The change means a new two-hour public forum every six weeks.
The meeting clarified a rule in its standing orders that means a key criticism of the change - people would not be able to discuss an issue before an initial decision was made by a committee - has, in part, been resolved.
Dunedin Ratepayers and Householders Association chairman Syd Adie said last night the new system could be abused by councillors.
The council discussed a recommendation replacing public forums at the start of the council's five committee meetings with a separate two-hour forum, with a theme chosen by the council.
Last week, Mr Adie said the public would not be able to talk about agenda items that would be discussed at the meeting.
The forums were introduced by former city councillors Louise Rosson and David Benson-Pope in 1987, before the present system of public consultation was put in place.
Cr Richard Walls said because they were not part of a committee's agenda, no outcome was possible from people's input.
However, under the new system, staff could gather ideas raised, and include them before the annual plan process "log jam".
"I believe it's a fairer system."
Cr Neil Collins asked who would choose the "theme" for discussion.
Mayor Peter Chin said he, in consultation with a rotating roster of committee chairmen and chief executive Jim Harland, would make the decision.
After the theme had been discussed, the public could discuss any council-related matter they wished.
Cr Teresa Stevenson said taking away the public's ability to speak before committee meetings would mean they had less influence, but Cr Walls told her standing orders for committee meetings had been modified, which meant they could still have that option.
The plan was supported by all councillors except Cr Stevenson.
She said the two-hour meeting should be "as well as, rather than instead" of the present system.
An amendment by Cr Fliss Butcher to suspend the meetings before elections to stop them being "manipulated by people who call us undemocratic during the day, then in the evening send hate mail" was not supported.
