TMAPC to Consider Evening Meetings!

[PonderInc]

For those of you who have ever been frustrated because "public" meetings are held during the day, when most members of the general public can't attend...

The TMAPC is going to discuss holding meetings in the evening at next week's work session.  (Wed, 3/25, after the normal 1:30 meeting.)

If this is something you support, be sure to let the members of the TMAPC know.  (Also, help spread the word to neighborhood leaders.)

TMAPC Contact: Barbara Huntsinger (918) 579-9413 or email: bhuntsinger(at)incog.org

[PonderInc]

The TMAPC finally discussed evening meetings in today's work session.

It sounds like this issue will be studied some more, and will eventually go before a public hearing sometime this fall.

It sounds like there's some hesitancy on the part of certain commissioners and some staff to move to night meetings.  (Bodies at rest stay at rest...)  However, a possible compromise might be starting the meetings at 4:00 PM.  (This may not be perfect, but it would be a big improvement over the current 1:30 time frame.)

Funny, the City Council is able to hold night meetings, and they have several City employees present.  Does INCOG pay their staff by the hour, or are they on salary?  Why is this different for them?

Personally, I think a public hearing should be held at the time the public can attend.  (There's a reason why the City Council meets at 6:00 PM.)  It sounds like most cities hold Planning Commission meetings at night. 

Duh.

[PonderInc]

This issue will be considered (finally!) on Wed, Oct 7 at 1:30 pm.

As you know, the TMAPC approves land use and zoning issues that affect all Tulsans.  In 2010, they will have an even bigger impact, as they will vote to adopt the new Comprehensive Plan, as well as critical changes to the zoning code (required to implement the vision set forth by PLANiTULSA). 

Next Wednesday, the TMAPC will consider whether or not to hold their public meetings in the evening.  (Rather than 1:30 on Wednesdays.)

I support this change for the following reasons:

The current TMAPC meeting time serves as a filter to participation, which excludes far too many citizens.
· It excludes people who work during the day, including young professionals.
· It excludes stay-at-home parents (because it's hard to find babysitters during school hours, or because parents must leave meetings to pick up their kids from school).
· It's especially burdensome for hourly workers who can't afford the lost wages of an afternoon spent at the TMAPC.

This means that, in general, the primary people who have a voice in TMAPC meetings are:
· Retirees
· Those who don't work during the day and don't have children
· Developers and their paid representatives

The TMAPC Mission Statement includes the following goal:

"To provide a public forum that fosters public participation and transparency in land development and planning."

Unfortunately, the current meeting time serves as an obstacle to public participation.  It effectively silences the voices of a majority of citizens in decisions that will affect our children, our neighborhoods, our city, and our future.

As PLANiTULSA represents a vision for Tulsa's FUTURE, it is especially important that younger people, and working citizens have a voice in implementing that future via participation in TMAPC meetings.

To show your support for holding TMAPC meetings at night, please email:

Barbara Huntsinger (TMAPC Staff): bhuntsinger@incog.org
cc: Michelle Cantrell (TMAPC Chairman):  cantretsky@sbcglobal.net

[Bubblehead]

I hope people will contact TMAPC and show their support for this measure.

It is my understanding that no one has contacted the Planning Commission to comment on this.

[RecycleMichael]

I don't completely disagree with your points about citizen involvement increasing with night meetings.

But that should not be the only factor. There are other considerations, including staff time and media access to these meetings. Day meetings downtown are actually easier for me because of my family and other volunteer commitments.

I would rather the meetings be broadcast on the internet. That way I can follow them easier and this could lead to even more citizen involvement.

[cannon_fodder]

RM, you have to recognize that you are in a unique situation in which you can take off work, nearly at will, to attend various meetings.  Most accountants, managers, IT, let alone laborers can absoultely NOT attend day time meetings.  Government is suppose to serve the people.

[RecycleMichael]

Yes. My schedule is not normal.

But there are many business people who are completely committed in the evenings. Half the parents I know are booked every night of the week with soccer, ballet, gymnastics, football. Football teams practice four weeknights a week in Oklahoma.

I am just saying that there is no perfect time to have a meeting and don't make the assumption that nights will automatically be better for public input.

I still say the goal is to have more awareness of the meetings, the agenda, etc. could be better accomplished with having the meetings available live on the internet. This would engage (or sometimes enrage) a citizen much more effectively than just blaming the current meeting time.

I am not opposed to night meetings and agree that day meetings can have an effect on the positions and demographics of the audience. I think a fair compromise would be to have some meetings at night on a trial basis (maybe every other meeting for a few months) to see how much would change. 

[cannon_fodder]

Take any group of 100 adults.  Ask them if they can attend something during the day or at night.  I'm guessing 85% would say it is easier for them to attend at night.

Most adults are completely committed during the day by their jobs.  That's why you have board meetings, children soccer games, and everything else at night.  Because that's when people are available.   

But you're right.  There is no perfect time.  The goal SHOULD be more awareness of the agenda, live pod casting (or radio broadcasting), and generally trying harder to engage people.  As it stands, 90% of Tulsans don't even know what the TMAPC is (or INCOG, or TDA, or any of the other litany of organizations).

[PonderInc]

Thanks to everyone who sent emails in support of the TMAPC holding their public meetings in the evening.

The TMAPC discussed this issue at Wed's meeting (Oct 7).  There seemed to be general support for the idea, with one or two commissioners probably opposed (and one or two who remained mute during the discussion). 

The commissioners seemed especially interested in a compromise, such as starting the public meetings at 4:00 PM, and to give it a 6-month trial period, beginning in January.

Although I would love to see a later start time (no earlier than 4:30 or 5:00), this is certainly a huge step in the right direction.

The commission was much more supportive than in previous meetings/discussions, and I attribute this to the multiple emails that were sent in favor of evening meetings.  (The only email that was received in opposition to evening meetings was from a developer.) 

If you didn't get a chance to send an email, but would like to support evening meetings, there's still time.  Please send an email to the TMAPC contact, Barbara Huntsinger.

Email:  bhuntsinger@incog.org

The TMAPC didn't vote on the issue on Wed, because they are waiting for INCOG staff to research additional costs that may be associated with evening meetings.   I get the feeling that some INCOG folks prefer the convenience of 1:30 PM meetings, and I wouldn't be surprised if they generate a robust list of  "reasons" for supporting the status quo.  However, this is simply my editorial and conjecture.

Nonetheless, additional emails in support would be helpful at this time...just to make sure the wheels of bureaucracy don't manage to grind progress on this issue to a halt.