City Attorney Mike Aguirre has admitted to a local attorney’s assertion that he was unfairly cut off from testifying at a council meeting last month.

Cory Briggs, an attorney representing an affordable housing advocacy group, claims the City Council violated the state’s public meeting law by not allowing him to speak during the April 3 council meeting when the council decided to change the way it assesses affordable housing fees on developers.

Briggs claimed that he did not request to speak until after the Housing Commission staff member presented the city’s recommendation, which had changed. Briggs said he wanted to see the report before deciding how to comment on it. The state Brown Act, he said, allows him the chance to submit a speaker slip after the staff report, although Council President Scott Peters said at the time he could not.

Aguirre said Briggs will be given 10 minutes the next time the affordable housing fee comes up before council. Normally, public speakers are given three minutes to address the City Council.

EVAN McLAUGHLIN

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