Temple City council introduces ordinance to let council set meeting times by resolution

Temple City — The Temple City City Council on Feb. 4, 2025 voted to introduce Ordinance No. 255-1080, an amendment to the municipal code that would allow the council to set its regular meeting start time by resolution rather than keeping the fixed 7:30 p.m. start written into the code since 1965.

City Manager Brian Cook told the council a legislative review shows the 7:30 p.m. start was established by ordinance in 1965. The City Attorney explained two options: adopt a conventional ordinance to change the start time, or amend the code so the council can set the time by future resolution (which provides greater flexibility). Staff and the city attorney cautioned that closed-session timing and certain Brown Act requirements might require scheduling consideration; they recommended clear public notice if a change is adopted.

Council members debated trade-offs. Some members favored the flexibility to set times by resolution to ease scheduling changes and reduce procurement delays; others expressed concern about closed-session timing and the practical impact on council members with shift-work schedules. Council directed staff to return with a resolution setting the new start time and implementation details; the council introduced and waived further reading of Ordinance No. 255-1080 by unanimous roll call vote.

Next steps: staff will bring a formal resolution at a subsequent meeting to set the council—s regular meeting time and an effective date, and will notify commissions so they can consider aligning their schedules if desired.