City council has adjusted its meeting schedule for January to ensure city administration has enough time prepare reports after employees return from their Christmas break.
City administration presented council with the proposed 2024 schedule during an executive committee meeting in October, with meetings suggested for Jan. 8 and 22. However, during the Dec. 18 regular meeting, council changed those dates to Jan. 15 and 29 with 4 p.m. start times.
A council report explained that city hall wants the changes to accommodate administrative preparation and review time for reports that may arise during the Christmas and New Year holiday period when council and personnel may be away.
City hall will be closed for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays from Friday, Dec. 22 to Tuesday, Dec. 26 and then a portion of Friday, Dec. 29 to Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, the document said.
Many employees have extended time away beyond this period, so city administration will face a challenge with preparing reports, obtaining approvals and publishing documents in the required time frames to meet the Jan. 8 meeting deadline.
By changing the meeting dates as suggested, this would provide 28 days between the last scheduled meeting of Dec. 18 and the first meeting of Jan. 15, which is consistent with scheduled meeting dates from year’s end to the start of a new year in 2020, 2021 and 2022, the report added.
This adjusted schedule also provides 14 days between the recommended last meeting of Jan. 29, 2024 and the next meeting of Feb. 12, 2024.
“It’s important to note that should any business arise, a special meeting can be called,” Coun. Heather Eby said. “If so, we will be back.”
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Jan. 15, 2024.
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