The Lynchburg City Council Finance Committee convened on September 23, 2025, to discuss proposed changes to the agenda preparation process. The meeting featured three options for modifying how items are submitted and reviewed before council meetings, each aimed at improving efficiency and transparency.

Option A, introduced by Mayor Taylor, seeks to formalize existing practices by requiring that agenda items be submitted by 5 PM at least seven calendar days before a meeting. This option also stipulates that items will first be introduced during roll call at the next regular meeting before being discussed in work sessions.

Option B, proposed by Councilman Feroldi, builds on Option A by extending the submission deadline to eight calendar days. This change is intended to provide city staff with additional time to prepare for meetings, as the mayor and vice mayor typically meet with staff on Tuesdays. Under this option, items would also be discussed in a work session prior to a regular meeting vote.

Councilwoman Timmer's Option C includes a clarification that a council member's request to place an item on the agenda is considered received when delivered to the clerk, or if sent via email, at the time it is sent to the official city email address.

Additionally, a proposed Option D suggests that items could be added to a regular meeting agenda with a two-thirds majority vote of the council, provided they have been reviewed in a work session within the last six months or are deemed urgent.

During the discussion, some council members expressed their preferences for the options. Councilman Missions indicated a preference for Option A but suggested that the eight-day requirement for roll call introductions should be reconsidered, advocating for more flexibility in the process.

The committee's discussions reflect a commitment to refining the agenda-setting process, with the aim of enhancing the council's operational efficiency and responsiveness to community needs. Further deliberations on these options are expected in upcoming meetings as the council seeks to finalize the changes.