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Charter committee asks city attorney to draft shorter minimum for Everett council meetings
Summary
The Charter Review Committee voted to ask the city attorney to draft language lowering the charter-mandated minimum council meetings from 48 to 36 per year and to consider requiring an annual published meeting schedule and at least two meetings per month; the proposal will return for final committee review.
Everett — The Everett Charter Review Committee voted April 23 to ask the city attorney to draft proposed amendments that would reduce the charter-required minimum number of city-council meetings and add scheduling language.
Committee members and staff told the panel that the current 48-meeting minimum gives the council little flexibility around holidays, weather and staffing constraints. Members suggested a new minimum of 36 meetings per year, with language that would require a published annual meeting schedule and a floor of two meetings per month.
Staff explained logistical constraints: technicial staff must be on site to open and record meetings, and cancellations for holidays or emergencies have previously created tension under the 48-meeting rule. Committee members noted councilmembers may attend remotely but department staff still must be present to run the meeting and broadcast or record proceedings.
The committee approved a motion asking the city attorney to prepare draft language based on the committee’s feedback (including the 36-meeting minimum and recommended schedule publication) and to return the proposal at a future business meeting. The item will require at least 10 committee votes to be placed as a formal recommendation in the final report and any charter amendment would later require council and voter action.
