A courtroom is an unusual place for the City Council meet, but recently they met there, along with members of the Mayor's administration and a facilitator, in an effort to work out new procedures to help run the Council's business more smoothly and make their work more transparent.
Subjects on the agenda varied, including: how to conduct business, council and meeting etiquette, public participation and how to make the Council's agenda available earlier than it is now. Currently, the agenda for Monday evening meetings is generally available on Thursday afternoons. Support items may not be posted to the city's Web site until Friday.
Council member Eric Johnson told the meeting, "Ten days out would be great. If we had more time to lok at the agendas, it would serve the public." To Council member Erica Pickett, posting a longer-term agenda with items, such as big developments would be a good idea, ones the Council knows are coming down the road, "We know but we don't let anyone else know."
Council member Brad Adams pointed out that the Council used to get a longer range planning schedule, but, "I haven't seen that lately." He'd like to see that earlier. Cynthia Richardson suggested preliminary agendas could be left with space to add items later. She urged to start off with, "Step 1, long term agendas." Then, "Step 2, have a draft agenda 2 weeks before the meeting."
But, Brian Geer was concerned about locking Council agendas in 'draft mode." And, he was concerned about "sucking up staff time" preparing multiple agendas. City Human Resources chief Emily Schuh said, "Three levels of calendar would impact staff time. We all wear multiple hats."
Mayor Maxwell suggested a monthly tentative calendar for the first of each month. Richardson asked, "A rolling calendar?" He answered, "I don't see why not, updated weekly." He added, "We'll give it a shot."
That item and others discussed over the afternoon were set to be worked out in more detail for the Council to consider as formal rules.