Midwest City Council votes to move regular meetings to 3 p.m. and reduce most months to one meeting

Councilmember Mr. Marsh presented and the council approved an ordinance amending chapter 2 of the city code to change the time and frequency of regular council meetings.

"The biggest thing it does is it's going to move our city council meetings from 6:00 at night starting to 3:00 in the afternoon for all regular meetings," Mr. Marsh said while explaining the proposal, which also makes most months one regular meeting with the option to hold special meetings when needed.

Mr. Marsh and staff said the change is intended to reduce staff comp time costs and improve staff availability during work hours; the ordinance also adds a provision for adopting a resolution if the normal meeting room becomes unavailable so meetings can be held elsewhere.

Council members voiced concerns about whether residents and some staff would be able to attend or to provide services during afternoon meetings; the council discussed maintaining an hour of informal availability before meetings so staff and members can confer. The change will not take effect until the June meeting; May meetings will remain at 6:00 p.m.

The council voted to approve the ordinance and implementation details will be handled administratively.