Cotugno right; Vero Beach council should meet in evenings, accommodate workers | Opinion

How does government erode its credibility?

Do things quietly. Don’t listen to constituents. Catch people by surprise.

I know that’s NOT what most, if not all, local elected officials want to do.

Sometimes, however, they inadvertently send the wrong signals.

That’s why it’s important Vero Beach City Council meetings become more accessible to younger and working people.

Tuesday morning City Councilman John Cotugno is expected to propose the city hold one meeting a month in the evening.

It’s a no-brainer.

Years ago, the city council held both of its monthly meetings at night — just like almost every other municipality whose chambers I’ve been to in three states.

'The more I thought about it, the more worked up I got': Mosquito board, Vero Beach Council should focus more on employee-taxpayers

COVID-19 lessons: COVID shows preserving, encouraging agriculture critical to Indian River vision

Nights for municipalities around here

And just like Sebastian, Fellsmere, Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie and Sewall’s Point. Stuart commissioners meet earlier, at 4 p.m.

While all county commissions on the Treasure Coast meet at 9 a.m. Tuesdays, the St. Lucie County Commission has one 6 p.m. meeting per month.

Even the three Treasure Coast school boards hold their business meetings at 4, 5 and 6 p.m.

Among the best attended meetings I've seen: Sebastian, Port St. Lucie and the school boards.

With a relatively younger population — a surprising 72% of Vero Beach’s population is under 65, the Census Bureau reported — evenings make more sense for residents to attend.

That might not be the case in tiny Indian River Shores, where the median age is 72.9 and where meetings are held at 9 a.m. Thursdays.

What’s even worse about the 9 a.m. Tuesday meeting time for Vero Beach council is it conflicts with the long-standing Indian River County Commission meeting, and sometimes the Indian River Mosquito Control District gathering.

Try being a citizen concerned about agenda items in two or more of those boards. It’s tricky.

I’m not sure what the obsession is with mornings or meeting at the same time as the commission. Maybe it’s just a habit among a council free during the day concerned about staff not having to work past 5 p.m. The council has an average age of 73.2 and four members ranging from 72 to 80. Robbie Brackett, 58, who works in a family business, is the spring chicken.

Don't want to miss another column like this? Here's our latest membership deal

Disenfranchising working people

Brackett was elected in 2018, following two years when council had a majority of members with day jobs. That old council created lots of controversy, which was quelled when residents showed up en masse to late afternoon or evening meetings.

Such feedback, which stifled, for example, plans to sell the old Dodgertown golf course to a developer and possibly close Leisure Square's pool, was important.

In 2020, different and diverse groups of residents came together for five days of daytime and nighttime meetings to tell urban planners how the three corners the city owns at Indian River Boulevard and 17th Street should be developed after power and sewer plants are shuttered.

Such feedback was essential, and will be as plans progress for the area.

Giving constituents the ability to attend meetings live is important.

Hypothetically, no one wants to:

• Be surprised seeing workers tear up State Road 60 in downtown Vero Beach, then learn council narrowed it to two lanes each way.

• Be surprised to see a beautiful wooded area you thought was preserved under attack by front-end loaders with a sign saying apartments are on their way.

• Get a surprising bill in the mail for a new “service” the city decided to deliver.

Such hypothetical scenarios might be avoided if more residents have better opportunities to attend meetings.

This isn’t just about city council. Mosquito district commissioners should take notice.

And so should the county’s Metropolitan Planning Organization — made up of various elected officials from around the county.

County planners should plan better

They’ve scheduled a 10 a.m. to noon workshop Feb. 3 as a follow-up to one they held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in October about envisioning future development patterns in the county.

With so many ugly strip shopping areas and cookie-cutter subdivisions going up throughout the county, you’d have thought the county would want to get more young people involved — a demographic rarely free during the day.

Instead, that October meeting was loaded with developers, county officials, older folks and consultants who — get this — said we could model ourselves after Sarasota County.

Talk about a county burdened with traffic problems.

It’s time to get some smart young people — visionaries who will live here far longer than many of us — involved in making long-term decisions.

Let’s hope Vero Beach City Council sets an example Tuesday.

This column reflects the opinion of Laurence Reisman. Contact him via email at larry.reisman@tcpalm.com, phone at 772-978-2223, Facebook.com/larryreisman or Twitter @LaurenceReisman

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach City Council should hold meetings in the evening