— Muskogee city councilors should change their meetings rather than adjust time limits on public input.

Councilors approved forming a committee to address inconsistencies in present policies regarding public input at city meetings.

Councilor Wayne Johnson said the rules aren’t clear and are being applied inconsistently.

“We have a three-minute time limit (per speaker for public comment) if an item is not on the agenda, but there is no time limit on public comment on agenda items.”

Johnson is right. There needs to be rules to provide reasonable decorum at city meetings.

Johnson also said he is not trying to stifle public comment. Johnson said he would like residents to have the opportunity to comment on agenda items before councilors vote to provide a chance for dialogue.

Bravo, Wayne!

That is exactly what the council should be trying to achieve.

But, why stop at determining how much time a citizen has to address the council?

It’s time for the council to consider changing the way it does business.

Most decisions on city government are debated at the Public Works and Finance committee meetings at 4 p.m. every first and third Tuesday of the month.

The council makes an official vote at 7 p.m. every second and fourth Monday.

Many items are on a consent agenda. That means the decision already has been determined.

Councilors make up their minds at the Public Works and Finance committee meetings. They vote on Monday without much debate.

The Public Works and Finance committees are made up of the nine city councilors.

It is time to change that. More than half the members of the Public Works and Finance committees should be citizens.

That would create citizen involvement. It would force the council to meet and truly debate during the official council meeting.

The meetings should be moved to Saturday.

It is fair to assume most residents have Saturday and Sunday off. Most citizens have jobs that would make 4 p.m. Tuesday difficult to attend.

Although that will not guarantee greater attendance at meetings, it would guarantee greater opportunity to attend.

If the council really wants transparency and greater input before making decisions, it should not convene as the Public Works and Finance committees and it should move meetings to a more conducive time and day.