Bloviating begone!
The City of Las Cruces announced a new format for council meetings today aimed at making it easier for the public to participate. The changes, implemented by Mayor Ken Miyagishima, are the result of discussions at recent city council work sessions devoted to “developing a more open and efficient city government,” according to a news release from the city.
Among the changes:
• Opening ceremonies and proclamations are now limited to 15 minutes to help the council get to business more quickly.
• The public-comment section has been moved from the end to the beginning of meetings, and the sections for comments by the mayor, councilors and city manager have been moved to the end of meetings, after all other business has been completed.
• There’s also a new section during meetings for staff to update the council and public on current city projects so it’s easier to track the progress of major initiatives.
The changes should make city council meetings more accessible to the public. It hasn’t been uncommon in the past for the council to load up the beginnings of meetings with proclamation after proclamation, and for the mayor and councilor to drone on and on.
It also hasn’t been uncommon for most members of the public to be long gone before the scheduled time for public input arrived.
The changes ensure that members of the public have a say before their elected officials. That’s one step toward ensuring the city’s priorities are in the right place.