How can the public contribute to policymaking in Arizona?

It’s a question tied to recent events, but also one that merits a broader assessment.

On Nov. 18, 2025, the Fountain Hills town council voted, 5-2, to temporarily eliminate the general public comment period at council meetings. The decision has not gone over well with some town residents:

Wendy Dachel wrote that the town council members “seem to have their own agenda and don’t care a whit about their constituents’ opinions.”