Buffalo · faq
Frequently asked
Common questions about how OpenCity covers Buffalo public meetings and civic data.
When and where does the Buffalo Common Council meet?
The Common Council holds its regular (stated) meetings every other Tuesday at 2:00 PM in the Council Chambers on the 13th floor of Buffalo City Hall, 65 Niagara Square. The Council recesses from stated meetings during August, and when a meeting Tuesday falls on a statutory holiday it moves to the following day. On the alternating Tuesdays the Council's standing committees - Civil Service, Finance, Community Development and Legislation - meet instead.
How can I watch Buffalo Common Council meetings?
Every Common Council meeting is live streamed on the Buffalo Common Council Facebook page at facebook.com/BFLOCC. Agendas, agenda packets and minutes are posted on the city's CivicClerk portal at buffalony.portal.civicclerk.com, and OpenNewYork adds searchable transcripts and video for each meeting.
How do I speak at a Buffalo Common Council public hearing?
Public comment is taken at the Council's committee meetings, which are held bi-weekly on the Tuesdays opposite stated Council meetings. Residents sign up in advance using the 'Request to Sign Up to Speak On a Public Hearing' form at buffalony.gov/1561, and Council staff confirm the request within one business day. Questions can go to Common Council staff at (716) 851-5105 or councilstaff@buffalony.gov.
Who represents me on the Buffalo Common Council?
Buffalo is divided into nine council districts - Delaware, Ellicott, Fillmore, Lovejoy, Masten, Niagara, North, South and University - each represented by one popularly elected District Council Member. There are no at-large members; the Council President is elected by the members from among themselves. You can look up your district with the city's interactive map or on the Common Council Members page at buffalony.gov/387.