Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Meeting Frequency topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Everett committee weighs lowering annual meeting floor from 48 to 36
Summary
Committee discussed a proposal to reduce the charter's minimum meeting requirement from 48 meetings to a committee-recommended floor of 36 (with at least two meetings a month); members suggested alternatives (40–42) and discussed establishing a calendar at the year's start to avoid long meetings or gaps.
The committee discussed changing the charter's meeting-frequency requirement, which currently refers to meeting 48 times a year. The Charter Review Commission recommended a floor of 36 meetings a year, with language to require two meetings a month and a calendar established at the start of the year.
Council President Schwab and staff framed the change as setting a reasonable baseline rather than restricting the council from meeting more frequently. "The committee said how about 36? That seems like a good minimum," Gregerson said while explaining the recommendation. Several members said they would prefer a higher floor — one member said 42 and another 40 — citing concern that fewer mandatory meetings could create fewer but much longer sessions.
Members also emphasized that establishing a calendar early in the year helps avoid long meetings by spreading business; staff noted typical practice is for administration and council leadership to manage calendar planning. No vote was taken; staff will keep the committee's preference in mind when drafting any ordinance language for council readings.
