HomeMy WebLinkAbout9A Council Start Time ReportPhone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 / www.cityofpriorlake.com
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA #:
PREPARED BY:
FEBRUARY, 2017
9A
FRANK BOYLES, CITY MANAGER
PRESENTED BY: FRANK BOYLES
AGENDA ITEM: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A REPORT WITH RESPECT TO THE CITY
COUNCIL MEETING START TIME
DISCUSSION: Introduction
The purpose of this agenda item is to ask the city council if it wishes to take any
action to amend the regular city council meeting start time.
History
At the last city council meeting the Bylaws and Compensation Task Force
suggested that the city council may want to consider revising the starting time for
city council meetings. The council did not take action on this subject.
The plan that was discussed would see the work sessions continue to begin at
5pm. It was acknowledged that often the council completes the work sessions by
6:30 pm but cannot start the city council meeting until 7pm.
The mayor had conducted an informal survey which suggested that the change to
a 6:30pm start time was supported. To be sure the city council directed that the
staff conduct a more thorough survey and bring the results back to the city council.
Current Circumstances
The staff prepared a one question survey as shown on the attachment. The survey
was included in the City Newswire which is distributed to 1349 addresses. It was
also included in social media including: Twitter, Facebook and Nextdoor.
Unfortunately, we did not offer a residency question, so results are likely to include
some non-residents. However, non-residents can be customers who attend or
monitor city council meetings as well.
The results of the survey are attached. A total of 128 people cast a vote; 88
through the Newswire and 40 through the social media combined.
Eighty-one persons or 63.28% voted for 6:30pm and 47 or 36.72% to remain at
7pm.
ISSUES: The survey is hardly scientific. However, there is a distinct preference for 6:30pm
by those who chose to participate. The council seeks to balance the ability of the
public to attend the meetings because they fit their work schedules with the
completion of the meetings at times conducive to sleep schedules.
In previous years city council meetings started at 6pm. I do not recall a significant
drop in attendance associated with that change years ago. Nor do I recall a surge
of attendees when the time was moved back to 7pm more recently.
Prior Lake has a long-standing reputation for resident participation in their local
government regardless of time of day or year.
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
A slight savings may be enjoyed because city consultants will spend less time
awaiting their agenda item.
ALTERNATIVES: 1. Motion and second to change the regular city council meeting starting time to
6:30 pm. This change would be incorporated in the City’s Official Calendar
effective for the first May council meeting.
2. Motion and second to retain the existing city council meeting starting time.
RECOMMENDED
MOTION:
As determined by the city council.
63.28%81
36.72%47
Q1 Your Prior Lake City Council is considering changing the start time of
the council meetings that are held on the first and third Mondays of each
month. Please help them make a decision by voting for your favorite time
in this one question survey. Thanks!
Answered: 128 Skipped: 0
TOTAL 128
6:30 PM 7 PM
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
6:30 PM
7 PM
1 / 1
Prior Lake City Council Meeting Start Time SurveyMonkey