MEMORANDUM 09-103

Date: August 5, 2009

To: Mayor Hornaday and City Council Members

From: Barbara Howard

Subject: Agenda and Meeting Management Discussion

Request conversation: To review the current meeting time and format for efficiency and effectiveness.

Issue: All of the people’s business is important and deserves the very best attention from the elected officials yet we find ourselves making very important public policy decisions late in the evening

Observation: My personal observation, along with comments from three council members, identifying fatigue and concerned that we did not give it our very best along with getting the attorney to the airport in time for the last flight to Anchorage has led me to ask for this discussion.

Example: The June 22 city council meetings began at 4:00 p.m. and ended around 10:00 p.m. The agenda is included with this report for your reference.

What if: Special meetings began at 4:00 p.m.

The Committee of the Whole began at 5:15 p.m.

Dinner served from 6:15 -6:45 p.m.

What if: Special meetings began at 3:00 p. m.

The Committee of the Whole began at 4:15 p.m.

Dinner served 5:30 p. m.

City Council began at 6:00 p.m.

The special meetings could be the executive session items as well.

Setting aside a special dinner time would eliminate the “eating in front of folks” scene.

Agenda Management: What if we limited “Presentations” to 20 minutes total as the Assembly’s agenda is framed around.