HomeMy WebLinkAbout8B Council Start Time Report
Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 / www.cityofpriorlake.com
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: AUGUST 20, 2018
AGENDA #: 8B
PREPARED BY: 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. This item was
previously considered by the city council but failed. Last meeting council
member Burkart offered a notice to renew which was passed and accordingly
the item is on this agenda.
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 September meeting on September 4th.
2. Motion and second to retain the existing city council meeting starting time.
RECOMMENDED
MOTION:
As determined by the city council.