Cypress council directs staff to draft ordinance moving regular meetings to Tuesdays after heated debate

After more than an hour of public comment and council debate, the Cypress City Council voted to direct staff to prepare an ordinance to change the regular meeting day from the second and fourth Monday to the second and fourth Tuesday.

Supporters argued the change will improve weekend quality of life for council and staff and align Cypress with most neighboring cities in Orange County. "I support a change to the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month," Mayor Burke said, framing the move as a modest alignment with regional practice and improved work-life balance for officials and staff.

Opponents said the change penalizes long-time public commenters and reduces the ability of some council members and the city attorney to attend. Councilmember Pete said he opposed the change and noted its likely effect on residents who routinely attend Monday meetings.

The council voted to direct staff to draft an ordinance and return with a first reading; the motion carried 3–1. The council received legal guidance that an ordinance changing the meeting day would require a standard ordinance process (two readings and 30 days after adoption before it takes effect). The city attorney also stated he would be unable to continue in his role if the new schedule prevented his attendance and offered Bill Winder as alternative counsel available to assist the city.

Next steps: staff will prepare the ordinance language and return to the council for formal readings and adoption; the change would not take effect until after the ordinance process was completed.