Bethel council to take up a holiday rescheduling rule, in a code section that does not set meeting dates

Bethel's city council could move its regular meetings when they land on a holiday, under an ordinance set for introduction Tuesday.

The measure would amend Bethel Municipal Code 2.04.180, the section governing organization of the council, to allow rescheduling of meetings due to a holiday. That section does not set meeting dates. It covers electing a mayor and vice mayor, and fixes one meeting to the first Monday after an election is certified. Regular meeting dates are set in 2.04.010, which already lets the council postpone or reschedule by majority vote.

Mayor Rose "Sugar" Henderson is the sponsor. The council now meets the second and fourth Tuesday of every month in Council Chambers at City Hall, 300 Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway.

The item sits on the consent agenda for the Sept. 8 meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Consent items are approved along with the agenda unless a member pulls them out for separate discussion. Ordinances introduced at that meeting may be set for public hearing at the next regular meeting.

The agenda does not state why Henderson brought the change forward, and it contains no argument for or against it. No opposing view appears in the material. The city posted the agenda but not Ordinance 26-14 itself, so its wording is not yet public.

Bethel's own code requires notice with a preliminary agenda at least six days ahead. The clerk posted this one Wednesday.

Residents who want the council to weigh in on the scheduling change can submit written comment through the city website. It must arrive 24 hours before the meeting to enter the record, on a clerk's form, capped at 650 words.