Riverside council will meet an hour earlier in 2020

The second Thursday of the month will be reserved for city council work sessions, which will also start at 6 p.m.

Riverside City Manager Mark Carpenter said that the fourth Thursday of the month will also be a work session as needed.

City council had previously had both work sessions and official meetings, starting at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. respectively, on the first and third Thursdays of the month.

City council members opted to separate the work sessions and council meetings so that city council meetings could start on time.

“I feel like we can’t take the time we need sometimes,” said Councilwoman Sara Lommatzsch. “I think we get rushed (with both meetings in the same evening.)”

Other council members agreed.

“I do selectively choose what I say because of the time constraint,” Councilwoman Brenda Fry said.

Council unanimously approved the change at its Jan. 2 meeting.