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Council debates format and timing of town‑hall meetings amid low attendance
Summary
Councilors and members of the public debated whether monthly town‑hall meetings should remain monthly or shift to every other month or quarterly and whether they should move from 5:00 p.m. to a later start to boost attendance. Opinions split between preserving open, informal format and creating a more structured, effective forum.
Council members weighed changes to the city’s town‑hall meeting schedule and format after four recent sessions produced low attendance. Discussion centered on frequency (monthly, every other month, quarterly), start time (5:00 p.m. vs. 6:00–6:30 p.m.), venue (library vs. council chambers), staff and logistical burdens, and whether to keep the meetings as open forums without agendas.
Some council members and staff argued that a later start time—6:00 or 6:30 p.m.—and occasional use of the library (which remains open later) could increase public attendance and reduce staff strain. Others, including a resident who initiated the town‑hall series, urged keeping monthly meetings and preserving the unstructured forum so community members have a predictable, regular opportunity to speak.
Council suggestions included trying a later start and re‑evaluating attendance after a trial period, retaining the open format so topics are community‑driven, and considering Wednesday as an alternative day to Mondays to improve turnout. No formal change was adopted at this meeting; council indicated it will schedule dates and reassess after testing adjusted times and days.
