Changes to Public Meetings in Panama City

PANAMA CITY, FL - The Panama City Commission has voted to make some changes to its public meetings. Meetings and workshops that previously began at 4 p.m. have been pushed back to 5:30 p.m. to allow for more people to attend. This change impacts virtual workshops and the second commission meeting of the month. Additionally, Town Halls will occur on the first Saturday of every month, unless stated otherwise.  

Virtual Workshops
Commissioners will host brainstorming sessions at 5:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month. These informal discussions will allow the Commissioners to explore ideas before committing staff time or public funds.

Citizens can watch live online at https://www.panamacity.gov/369/Live-Stream or in Room 102 at City Hall. While public comment isn’t taken during these early conversations, residents are encouraged to follow up with their Commissioner to share input. After streaming live, the video will be published to the City’s YouTube channel to serve as a record and allow citizens to watch at their leisure.

Town Halls
Designed to be casual, open, and community-centered, Town Halls will take place on the first Saturday of each month at 8 a.m. during the Farmers Market in City Hall's Rotunda. This is a chance to share ideas, raise concerns, and ask questions, well before issues reach the voting stage.

City Commission Meetings
Commission meetings remain the official setting for voting on City matters and are resource-intensive, with over a dozen staff members typically present. Public comment is not limited to what's on the agenda. Commissioners voted 5-0 on July 8, 2025, to keep it open to items on and off the posted agenda. Speakers are still limited to three minutes each during public participation.

The meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, beginning at 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Citizens can watch live online at https://www.panamacity.gov/369/Live-Stream or attend at the Bay County Government Center. After streaming live, the video will be published to the City’s YouTube channel to serve as a record and allow citizens to watch at their leisure.

These adjustments are displayed and broken down further here:  Changes to Public Meeting Dates & Times