Lubbock City Council To Consider Time Change For Meetings
The Lubbock City Council is looking to change the time they meet for future council meetings. And no, it's not a move that would help a lot of those who work during the middle of the day. In this week's released agenda, item 4.18 has the Lubbock City Council "considering a resolution to adopt revised and updated City of Lubbock City Council Rules".
According to the Lubbock City Council Agenda for Tuesday night, the council will vote on whether or not to move the Regular Council Business Meetings to 2:00 p.m. "or a time decided upon by the Mayor".
Work sessions would begin at 10:30 a.m. and Executive Sessions along with Ceremonial Recognitions would change as well.
Item Summary
Proposed City Council Rule Changes:
- Regular Council Business Meetings will begin at 2:00 p.m., or at a time decided upon by the Mayor.
- Work Sessions, if necessary, shall begin at 10:30 a.m., or at a time decided upon by the Mayor.
- Executive Sessions, when necessary, will be scheduled to begin upon the conclusion of the preceding Work Session or at a time decided upon by the Mayor.
- Ceremonial Recognitions will be held at an appropriate time on a quarterly basis, separately from the regular business meetings of the City Council.
Currently, the Lubbock City Council meets at 4:30 p.m. and the change to 2:00 p.m. would be the earliest the City Council has met since 2012.
On June 21, 2012 KFYO News reported that the Lubbock City Council moved the start time of council meetings to 6:15 p.m. to better serve the public. Then District 5 Councilwoman Karen Gibson applauded the move to evening meetings.
“I think it’s a good thing, and if we see that we’re not having any attendance, then we can always go back,” said District 5 Councilwoman Karen Gibson. “We are their council, this is their city, and I think we should at least give them the opportunity to be involved.”
Prior to 2012, the Lubbock City Council had met at 7:30 a.m. The move to evenings was applauded by many because citizens could attend meetings after work. In June of 2014, the Lubbock City Council voted to change the time of meetings from 6:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. In 2019, the Lubbock City Council voted to change the meeting time to 4:30 p.m., but citizen comments would not begin until 5:00 p.m.
Now, that time is getting even earlier under the proposed new rules and that could have a major impact on citizens being able to comment on the issues facing the Lubbock City Council.
The Lubbock City Council will meet Tuesday, at 4:30 at Citizen's Tower.