Council debates frequency and format of finance meetings, workshop role

Councilmembers debated how often and where to hold finance-focused work as they design an upcoming workshop schedule and consider a potential four-day municipal work week. Councilmember (Speaker 1) recommended “1 finance committee meeting, a month” with the option for ad hoc meetings; Councilmember (Speaker 4) urged weekly finance meetings, saying, “I think it needs to be 1 time per week.”

Why it matters: the council is reworking meeting schedules and the potential shift to a Monday–Thursday municipal work week could change availability and room usage for Friday meetings. The frequency and format of finance meetings affect transparency, staff workload and council preparation time for budget and financial oversight.

Key discussion points included whether to fold regular finance review into standing workshops or keep finance as a distinct, recurring meeting. Some councilmembers favored a monthly or biweekly finance committee with ad hoc sessions for complex items and virtual participation options; others warned that moving finance into workshops could “cloud the spirit of the workshop” and reduce the regular, consistent financial oversight they believe is necessary.

Councilmembers also discussed meeting times — several said they preferred morning meetings for the “different vibe” they bring — and the potential to hold fewer, more focused budget meetings by prioritizing items where staff needs council attention. No formal decision was made during the discussion; members asked staff to revisit the topic when additional council members are present at a later workshop.

Ending: Councilmembers asked staff to return with options and to discuss the schedule again when more members, including Tammy, can participate.