MOOSE JAW — The 4 p.m. start time for city council meetings has created attendance problems for some residents and councillors during the past several years, but a new time may make it easier.
Coun. Patrick Boyle introduced a motion during the Dec. 2 regular meeting to change the start time to 4:30 p.m. starting on Jan. 13, 2025, with all other meetings — such as executive and personnel — to follow.
He explained that he’s had discussions with residents about finding a balance with what would be a suitable start time, so he thought 4:30 p.m. would be good, while council could push it back even further if so desired.
“It’s more a balancing act of what is the right time for residents to attend and for councillors themselves, but mostly so residents can tune into these meetings and participate in the public discussions,” he added.
Coun. Dawn Luhning was OK with changing the meeting’s start time but expressed concern that council could make a habit of adjusting the time. She noted that every new council seems to change the meeting times, especially when members have work obligations.
Luhning — who thought 5 p.m. was also an acceptable hour — added that she didn’t want council to modify the time in another six to 12 months.
Coun. Carla Delaurier said that based on her conversations with residents, she thought 5 or 5:30 p.m. were better start times, especially for residents who wanted to attend meetings but worked or for younger citizens with children who may consider becoming a councillor in the future.
Coun. Heather Eby accepted the 4:30 p.m. meeting time but reminded her colleagues that city administration must also be present to give reports and discuss matters. She noted that meetings used to start at 6:30 p.m. — the gallery was rarely full even then — and concluded around 10:30 p.m.
“We are tasked to be here to make good decisions and administration is tasked to be here to give good support,” she continued. “And after an eight-hour workday, and then (to) stick around until … it gets later and later, I don’t think great decisions are made after a certain time of day or night.”
Eby recommended that this adjustment to council’s meeting time be the only change they make for their four-year term, while the next council can do what it wants with meeting times.
Council then voted unanimously to accept the motion.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Dec. 16.
