One of the first things the new Yachats City Council did Wednesday is change its monthly meeting schedule.
The council had been meeting at 9:30 a.m. the first Wednesday of the month and at 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month. But the short gap between meetings was making it difficult for staff to get all the work done as new issues were brought up, agendas expanded and meeting minutes prepared.
Mayor John Moore suggested moving the second meeting of the month to the third Wednesday of the month. After some discussion it was approved 4-1, with Councilor Jim Tooke voting no.
The council then debated the time of that meeting – 2 p.m. or 6 p.m. The evening time was established several years ago to make it easier for people who worked to attend council meetings. Moving the meeting to 2 p.m. failed on 2-3 vote; the 6 p.m. meeting was kept on a 4-1 vote.
So now the next City Council meeting will be at 6 p.m., Jan. 16.
In other business Wednesday the council:
- Discussed for 90 minutes and adopted a long list of 2019 council goals based on goals suggested by the previous council, then reworked by Moore and approved or amended by the council Wednesday. The goals will be formally approved Jan. 16.
- Scheduled a special work session for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9 to go over proposed changes to the city charter. Changes to the charter are expected to go to voters in May.
- Put off scheduling a public meeting to discuss a proposed plastic bag ordinance until the council has more time to look at details of it.
- Put off scheduling a public meeting on a proposal to raise the city’s lodging tax. Instead the council will ask the finance committee to discuss uses of the increased revenue at its next meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9. The council hopes to set a hearing time for the tax increase at its Jan. 16 meeting.
- Re-elected Max Glenn as council president. He is currently longest-serving council member.
