Geneva city officials are restructuring City Council meetings beginning next month in what leaders say is an effort to improve transparency, accountability, and public understanding of local government.
Under the new format, City Council will hold two separate meetings each month instead of combining legislative business, operational updates, and strategic discussions into a single session. The change takes effect in June.
According to city officials, the current structure often results in meetings lasting two to three hours while blending policy decisions, departmental presentations, public hearings, and operational reporting into one agenda. Officials said that format made it more difficult for residents to distinguish between the responsibilities of City Council and city administration.
Beginning in June, the first monthly meeting will serve as a Governance Meeting focused on legislation, policy discussions, board appointments, public hearings, strategic planning, and governance-related public comment. A second monthly City Operations Meeting will focus on departmental reporting, infrastructure updates, capital projects, operational oversight, and public comment tied to city services and operations.
Mayor Jim Cecere said the change is designed to make it easier for residents to participate in and understand local government, while reinforcing City Council’s role in setting policy and providing oversight.
Fifth Ward Councilor Jim Petropoulos said the previous structure often blurred the lines between governance and day-to-day operations, while City Manager Amie Hendrix said the operations meetings will create a more consistent forum for departments and organizations to communicate directly with council members and the public.
The first Governance Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3 at 7 p.m., while the first City Operations Meeting is planned for Tuesday, June 16 at 6 p.m.
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