Council backs quarterly "fifth Tuesday" open-house town halls; staff to draft resolution

The Laramie City Council on March 11 requested staff prepare a resolution to reinstate quarterly "fifth Tuesday" public meetings, preferring an open-house format that rotates among city wards and combines informational displays with a moderated public Q&A.

City Clerk said fifth Tuesday events previously were held by ward and had been paused for lack of participation. "Part of why I can't tell you when they started is it's hard to track that, because there was nothing formally adopted," the City Clerk said while reviewing the history of the program.

Council discussion and councilor preferences Councilors and staff discussed several formats. The council signaled support for a traveling open-house approach: a centrally organized event in a community venue that would provide informational boards and staffed tables while allowing residents to speak one-on-one with councilors and staff, followed by a brief, moderated public comment period. City Manager recommended the open-house format based on participation best practices and suggested tailoring topics to the neighborhood where the meeting is held.

Agreed elements and logistics - Frequency and timing: The council backed holding four fifth-Tuesday meetings per year (quarterly), staged in different parts of the city to increase access. - Format: City Manager proposed an "open house" model with informational displays, staff and partner tables, and a short presentation followed by moderated Q&A. Councilors suggested allowing mingling and 1-on-1 interactions for part of the meeting and a seated question-and-answer portion for the remainder. - Suggested length: Staff proposed a 90-minute block (for example, 45 minutes of open-house/exhibits and 45 minutes for an assembled Q&A or presentation). - Public-comment limits: Councilors discussed limits to manage time; the council settled on a flexible range of 3 to 5 minutes per speaker depending on turnout, with the option for a follow-up round if time permits or to designate a future work session when more time is needed. - Rotation and locations: Councilors favored rotating locations across wards (fire stations, community centers, the Lincoln Center and other venues were suggested), so meetings come to residents rather than requiring travel. - Accessibility and broadcast: A number of councilors and a media representative asked that at least one meeting per year be hosted in chambers and televised or livestreamed for residents who cannot attend in person; staff said they would assess equipment and staffing for off-site broadcasts. - Compensation and outreach: Councilors debated whether to donate any extra meeting pay to non-profits; several said compensation should remain available for members who rely on it. They also asked staff to work with community organizations (for example, Interfaith) to publicize the events and highlight other available services to attendees.

Council action and next steps The council did not adopt a formal ordinance at the work session. Instead members asked staff to draft a resolution that codifies the preferred approach (quarterly rotating open-house meetings, 90-minute suggested length, flexible 32D5 minute speaking window, educational displays, and periodic chamber broadcasting). The City Clerk said staff would prepare the resolution for a future council meeting for formal adoption.

Public comment Several councilors and members of the public supported the open-house approach; Christopher Stratton of Laramie 24-7 recommended televising at least one meeting so the content would be available on Zoom and on YouTube for residents unable to attend.