Campaigning comes first at City Hall

City Council chambers will be mostly idle this week.

After taking most of the summer off, City Council is getting a slow start on its fall schedule.

Last week, in a tradition that goes back at least six consecutive Septembers, City Council moved its regular weekly meeting from 2 p.m. to 12 noon. The rationale, according to council minutes: "The Harvest Home Parade, which is the largest parade in the region, is always on this Thursday. Since many council members will be involved, this time change will facilitate their participation."

This week, the only two committee meetings on the calendar -- the Health, Tourism, Small Business & Employment Committee and the Law & Public Safety Committee -- have been cancelled. They were scheduled to meet on Tuesday, but their chairpersons -- Alicia Reece and David Pepper, respectively -- will be running in the mayoral primary that day.

With no committees referring items to the full council, it's possible there won't be any roll call votes on Wednesday. Clerk Melissa Autry said most items will likely be referred to committee.