The Lacey City Council has approved Resolution 1165, which establishes monthly informational dinner meetings to facilitate discussions on emerging municipal issues.
The decision, made at a meeting on Tuesday, March 18, aims to “create additional opportunities to discuss topics of local and regional significance.”
The resolution follows discussions at the city council retreat in January, where council members expressed a need for additional platforms to talk about significant local and regional issues.
Staffers were directed to research a meeting structure that complies with the Open Public Meetings Act.
At the February 25 council work session, staff presented a framework, which was refined based on council feedback and formalized in Resolution 1165.
"We would plan to have the first informational dinner meeting on April 1," City Manager Rick Walk said.
These meetings, scheduled for the first Tuesday of each month before regular council sessions, will provide an informal setting for council members to discuss pressing topics.
However, the meetings will not be recorded nor broadcast.
"The meetings would be open to the public to observe the conversation with council, but it would be in-person attendance only, with no video recording or broadcasting," Walk said.
Additionally, while public written comments will be accepted in advance, "no final action will be taken by council at this particular meeting.”
The meetings will begin at 4:30 p.m. and be open to the public.
Council will accept written public comments, and a public notice and agenda will be published in advance.
Meeting minutes will be recorded, but no final actions will be taken during these sessions.
The resolution also modifies council reporting structures by renaming intergovernmental board and commission reports to council reports.
The resolution passed unanimously.
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mtndancer
So is the public invited to eat with the council members? Do they buy their own food? How expensive a restaurant? or is food provided? I like dinner meetings with folks, but I have a limited budget.
Thursday, March 20 Report this
Virge13
How will the public be involved? Restaurants aren’t set up for table to table conversation. It’s an interesting idea and I like that the council is looking for more ways to involve their constituents. I’m curious how it will look in real life.
Friday, March 21 Report this