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Temecula council moves regular meetings to 3 p.m.; presentations to follow business agenda, 4-1 vote
Summary
After a lengthy dais discussion, the council voted 4'to'1 to change regular council meeting start times to 3:00 p.m. with closed session at 2:00 p.m., effective July and subject to a 12-month review. The council directed staff to notify the school district and reorder agenda items so presentations and recognitions occur after core business.
The Temecula City Council voted 4-1 on May 27 to change the regular meeting start time from 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., with closed session moved to 2:00 p.m., beginning with the new fiscal year in July. The motion directs staff to reorder the agenda so proclamations, presentations and youth-related recognitions occur after the council's business agenda and to notify Temecula Valley Unified School District of the change. The council also directed a 12-month review of the new schedule.
Mayor Brendan Kalfas and several councilmembers argued a daytime meeting could increase participation from some segments of the community (business owners, residents who work from home, retirees) and could reduce staff overtime and security costs associated with later-night meetings. Opponents raised concerns that daytime meetings could limit access for working residents, curtail the ability of students to attend after school, and disrupt presentations and community groups that now present at evening meetings.
Discussion on the dais covered a range of logistics: whether to move to morning, afternoon or earlier-evening meetings; whether closed session should precede or follow open session; how to provide a "time certain" for community presentations; effects on staff workload and overtime; and the need to preserve youth in government engagement. Council members asked staff to coordinate with the school district on youth participation and reimagine youth-in-government opportunities that do not require a nighttime meeting.
Councilmember votes were recorded 4-1 in favor of a 3 p.m. start (one councilmember voted no). The motion specified implementation at the start of the next fiscal year and included that the schedule be reviewed after 12 months.
Votes at a glance: Change meeting start time to 3:00 p.m. with closed session at 2:00 p.m. — passed 4-1. The motion also directed staff to reorder the agenda so presentations and proclamations occur after the business portion and to notify the Temecula Valley Unified School District.
Ending: The council's decision is procedural; staff will return with formal resolutions/ordinances needed to change the municipal meeting schedule and communicate the new hours to the public and partner agencies.
