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Price City Council weighs keeping workshops, moving council meetings later and tightening public comment rules
Summary
Council members and staff discussed whether to keep separate monthly workshops, require department reports at workshops, shift regular council meetings from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and adopt clearer public-comment rules to improve transparency and efficiency.
Mayor Terry and members of the Price City Council debated whether to retain a separate monthly workshop, require department head reports at workshops and move regular council meetings later in the evening during a council meeting discussion on meeting structure.
The discussion focused on transparency, staff workload and giving the public better access. Mayor Terry said the council has installed a camera in the council chambers and stressed the desire for openness: "We're not trying to hide anything," he said. Councilmember Joe argued in favor of keeping public comment but tightening how it is handled: "I personally am on favor of public comment because I think citizens need to have access to their government. I think we need to tighten up how we do it."
Councilmembers and staff sketched one proposal repeatedly during the discussion: hold a staff-focused workshop once a month at 5:00 p.m., followed by the regular council meeting at 6:00 p.m. for the remainder of the evening. Jackie (staff) would handle public-notice technicalities, and September was suggested as a realistic start month to allow staff time to re-notice meetings.
Several members said workshops should include more department-head presentations so council members can ask budget and project questions before items reach a formal agenda. Councilmember Justin North supported the idea, saying a monthly staff workshop would let departments compile substantive updates rather than producing weekly reports.
On public comment, council members discussed options including a sign-up sheet, fixed time limits (two to three minutes per speaker), and provision for a single spokesperson when many people share the same concern. Councilmember Britney suggested a sign-in sheet and that speakers be given contact information for appropriate staff at the end of the public-comment period. Councilmember Mike suggested city attorney Eric draft a combined policy reflecting statutory requirements and local rules, and then post it online and include it on agendas.
No formal action or vote was taken. Councilmembers asked staff to draft proposed schedule and rules for future discussion and possible adoption.
