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Nighttime is right time for council

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Thursday, Oct 18, 2007 - 12:33:51 am CDT

A recent Lincoln City Council meeting started at 5:30 p.m. and ended at 1:20 a.m.

That’s almost eight hours of government in action — or inaction, depending on your point of view.

These days the average City Council meeting lasts about three hours.

On Monday, Councilman Jonathan Cook suggested the city hold more evening meetings.

Right now, the council has one night meeting a month. On the last Monday of every month, they meet at 5:30 p.m. Otherwise, they meet at 1:30 on Mondays.

Cook says every time there’s a really controversial issue, people want them to wait for a night meeting.

For obvious reasons.

The average person has a day job and doesn’t have the luxury of taking time off to lobby the council.

The more inaccessible the meeting time, the more meetings are dominated by gadflies with a lot of time on their hands. Hardly a finger on the city pulse.

Occasionally, a hot issue such as building a new Wal-Mart will bring out the masses. But otherwise, attendance at council meetings can be lacking.

Even a recent night meeting on blighting the area targeted for a new arena attracted only six people to the microphone.

Really?

Only six people in this city of about 250,000 residents had something to say about whether the city should take the first step toward a $244 million project?

Perhaps everybody knows there are many more steps to go.

Or perhaps they figure they’ll have their say in the voting booth some day.

Perhaps they don’t want to wait through what could be hours of testimony on zoning changes and setbacks before the council gets to the good stuff.

Indeed, the council’s prolonged process can be maddening. Ordinances are handled in no less than three meetings.

The first week, they’re just on the agenda for the viewing. The second week, people get to weigh in. The third week, the council votes.

It takes a pretty potent issue to bring people down to two council meetings. It’d be nice if they could consolidate that process into one meeting. Maybe even take a vote right after the public hearing ends, rather than make people wait to hear their vote at the end of the meeting.

Because most people aren’t willing to sit for eight hours to hear a council decision. At times, people have had to wade through hours of testimony, then wait while the council takes a 20-minute dinner break, before hearing  a verdict on their issue.

But that’s a whole ’nother issue.

For now, we’ll settle for more night meetings.


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Rush wrote on October 18, 2007 5:01 am:
" Do you really want the council to rush their decision on costly issues just to make it easier for the public to weigh in and hear the results? NO!! I want them to have time to think things over, ask questions, research the issue. If they are going to spend MY (OUR) money, I certainly do not want them rushing into it. That is how mistakes are made, and then what. The public outcry. Please City Council, don't rush, take your time, ask the hard questions, get all the facts. Those of us who can not talk to you in person can call, write or email to express our opinions. Thanks for the hours you spend. I know it can be very difficult. "
Lettin my freak flag fly... wrote on October 18, 2007 12:00 pm:
" Ordinances are handled in no less than three meetings specifically so the public can have a say on the ordinance. It gives people three chances to speak. Who's fault is it that they don't? The bottom line is people don't care. Three in 10 voted in May's elections. Why should the council genuflect for three in 10? Until people show they want to participate, leave all the meetings in the afternoon. These folks don't get paid enough to sit there until 1:20 am when no one cares. "
Me Again wrote on October 18, 2007 12:21 pm:
" Are you outta your freakin' mind? The laws that we have mandate that notifications be in the newspaper, signs be put up, etc. This is to help inform the public. There are governments that do make decisions all in one meeting, they're called dictatorships. I appreciate the night time meetings that the Council has. I wish all of the meetings were at night. I'm sure their are some changes that can be made. Hearing the pertinent issues at the beginning of the meeting is a good idea. "
Dan wrote on October 18, 2007 12:34 pm:
" What good does it do to go to a council meeting. They are going to do what they and their friends want, so your just making an idiot of yourself to voice any complaints! Seen it over and over and over. Then this councils judgement is so out of kelter and people just keep voting them in, so whats the point. Apparently people love the way the city keeps going down the drain and higher property taxes. I found most Lincoln people have such unrealistic observations and wishes that you want to throw up your hands and move out of state! "

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