Jill Schramm/MDN The first floor in Minot City Hall would get updated teller windows in the Water Billing Department under security measures planned.

Security updates in Minot City Hall and a more structured format for public appearances before the city council received support from council members Monday.

There have been a number of instances in the past year in which staff have dealt with hostile visitors in City Hall, calling on police to assist on a number of occasions. Proposed upgrades would secure areas of City Hall so visitors would be screened before being allowed in.

The proposed project calls for constructing a wall, installing teller windows and secured doors and installing programmable security locks on new and existing doors at a cost estimated at about $52,000. The security updates approved by the council will restrict access to private offices. Access will require an access card or will need to be granted by an employee.

The first floor of city hall currently has locked doors into secured areas, leaving only the lobby and restrooms open to the public, but an existing teller window will be changed to a pass-through window with tempered glass.

The second floor will have locked doors to control access to all but the council chambers and restrooms. There will be two teller openings to communicate with office staff. The finance, city attorney, human resources, clerk and city manager’s offices are on the second floor.

“I’m incredibly supportive of this. Staff safety, first and foremost, I think, is paramount,” council member Shannon Straight said.

The council also discussed meeting protocols that include possibly limiting council members to two opportunities to speak during a debate, unless given additional time by the presiding officer. No member of the public could address the council for longer than five minutes unless permitted by the presiding officer or presenting on an agenda item. The time limit could be suspended by a majority vote of the council.

Council member Lisa Olson said people who appear before the council typically have a message to convey, and having a time limit will help them prepare their comments.

“Most people will be understanding of it,” she said.

Council member Mark Jantzer added it is important the council be receptive to hearing from citizens and that the presiding officer, typically the mayor, be flexible about when to extend the five-minute limit.

“That said, it’s certainly fair to ask them to do their best to communicate that message as succinctly, as straightforward as they can so that we can deal with the matter at hand,” he said.

Council member Stephan Podrygula added that the public still could present written remarks or show video to supplement a five-minute presentation.

No formal action was taken on the time limit proposals.