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. . I I I . Mayor Howard asked if anyone else wished to speak to this issue. No one else came forward. - 3. Council action; In response to Council Member Bain's question regarding cost savings for reducing the number of meetings, City Manager Everett said, "I think the only savings would be... for non-management" who are paid comp time. He said, "I don't think it would be huge, but I wouldn't hazard a guess." Council Member Ira said there might be a slight increase in savings, but his emphasis was on quality of service. In response to Mayor Howard's procedural questions, City Attorney Schricker advised that a trial period could be tried without enacting the proposed ordinance. Mayor Howard said that Council Member Ira made some very good points supporting the move to three meetings per month. She said some people had complained that many items on the agenda did not need such long discussions, that time could be consolidated, and that Council Members themselves spoke too long. She said the Council needed to consider those comments, that audience members might be content in hearing a Council Member say he/she agreed with a previous speaker without repeating what that Council Member had just said. Mayor Howard said if the Council Members were more efficient in gathering - information and presenting it at Council meetings, perhaps' the fourth meeting wouldn't be necessary. She said that eliminating one meeting would give Council Members and staff more opportunities to attend community meetings. Mayor Howard said she would be open to trying a new schedule, "I feel it is a mistake not to try something, at least once, giving it a sunset clause or a trial period. If it doesn't work then go back to something that works better." She said there is the possibility that the Council and staff could become more efficient with the proposed schedule. She suggested that the Council disregard the ordinance at this time, and consider a three-meeting per month schedule on a trial basis. MIS: LEIPZIGIIRA TRY A THREE-MEETING PER MONTH SCHEDULE ON A TRIAL BASIS FOR NINETY DAYS, WITHOUT ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO DO SO; City Attorney Schricker explained that the Council could legally schedule three meetings per month and just cancel the fourth one without enacting an ordinance, but the meeting time could only be changed by adoption of an ordinance. MEMO 3/3/98 - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 MARCH 2, 1998 MINUTES Page No. 303 PAGE 9