MOORPARK : City Council Favors Town Hall Meetings

The Moorpark City Council has tentatively agreed to hold an ongoing series of informal town hall meetings in an effort to make it easier for Moorpark residents to air their concerns.

The council Wednesday discussed the idea of scheduling regular community meetings either every quarter or more frequently, and moving the meeting sites around the city to give all residents the ability to approach the council in their own neighborhood.

City staff will return to council members with a specific schedule and possible meeting topics for final approval before any such meetings are held.

Council members said Thursday that the town hall format is less formal than a council meeting, where speakers stand behind a podium bathed in overhead spotlights and address elected officials who are sitting on a platform three or four feet above them. Council meetings also are televised live throughout the city.

“People are very intimidated by standing at the podium talking to the council,” Councilman John Wozniak said. “I remember when I went before prior councils and I felt uncomfortable and nervous going up there and trying to explain myself to five people sitting at a different level than me.”

Mayor Paul Lawrason agreed.

“If gives them a somewhat less formal forum, where everybody hopefully is on the same level and the same playing field,” Lawrason said.

The first such meeting would probably not be held until February, council members said.