Arrive on Time for Council Meetings

But for the lengthy discussion of baseball league issues, last Monday's City Council would have been over in record time.

A frequent speaker at council meetings arrived just as the meeting ended. The same fate will likely await any tardy attendees on Jan. 20.

How did the switch from marathon meetings come about? Councilwoman Tracey Brown is now chairperson of the Committee of the Whole, and she briskly moves through the agenda, in contrast to the former chairman, who speechified on almost every item.

Back in 2007, the city's business was dispatched with alacrity, so much so that Plaintalker fretted.

Does the public, both in the courtroom and watching on television, need a bit more elucidation on resolutions and ordinances than just the letter or number of each one? Has the pendulum swung too far towards brevity? Does anyone care?

Certainly municipal government is not routinely covered by the newspapers any more, but bloggers do try to research what is on the agenda and to inform the public of significant items. Residents can also contact their elected representatives with concerns over proposed actions.

Meanwhile, if you want to be heard in public comment at council meetings, be on time or you may miss your chance.

City Council 2015 Schedule - All meetings in Municipal Court

Jan. 5, 2015 Reorganization 8 p.m

Agenda Fixing Session 7:30  p.m.	Regular Meeting 8 p.m.
Jan. 12	Jan. 20 (Tuesday)
Feb. 2	Feb.9
March 2	March 9
April 6	April 13
May 4	May 11
June 8	June 16 (Tuesday)
July 13	July 20
Aug. 10	Aug. 17
Sept. 8 (Tuesday)	Sept. 14
Oct. 5	Oct. 13 (Tuesday)
Nov. 9	Nov. 9
Dec. 7	Dec. 14
Dec. 21 for 2016 reorganization