Sandpoint ponders twice-monthly council meetings

SANDPOINT — The City Council may completely revamp the way it conducts business within the next few months.

At the March council meeting, members discussed dropping the Administrative Committee and the Public Works Committee in favor of the full council meeting twice a month. After discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, members decided to send the matter onto the Administrative Committee for further consideration.

Both formats offer advantages, city officials said. Subcommittees aren’t empowered to take any actions, but instead make recommendations to the full council. However, that allows the council members, who divide up various subcommittee roles and advisory positions after the beginning of a new term, to specialize in certain areas and introduce the issues to the full council.

The subcommittee meetings also offer a more relaxed, informal setting that many people find less intimidating than the formality and procedure of council meetings.

On the other hand, the holding of two council meetings a month also offers advantages, officials said.

First of all, having the full council meet twice a month resolved some issues the subcommittees provoked regarding quorum regulations. By meeting twice a month, the council could also make official decisions twice a month — that will allow council members to conduct business at twice the normal rate. In addition, if members decide at one meeting that they don’t yet have enough information to make a decision, the delay only amounts to a half-month’s wait rather than a full month.

In an interesting twist, the Administration Committee will play the first hand in deciding its fate. Subcommittee members will discuss the matter at their upcoming meeting later this month.