City Council wants monthly night meetings

A majority of Cincinnati city council’s Rules and Government Operations Committee want to begin holding city council meeting in the evening once every month, but they decided to first check with city administrators to find out how much that will cost, and whether overtime pay, for clerks and other personnel, can be avoided with compensation time.

Council members Laketa Cole and Leslie Ghiz sponsored the motion, which has the full support of the committee. In fact, some committee members want to expand it.

The idea is that members of the public will be able to attend night meetings more easily than afternoon sessions, which start with public comment period from 1:30 p.m. until 2 p.m.

“This is a very good idea,” council member Chris Bortz said. “But (since) the most relevant discussions are in committees, is that something we want to add to this? Holding one committee meeting a month at night seems like a way to engage the public even further.”

Cole, whose Neighborhoods Committee meetings are routinely held at night and in various city neighborhoods instead of council chambers, said she likes that idea but the city charter prohibits her from dictating to other committee chairs when or where to hold their meetings. “But I do believe citizens want to know where council members are on every vote.”

Committee member David Crowley said the night meetings ought to be held for one year, then an evaluation ought to be made to determine if they have increased public participation. He also said the committee ought to think about starting the meetings at 7 p.m., instead of 6 p.m.

City Manager Milton Dohoney must report back to the committee by Oct. 27, so a committee vote can be taken Oct. 30. Cole and Ghiz would like the first night meeting to happen Nov. 15.

"I'd love to see them all at night," Ghiz said. "But with this council, it's baby steps. We don't want to traumatize anyone."