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Rathdrum council debates shifting meeting start time to 5:30 p.m.
Summary
Council discussed moving regular council meetings from 6:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to improve staff and public participation; no ordinance or vote was taken, and staff will bring options to the January meeting.
Council members and staff discussed a proposal to move Rathdrum’s regular council meeting start time from 6 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Staff said the change could help non‑salaried staff and members of the public who leave work and find it difficult to return for a 6 p.m. start; several council members expressed concern about public accessibility and suggested an effective date of February to allow broader input and to include Councilmember Larry in the discussion.
City staff said the city code currently sets council meetings at 6 p.m., so changing the time would require an ordinance and published notice; staff proposed bringing an ordinance and two proposed schedules (start in January vs. start in February) to the council’s January agenda for formal consideration. Several residents spoke during public comment in support of the earlier start time; one resident noted surrounding cities use 5 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. starts.
No formal action was taken; staff will prepare ordinance language and schedule options for the January meeting so council can decide whether to adopt the change and, if so, when it will take effect.
