Thursday, AUGUST 7, 2025 |
Photo – Rawlins City Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Rawlins governing body began the process to change the start time of its regular meetings.
As reported by Bigfoot99, on July 15th, the Rawlins City Council voted to begin its sessions earlier in the day. The governing body currently convenes at 7:30 p.m., but city officials acknowledged that sessions often extend late into the night. The Council instructed City Attorney Pinita Maberry-Nave to draft an amended ordinance to adjust the meeting times.
The matter was discussed once again during Tuesday’s Rawlins City Council meeting. Mayor Jacquelin Wells introduced an amendment to Section 2.04 of the Rawlins municipal code, which codifies when the City Council is required to meet. Mayor Wells said the governing body must decide what time they would like to begin the meetings.
Mayor Wells proposed starting at 6:00 or 6:30 p.m. and suggested moving special work sessions, which are currently held before regular meetings, to the end of the agenda. The earlier start time will help council members and city staff avoid working late on meeting nights.
The Rawlins City Council agreed to begin meetings at 6:00 p.m. Councilman Bruce Seilaff asked how special work sessions would be handled under the new schedule, expressing concern that holding them on separate weeks would double the number of times the Council meets each month.
Mayor Wells responded that the work sessions would be better held after regularly scheduled City Council meetings. The Mayor said brief workshops often leave the council waiting around unnecessarily before the regular meeting begins.
Mayor Wells added that moving the start time to 6:00 p.m. may attract more attendees to the meetings. The existing 7:30 p.m. schedule may be too late for many residents, who are likely already winding down for the night.
Following the discussion, the Rawlins City Council unanimously voted to change its regular meeting schedule to begin at 6:00 p.m. instead of 7:30 and move special work sessions to the end of meetings. The ordinance amendment was passed on the first reading. Like all ordinance amendments, it must be read three times during three separate public hearings.
