TITLE
Recommendation to adopt a City Council Rule requiring that Council meetings not continue beyond 11:00 p.m. and any agenda items not heard by that time be referred to the next regular Council meeting as unfinished business.
DISCUSSION
City Council meetings are held in the evening in order to allow for more public participation and transparency. However, when meetings last late into the night, it can have the counter-effect of discouraging public participation.
When Council meetings last beyond 11 p.m., there is a tendency to try to dispense with the items as quickly as possible without giving adequate consideration and discussion. It is also unrealistic to expect that everyone's focus is as sharp as it gets late into the night.
In order to ensure thorough consideration and attention is given to every item before the City Council, we request that the consideration of a standing rule of the Council be adopted that the Council meetings not continue beyond 11 p.m., and any agenda items not heard by that time be referred to the next regular Council meeting as unfinished business.
If it is anticipated that a meeting may last until the 11 :00 deadline, the Mayor could bring up any time sensitive agenda items earlier in the meeting.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILMEMBER RAE GABELICH, EIGHTH DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER GERRIE SCHIPSKE, FIFTH DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER TONIA REYES URANGA, SEVENTH DISTRICT