The board will not hear comments on issues that have already been presented and on which there have been no important changes. These draconian laws prohibit many groups from discussing anything timely, controversial or particularly pressing. Of course, the trustee positions are volunteer, and their time is important. That's why there is currently a 30-minute time limit for public comment. But the meetings and the trustees should remain accessible.
Every city council has a public forum where one or two citizens speak to the entire council.
The size of their constituency makes it logistically possible. Moreover, unlike the trustees, council members live in the community that they govern. Trustees can become detached from the concerns of students and employees of the University. Making the public comments session free to everyone and anyone who has a question or concern about the University is not a bad thing. Listening to student concerns for half an hour or less at the monthly meeting is not an unfair sacrifice for the trustees.