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Chair proposes temporary rule to allow occasional council work sessions; members weigh public access and logistics
Summary
Chair Aaron De Kiser proposed a temporary amendment to the council rules to allow occasional, public work sessions before or after regular meetings for a six-month trial. Council members supported the idea but raised concerns about room capacity, audio for remote viewers, scheduling citizen-comment times and time limits.
Council Member at Large Aaron De Kiser presented a first reading on Feb. 25 proposing a temporary amendment to the Sandy City Council rules and procedures to permit occasional work sessions either immediately before or after regular business meetings.
"The intention is just to work better together as a city council," De Kiser said, describing the proposal as a six-month trial to allow deeper discussion of agenda items in a less formal setting.
Council members generally expressed support for the idea but raised logistical and public-access concerns. Council Member Ryan Meekum and others asked about practices in other Utah cities and whether work sessions would be scheduled in the smaller council "living room" (overflow) or elsewhere. Council Member Zach Robinson recommended setting time limits (for example, 90 minutes) to avoid holding residents waiting for the formal business meeting to start. Council Member Allison Stroud and others noted the living room can be cramped for members of the public and urged the council to ensure the public always feels welcome. Several members and staff discussed prior experiences holding work sessions in different rooms and their technical limitations.
City staff suggested using the back conference area (the living-room/overflow area) with the Zoom broadcast active in the main chamber so remote viewers could continue to hear and watch the discussion. Justin Fratto, council staff, noted the citys Zoom board can stream the overflow room and that the council could attempt the living-room format with chairs for the public and adjust if the space proves unsuitable.
Why it matters: Work sessions give the council time to discuss complex or contentious items in more depth, but location, audio/streaming technology and clear scheduling for citizen comment were raised as key issues.
Next steps: The item is a first reading; staff will incorporate the councils feedback on location, time limits and public notice and bring a revised temporary-rule proposal back for formal adoption.
Provenance: Transcript excerpts include the chairs first-reading presentation, staff remarks on prior practices and several council members' questions about logistics.
Ending: Members asked staff to refine the proposal to address public access, time limits and technical streaming requirements before a final vote.
