Council Limits Some Meeting Topics To Ten Minutes

At the beginning of Council's Study Session this week councilmember Varisha Kahn proposed each item on the agenda be limited to 10 minutes owing to a full agenda. It was unanimously approved.  Councilmember David Carson was concerned that the Light Rail topic may need more time for study but was assured by staff the presentation wouldn't be long.

The meeting breezed along.  In the past, meetings could last as long as 11 p.m. -- by law meetings must end at 11 p.m.  Many other meetings have lasted to 10 p.m.  In my 13 years of reporting on Council I can't recall ever seeing a problem with excessively long meetings until recently.

Perhaps these meetings have been long owing to the process of educating three new representatives.  Meeting management may also be a contributor. Though I'm certainly not one to judge! 

Bob Yoder, opinion