Put Cape council's study sessions on TV

The Cape Girardeau City Council is faced with a decision that would seem to be about public access to government affairs but really is more about a productive use of time.

As it stands, the council generally meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. Council member hold a study session at 5 p.m. with city staff members to learn more about the issues that will be addressed in the formal 7 p.m. meeting. The study session is not televised, but the formal meeting is televised live and taped for rebroadcast later. No votes are taken during the study session, which are open to the public even though there is no time designated for citizen input. That all happens at the regular meeting.

Mayor Jay Knudtson has suggested the possibility of eliminating the study sessions and incorporate that discussion time into the regular meeting -- all of which would be televised. The mayor wonders if this wouldn't give citizens a better understanding of city needs and concerns as well as how city staff members and elected officials arrive at decisions.

If its cost effective and the council wants to televise the study session, that seems like a worthwhile effort to interest more residents in city government. Past experience has shown that many residents don't take much interest in city government or attend meetings unless an issue affects them personally. But nobody is against more public access to official actions.

However, if the study sessions -- which sometimes are short and sometimes long -- are incorporated into the regular meetings, it could mean five- or six-hour meetings. Such long meetings could leave some residents who are interested in a particular agenda item waiting hours and hours for the council to take up their issue. That wouldn't be progress.