We’ve been experimenting this summer with a new schedule for Council meetings: Less Meetings. The Council had regular meetings on June 17, July 15 and August 19. When City staff came up with the Council’s proposed meeting schedule in January, I thought it might be nice to have fewer formal Council meetings over the summer months, but I was concerned that a smaller number of meetings meant that each meeting would probably have a longer than average agenda and longer than average meeting duration. It just seemed to make sense to me that it would work out like that.
I’m pleased to report that I was wrong. Our Council meeting agendas have been a little longer than average, but no where near double the length of an average meeting agenda. And as for meeting duration, our average meeting duration in 2008 is right around 75 minutes. Our meeting last night was 105 minutes. Our meeting on June 17 was 45 minutes. Our meeting on July 15 was 123 minutes. So on average, our summer Council meetings averaged 101 minutes. Just 30% longer than the average for the year, but no where close to double.
And what’s more, our Council can get a lot done at a 105 minute meeting. For example, last night the Council discussed and decided the following items: summer water consumption; a status report on Well #16; approved a new liquor store lease; received a report on the implementation of our new Town Center zoning initiative and the new Comprehensive Plan; gave staff direction on the development of a new lease for the Smith-Douglas-More House; reaffirmed the City’s position on the preservation of the Goodrich-Remus barn on Pioneer Trail; agreed on a new commission structure for the Budget Advisory Commission; approved first reading of a new ordinance regulating public assemblies; held a public hearing on proposed increases to parks & recreation user fees; held a public hearing on a new building addition to the SUPERVALU headquarters; and decided not to go forward with a street & utility improvement project on Riverview Road. Oh, and they also accepted a gift of $134,699 from a local resident to help fund the construction of a new boundless playground at Miller Park, and then the Council awarded the construction contract for that project.
That’s a lot to get done in 105 minutes.
