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Council debates standing work-session ordinance; some members prefer adding council discussion item instead of monthly session
Summary
The council considered a council-initiated ordinance to schedule a standing monthly work session for nonvoting discussion between regular meetings. Councilors discussed alternatives — adding a regular "introduction of new items" slot on the existing agenda or continuing to call special meetings — and no second-reading action was taken.
The Georgetown City Council revisited a council-initiated ordinance that would create a standing monthly work session for nonvoting discussion at its Jan. 13 meeting. The ordinance had a prior first reading; the council held discussion but took no final action.
City Attorney Emily explained the proposal’s intent: to provide a regularly scheduled opportunity between the two monthly council meetings to discuss projects and public business without taking votes, and to help committees and the full council exchange information before matters return for final action.
Councilors debated whether a standing third meeting is necessary or whether the same objectives could be achieved by reorganizing the existing meeting agenda — for example, by restoring an “introduction of new items” or an extended council-discussion slot at the end of the regular meeting — or by continuing to call special work sessions when needed.
Several council members said they favored more public discussion and transparency and suggested improvements that could include: better pre-meeting notification, a consistent calendar of events, and clearer committee reporting. Others noted that the council can already call special work sessions and that adding another standing meeting could be unnecessary.
No ordinance amendment or adoption occurred at the Jan. 13 meeting. Council members were told the second reading is scheduled for a future meeting; if councilors want changes, those can be proposed before the second reading or the ordinance can be voted down at that time.
Ending: The council left the proposal open for further changes and discussion; members suggested several procedural alternatives and asked staff to return with any edits requested before a scheduled second reading.
