Marty Rehbein - Council needs to set meeting schedule for the next year. This is published in paper. We are proposing meeting first four Mondays of the month, not the fifth. Of note, the 4th of July falls on a Sunday, and City offices are closed on Monday. July 5th there will be no City Council meeting. I wanted to put options to put before the Council. Traditionally it has been hard to get quorum on Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) spring break. March 15th is spring break with MCPS. There are five Mondays in August. Typically we wouldn't meet 8/30, but in midst of budget, the calendar gets so full. I recommend we forgo the fifth Monday and hold a meeting on 8/30 so can get through budget process in a timely manner. City Council is required by State Law to adopt a budget and fix tax levies within a specific timeframe. These come in on the first Monday in August and after Council adopts a budget, we have to do tax levies for Road and Park. At the end of December, look at the 27th of December, the week between the Christmas and New Year's holiday.
Jones - In favor of not having meetings on 12/20 and 12/27, given lots of people will probably be traveling next holiday season, due to being home this year. I think we should have 8/30 scheduled as a meeting, but swap it and take 8/2 off, instead. That way, people can plan vacations before budget season.
Merritt - If we took 8/2 off instead of 8/30, would you anticipate we would have committee meetings on Wednesday 8/4?
Jones - I think we figure out the committee meeting days as we go.
von Lossberg - We should not assume a rule of no committee meetings after a Monday that is off for City Council. Often business comes up on Mondays even if there was no business on the previous Wednesday. We have some flexibility around Wednesdays.
Vasecka - I propose switching 11/29 for 11/22 due to probable travel.
Sherrill - I like both August and November date swap ideas. Spring Break is going to be hard to have a quorum if people want to start traveling. I would like to suggest a swap of 3/29 for 3/15.
Jones - We just need to maintain flexibility.
West - Consideration of some Wednesdays. Obviously we should mark 12/22 as a day we would not meet and the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Maybe we should block those out as known no's.
von Lossberg - This is helpful to get a list of Wednesdays that we will work to avoid. Spring break, day before Thanksgiving and Christmas break due to potential upcoming travel schedules.
Marty - It is hard to say what the demands will be, but if we have some guidance set up by City Council, then we can give out some direction as far as planning. The more notice we have on that, the better we can plan.
Merritt - Support idea of 3/15, 8/2 instead of 8/30 and I can go either way on the November date.
West - What are the dates of Spring Break?
Jones - I believe it is the week of March 15th.
Main Motion -
Moved by: Bryan von Lossberg
Set the City Council meeting schedule for 2021 and direct the City Clerk to publish notice of the schedule in the newspaper.
von Lossberg - I will make a motion with amendments to include not meeting on 3/15, swap the dates in August, to meet on the last Monday, but not the first Monday, to not meet on both 12/27, as well as 12/20, and then I am going to leave it at that. As for November, we just take that on a quick vote on an amendment.
Vasecka - I suggest an amendment to vote on swapping November.
Amendment:
Moved by: Sandra Vasecka
Amend the November schedule to not meet on November 22 and hold a meeting on November 29, 2021.
AYES: (9): Mirtha Becerra, Heather Harp, Gwen Jones, Julie Merritt, Jesse Ramos, Amber Sherrill, Sandra Vasecka, Bryan von Lossberg, and Heidi West
NAYS: (1): Jordan Hess
ABSENT: (2): Stacie Anderson, and John Contos
Vote results: Approved (9 to 1)
Jones - Vote on main motion.
AYES: (10): Mirtha Becerra, Heather Harp, Jordan Hess, Gwen Jones, Julie Merritt, Jesse Ramos, Amber Sherrill, Sandra Vasecka, Bryan von Lossberg, and Heidi West
ABSENT: (2): Stacie Anderson, and John Contos
Vote results: Approved (10 to 0)
On to Council Consent Agenda.