EVERETT — The City Council may adjust its schedule to hold its fourth meeting of the month at 12:30 p.m., as well as the fifth when a month has five Wednesdays.
The council will decide by a vote this week on Sept. 11 without a public hearing.
It currently meets at 6:30 p.m. weekly.
The move may save the city money because staff wouldn’t need to be working overtime to take questions at meetings. Mayor Cassie Franklin has given her support.
A few council members have mixed feelings. A daytime meeting may prevent people with 9-to-5 jobs from running for office, for example, more than one council member said last week.
The council used to hold one of its monthly meetings at 12:30 p.m. from at least 2011 until March 2023 when the council voted 5-0 to have all meetings start at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday nights.
The idea of the 12:30 p.m. meeting was to give residents who work evenings an ability to speak before the council.
Last week, council denied a proposal supported by Council President Don Schwab and Franklin to hold the second and fourth meetings at 12:30 p.m. for more cost savings.
