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Agenda-setting sessions are where changes or withdrawals can happen. |
In the more than two decades that I have been a "council watcher", I cannot tell you how many times residents have been disappointed to come before the Council at a business meeting and hope for an item of concern to be withdrawn, tabled or defeated in a vote.
Why? Because the time to raise issues and try to influence the Council is before they are set to vote on an item. That is, at the agenda-setting session, which occurs the week before.
Agenda-setting sessions are where the real work of deliberation that is constitutionally expected of City Council members should take place.
And that is the place where concerned residents and others should weigh in. This is the point at which Council's attention can be drawn to details or consequences they may have overlooked or not considered.
It is the time at which residents can offer alternative proposals. It is also the time when residents can effectively show the strength of their position by bringing out great numbers (I have seen this work on several occasions).
As the Council deliberates items on the proposed agenda, they are free to pick up on questions and concerns raised by residents.
In fact, such discussions have sometimes led to an item not being brought forward to the business meeting, or a request to the Administration to reconsider a measure in light of resident input.
Sometimes, a majority of the Council has been against moving the item forward and it is simply not put on the business agenda.
However, once a consensus is reached to move an item forward, it usually means that there will be no discussion at the business meeting and it is reasonable to expect the item will pass.
Occasionally, a Council member, knowing their position will not prevail on the item, announces their intent to vote against it at the business meeting.
Being aware of how things work can help avoid disappointment later on.
City Council meets in an agenda-setting session at 7:00 PM this Tuesday (September 3) in the Council Chambers / Courthouse at Watchung Avenue and East 4th Street. Parking available on the street and in the lot across from Police Headquarters.
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