Whitewater, Wisconsin has a Plannining Commission, like most towns, that meets regularly. Last night was its monthly meeting.
Here are a some observations on a meeting with a ten-item agenda.
Citizen comments and staff reports. It makes sense to place citizen comments and staff reports early in the meeting. The order of the two changes what citizen comments might be like.
If staff reports follow citizen comments, then the public comment period will represent prior citizen concerns, and not comments on staff reports from the night’s meeting.
I have no preference in the order; I merely note how order might change the kind of comments one might receive.
(It’s vital to address citizen comments with equanimity; our Common Council meetings sometimes devolve when Council members interrupt those commenting to engage in an impromptue debate.)