HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8218 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8218
T
November 23, 1999
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
X Subject: PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE TO TRAVELING CITY
Ian COUNCIL MEETINGS
For the past two years, the City Council has been rotating the location of the first Council
Meeting of each month through the eight City Council Districts. The intent of these
"traveling," City Council meetings has been, among other things, to: 1) make the City
Council more accessible to citizens; 2) focus attention on the concerns, accomplishments
and needs of particular neighborhoods and neighborhood groups; and 3) expose all
Councilmembers to all Council Districts.
However, at its July 1999, retreat, the City Council decided to discontinue the traveling
City Council meetings. The Council's decision was based not on disagreement with the
intent of such meetings, but rather on a belief that the meetings' purposes could best be
accomplished in another manner.
Mindful of the continued importance of the traveling Council meetings' underlying goals,
at its October 12, 1999, meeting, staff brought to the Governmental Relations Committee
(GRC) several proposed alternatives to the traveling meetings. All proposed alternatives
address, to some degree, most or all of the above-mentioned goals. The alternatives
suggested by staff included. 1) the broadening of the monthly Police Forums; 2) a
neighborhood issues presentation at the first regular City Council meeting of each month-,
and 3) quarterly townhall meetings.
After much discussion, the GRC voted to recommend and forward to the full Council for
review and action, a modified quarterly townhall meeting option. Very supportive of
active citizen participation, the Committee favored the townhall option as the one
offering citizens the most dedicated time to voice their concerns and suggestions. In
contrast, the GRC felt that the City Council presentation/showcase option afforded
citizens too few opportunities to be actively engaged in issue discussions with City
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8218
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council November 23, 1999
Page 2 of 2
0 Subject: PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE TO TRAVELING CITY
Ian
COUNCIL MEETINGS
Council members. To further ensure a focus on and the centrality of citizens' collective
needs, Committee members suggested that future meetings be conducted as proper
"townhall" meetings, rather than as additional City Council meetings. Only with
townhall-type meetings could citizens' suggestions and concerns be given the time and
attention they deserved.
The expanded police forum alternative was also rejected because a Councilmember
would only be likely to attend if the meeting was held in his or her district. Instead, the
GRC recommended that the townhall meetings focus on two districts at once and that all
Councilmembers be expected to attend. To further encourage Councilmember
participation, it was recommended that each Councilmember co-host with a
�v Councilmember from an adjoining district one townhall meeting per annum. In addition,
the Committee suggested that a bus tour, highlighting local issues, concerns and
opportunities, be conducted prior to the townhall meeting in the host areas.
Once modifications were made, Committee members directed that the modified townhall
alternative plan be forwarded, with its approval, to the full Council for review and action.
The suggested implementation target is January of 2000. Implementation of the proposed
plan involves substantial, general planning, facilities location/acquisition and proper
citizen notification. Therefore, if the t1inetrame and proposed plan are acceptable,
Council's approval is required to allow sufficient time to make all necessary
Bob Terrell
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS