next listed meeting Nov. 10? Yes. The Municode portal lists a regular meeting for Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, at 9 a.m., and another for Nov. 17 at 9 a.m. The Nov. 17 date is unusual, so check it.

Must speakers bring exactly 21 copies? The page recommends 21 copies for the mayor, council members and staff. It also says presentations, videos, pictures and documents may not be shown on the overhead screens. The copy count is described as a recommendation.

Does speaking guarantee a council vote? No. The Oct. 27 minutes show eight public-agenda speakers, each with "No Action Taken." Those entries describe that meeting only.

What to know before attending

• Apply: Public Agenda Application, publicagenda.apps.columbusga.gov
• Meetings: Tuesday, Nov. 10 and Tuesday, Nov. 17, both at 9 a.m. (per the Municode portal)
• Bring: 21 printed copies are recommended; no screen presentations
• Confirm: Contact the Clerk of Council's Office if the second confirmation is missing by the preceding Friday
• Where: Council Chambers, second floor, 3111 Citizens Way
• Questions: 706-225-4013