During a recent council meeting, tensions flared as discussions centered around the handling of public comments and the management of meeting time. Council member Osaka expressed frustration over the loss of significant meeting time, attributing it to what he described as disruptive behavior intended to harass and intimidate. However, he countered that the individuals who spoke did not come with the intention to disrupt, but rather to share their views during their allotted time.

The controversy arose when council chair Jared Kettle announced, without prior notice, that public comments would be cut off. This decision led to a heated response from attendees, resulting in a recess that consumed approximately an hour of the meeting. Osaka pointed out that by that time, only half of the registered speakers had been able to present their comments. He argued that if the council had communicated the time constraints earlier, attendees would have been more understanding and could have left instead of waiting for a chance to speak.

Osaka also highlighted the number of individuals who signed up to speak—50 in person and 57 remotely—indicating the high level of public interest in the meeting. He suggested that a clearer communication strategy regarding time limits could have mitigated the situation.

In a separate remark, Osaka referenced an incident of vandalism involving graffiti on a bench, contrasting the situation with how such issues would be handled in neighboring cities like Bellevue or Redmond. This comment underscored ongoing concerns about community standards and public behavior. The meeting concluded with unresolved tensions regarding public engagement and the council's approach to managing citizen input.