El Mirage council rejects proposal to set city offices 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; motion fails 5-2
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Summary
A motion to change city office hours to Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with field operations exceptions) failed after council debate about resident access, overtime costs and prior outreach; the roll-call vote was 5 nays and 2 yeas.
The El Mirage Common Council voted down a proposal on May 20 to change city office hours to Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (field operations excepted). A motion to adopt those hours failed on a roll-call vote, with five members opposing and two supporting.
Council Member Nora McDaniel moved the proposal, seconded by Council Member Gentry. McDaniel and other proponents said returning to an 8 a.m.–5 p.m. schedule would match decades of practice and be consistent with many neighboring government offices, and they suggested extending customer service hours to 6 p.m. to accommodate working residents. Gentry said residents she spoke to supported 8–5 and recommended customer service extended to 6 p.m.
Opponents, including Council Member Dorsey and Vice Mayor Parsons, argued the city manager's recommended alternative (an 8:00–4:30 schedule described in a city manager memorandum dated 02/25/2025) avoids unbudgeted overtime and preserves earlier and later access that previously allowed residents who work outside the city to be served before or after work. Dorsey said the 8 a.m.–5 p.m. schedule would close the office during the lunch hour and reduce access for constituents who work nonstandard hours.
Council Member Aldridge and others also noted the city already spent roughly $5,223 producing outreach materials announcing the new hours and cautioned additional mailings to change the message would incur further costs. After debate, the formal roll call recorded the following votes: Vice Mayor Parsons — No; Council Member Dorsey — No; Council Member Aldridge — No; Council Member Gentry — Yes; Council Member Norton McDaniel — Yes; Council Member Winston — No; Mayor Mercio — No. The motion failed.
City staff referenced the city manager's February 25 memorandum when answering questions; the memorandum recommended 8:00–4:30 as the city manager's operational proposal. Council members who voted "no" said that recommendation balances resident access with budget constraints and avoids overtime.