Date: December 16, 1997

Subject: Start Time of Council Meetings

DISCUSSION

At the Council Study Issues and Budget Issues Workshop on December 11, the City Council voted to change the start time of Council meetings from 8:00 PM to 7:30 PM. The motion for the change in start time was proposed by Councilmember Miller and passed on a 5-2 vote. Should Council ratify the decision to change the start time of meetings, the meeting of January 13, 1998 and all meetings thereafter would begin at 7:30 PM.

Staff surveyed all cities in Santa Clara County to find out what time they start their meetings (Attachment A). Sunnyvale's 8:00 start time is the latest in the county.

The purpose of the earlier start time is to respond to residents concerns that meetings started too late and sometimes went too late. An earlier start time will be more customer friendly, particularly for youth and others where the time presents substantial obstacles to participation. The new start time is intended to make it easier for residents to participate in the democratic process and to make the meetings more manageable for the public, Councilmembers, and staff.

Although this item has been voted on by the Council, the workshop was not a public hearing. Therefore, the issue is being brought back on a regular meeting agenda in order to afford the community the opportunity to provide input before any final decision is made.

FISCAL IMPACT

There is no fiscal impact to this report. There may be some minor costs associated with changing documents to reflect the new start time, but any such costs can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.

PUBLIC CONTACT

Publication of the agenda in the San Jose Mercury News and posting of the agenda and report on the City's internet home page.

ALTERNATE COURSES OF ACTION

1. Change the start time of meetings to 7:30 PM.
2. Keep the start time at 8:00 PM.
3. Change the start time to another time.
   

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends Alternative #1.

Prepared by:

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Daniel Rich
Administrative Assistant

Reviewed by:

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Amy Chan
Assistant City Manager

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Robert S. LaSala
City Manager

Attachment A: Survey of other cities