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Panama City commissioners keep monthly town halls, ask for better agenda previews
Summary
Commissioners agreed to retain monthly weekend town halls and virtual workshops but urged staff to provide clearer six‑month agendas, room layout changes, and better advance notice so elected officials and the public avoid surprise items.
Panama City commissioners on an early‑January workshop said they will keep monthly town‑hall sessions while pressing staff for clearer advance notice and modest layout changes aimed at improving public engagement.
Mayor Branch and multiple commissioners said the weekend town halls have been effective and should remain monthly rather than bi‑monthly. Branch said he wants the town halls limited to advertised agenda topics and not turned into unrestricted open‑mic sessions. Commissioners raised practical changes—moving seating to a U‑shape or adding a monitor facing the dais—so elected officials can better see and respond to public presenters.
Several commissioners asked staff to produce a six‑month “what we’re working on” preview so items do not arrive as surprises at commission meetings. Commissioner Street requested a short list of upcoming priorities so commissioners can better anticipate agenda items and prepare or object early in staff processes.
The commission discussed keeping two regular commission meetings per month (one morning, one evening) and retaining virtual workshops (currently the third Wednesday for CRA). No formal vote was taken; staff agreed to explore Room 10 layout changes and to circulate a draft schedule and a priorities memo to commissioners.
The meeting closed with staff committing to short, iterative releases of updated public documents and to consider modest changes to meeting start times and formats to encourage attendance.
