Lago Vista council approves earlier meeting schedule; change starts immediately

Lago Vista city council voted 4–2 on Feb. 6 to change the regular meeting schedule, moving executive sessions earlier in the day and starting the open session later in the afternoon so meetings end earlier in the evening.

The new schedule — approved after public comment and extended council discussion — will set an earlier time for executive session (starting at 1 p.m.) and move the regular meeting start time so deliberations fall earlier in the evening. The resolution passed 4–2; Mayor Kevin Sullivan and Councilor Matt Prince voted no.

Supporters said the change will reduce fatigue-driven decisions late at night, make meetings more efficient and align work hours so staff and council are more alert during deliberations. Councilor Blake Roberts and others noted long meetings frequently stretched past 10 p.m. and sometimes into the early morning, and suggested an earlier schedule would shorten sessions. “Let’s stop doing late night bad behavior and bad decision making,” Councilor Prince’s remarks and other comments indicated as a key rationale for changing the schedule.

Opponents and several residents urged caution, saying earlier daytime meetings could make real-time participation harder for working parents, teachers and other day-shift employees and could discourage potential candidates who cannot commit to daytime attendance. Some residents and speakers suggested compromise start times (for example, beginning executive session at 3:30 p.m. and regular session at 5 p.m.) to balance staff and public access.

Council adopted the schedule change as a resolution and included language that lets the newly seated council determine its meeting start times at the first meeting after each election, preserving flexibility for future councils.