Council asked to move meetings earlier, reserve one session for strategy

Mary Bunting, a city staff presenter, told the council the package aims to create clearer distinctions between transactional business and strategic policymaking by reconfiguring monthly meeting structure. "The suggestion is that we use the 1st meeting of the month ... as a formal business meeting" and "using the 2nd meeting of the month ... for strategic work sessions of council," Bunting said, explaining that reserving one meeting monthly for big-picture items would let the council work more deliberatively on strategic indicators.

Council members expressed support for dedicating time to longer strategic discussions but asked for clarity about handling months with only one meeting (holidays or summer months) and how budget workshops would be folded in. Staff said special work sessions would still be scheduled when needed and that code changes would be prepared for council consideration if members agree to adopt the package.