HomeMy WebLinkAbout04 - Modifying the Start Time for the Holding of Regular City Council Meetings - CorrespondenceReceived After Agenda Printed
July 14, 2020
Item No. 4
From: Susan Skinner <susanskinner949@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, July 10, 2020 9:26 PM
To: Dept - City Council; City Clerk's Office
Subject: Proposed change to city council start time
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Dear City Council,
On the consent calendar for Tuesday's meeting, you are proposing moving the start time of City Council meetings to
occur as early as 4 PM. Although I understand why that would be an attractive option, I think that it is ultimately not a
good decision.
Many of us have day jobs that have no flexibility to allow us to attend a meeting that starts prior to the end of the work
day. Thus, if there is an issue that requires input, we lose the ability to monitor the meeting and speak to the issues that
will be discussed during the meeting. While we can always write a letter in advance, we both know that often
discussions veer away from expected discussion points and being present in person allows a more directed and
pertinent way to carry our point. Starting early disenfranchises a large section of the population.
The other problem with a flexible start time is that it becomes much harder to determine when your items might be
discussed. If the study session is short, any given agenda item might be completed before one is even aware that the
meeting has started.
I encourage you to maintain a standard meeting start time that does not overlap with a usual work day.
Thank you,
Susan Skinner