Cottage Grove schedules experimental town-hall meeting June 4 to review proposed budget

The Cottage Grove City Council agreed to hold an experimental town-hall meeting on Wednesday, June 4, starting at 7:00 p.m., to give residents a less formal opportunity to review and comment on the proposed city budget.

City staff recommended using the Shepherd Room at the community center because the room supports the audio‑visual setup needed to broadcast the meeting and permit remote participation required under state open‑meeting rules. A staff member told the council, "City staff's recommendation is that we hold this at the Shepherd Room over at the community center," citing the room's microphones and the ability to broadcast online.

Councilors discussed an outdoor format at Bohemia Park, where portable speakers, a short 15‑minute presentation on budget highlights and a question box system were proposed as possible ways to invite broader public participation. Several councilors raised concerns about capacity, sound and Wi‑Fi at alternative venues and about triggering quorum rules if four or more members attended in one place; staff noted that a quorum would require full broadcasting and formal minutes.

Members explored hybrid participation methods — including live chat, QR‑code apps and a moderated text feed — as a way to let people participate without requiring full video. One councilor noted accessibility and outreach as a priority and said text or app‑based participation could help reach residents who cannot attend in person.

After discussing logistics and dates, the council chose to treat the June 4 meeting as a trial that will be held in the council chambers/Shepherd Room with a planned 7:00 p.m. start and an estimated two‑hour window (aiming to stop around 8:30–9:00 p.m.). Staff will prepare a proposed agenda and room configuration intended to make the session more informal and will circulate proposed agenda items in advance.

Bruce Kausch, who spoke early in the meeting about the budget process, urged the council to consider "the programs behind the numbers," saying, "It's been said that a budget reflects one's values." The town hall is intended to give residents a forum to ask questions about those programs and for councilors to hear public priorities before finalizing budget decisions.

The council described the June 4 event as an experiment: if turnout or format suggests changes, staff and council will adjust future events, including the possibility of moving some sessions outdoors or rotating which members attend to avoid quorum restrictions.

The council asked staff to finalize technical arrangements, provide guidance on how residents can submit questions, and distribute a public agenda by the staff deadline the night before the meeting.