Changes to Sarnia council's procedural bylaw, approved by committee-of-the-whole, give the mayor access to agenda reports earlier, and limits some public delegations.
While single delegations will continue to be limited to 10 minutes, groups or like-minded individuals, speaking on the same issue, will now receive up to ten minutes for the first speaker and five minutes for subsequent speakers.
Councillor Brian White supported the idea as long as there's flexibility.
"Some members of the public may be coming on the same side of an issue, but may have an entirely scientific point of view that they're trying to present, and another member of the public may be [focused] on community value, or economic value, and they may be given the distinction of having separate points of view," said White.
Mayor Mike Bradley said the restrictions should help focus the discussion.
Councillor Terry Burrell didn't support the move.
"This is an opportunity for the public to come forward and be heard, and I would not want to see where somehow they're arbitrarily cut back," said Burrell.
Councillors also voted to remove gender pronouns from the bylaw Monday.
The committee recommendations still need council approval.
Discussions about changes to council's code of conduct were deferred to allow time to review proposed amendments received Monday morning.