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Council debates moving Monday workshops to 3 p.m.; measure fails
Summary
A proposal to move regular Monday workshops from late morning to 3 p.m. drew competing arguments about public access and council member availability and failed after debate; the council instead asked staff to consider procedural refinements.
A councilor’s motion to reschedule regular Monday workshops to 3 p.m. prompted a prolonged council discussion about member availability and public participation and failed on the council floor.
Proponents said a later start could improve public attendance by accommodating working residents; opponents said changing a long‑standing start time would unfairly affect council members who based work and family schedules on the established meeting time. Councilors also discussed alternative procedural fixes including a firm two‑hour workshop cap or piloting any time change for a limited period. After debate the council voted and the motion did not pass; staff said it will bring back additional procedural proposals for future workshops.
The exchange underscored differing priorities among councilors about access vs continuity: some argued a later start would encourage community participation, while others said the earlier time was known when members ran for election and should not be changed without broader coordination.
