GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — On Tuesday, the City of Grand Rapids held its first public meeting of the year, starting five hours earlier than it did in 2022.
The meeting was called to order at 2 p.m., as opposed to the traditional time of 7 p.m.
Mayor Rosalynn Bliss and city leaders say they've heard from residents time and time again that the late night meetings don't work for everyone, particularly those who don't work a 9-5 shift, or have young families.
Bliss says this allows for public comment to begin earlier on in the afternoon, instead of 8 p.m. or 9 p.m., which will add flexibility for people who have evening obligations.
The City Commission meets twice a month and will alternate times for each meeting.
The first meeting of the month will be at 2 p.m., and the second will be at 7 p.m.
Additionally, the City Commission has planned quarterly "Commission Night Outs" in each ward of the city for 2023.
The new schedule for meetings at 2pm will run through the entirety of 2023.
City leaders will review its success at the end of the year to gauge the effectiveness of the new meeting time.
