Oakdale council approves moving regular meetings to 6:30 p.m. in 5-0 vote (first reading)

The Oakdale City Council voted 5-0 Monday to amend the municipal code so its regular meetings begin at 6:30 p.m., moving them half an hour earlier from the current 7 p.m. start time. The vote was taken at what staff described as the ordinance’s first reading.

City staff said the ordinance also needs a housekeeping correction: the code currently lists the meeting location as 216 North Third Avenue, while meetings are now held at 277 North Second Avenue. “Oakdale Municipal Code currently sets city council meetings for 7PM, and it's actually listed in the ordinance that it's held at 216 North Third Avenue. So it's incorrect,” said city staff member Jerry during the presentation.

Staff presented three options: change start time to 6 p.m., change to 6:30 p.m., or keep 7 p.m. and correct the location. The staff recommendation was to set meetings at 6 p.m. and update the location; the council instead approved 6:30 p.m. Several council members said they had surveyed constituents and found no clear consensus. One council member who spoke in the discussion said many residents who work cannot arrive before about 6:30 p.m., while others, including business owners, preferred 7 p.m.

Mayor Pro Tem Smith and council members voted in favor; the roll call recorded a unanimous yes. Council members noted concerns about scheduling special meetings earlier than the regular time and the effect on families who bring school‑age children to meetings.

Because the item was introduced as an ordinance, the council scheduled a second reading for June 16. Staff told the council the ordinance would take effect 30 days after adoption.

Votes and next steps: the motion to approve changing the regular meeting start time to 6:30 p.m. passed 5-0 on the first reading; the second reading is scheduled for June 16, after which the ordinance would take effect 30 days later.