Charissa Terranova arrived at Dallas City Hall last Wednesday at 9:45 a.m., 15 minutes before the special-called meeting she'd signed up to speak at.

She was listed as speaker No. 36, and more than 130 people had signed up to address the council on the agenda item that could have funded repairs for the building, which needs at least $1 billion in maintenance according to at least one estimate.

The meeting had drawn such a large crowd that every seat in the council chamber was full, and an overflow area was required.