City Launches 'Insider' Sessions to Teach Residents Government Process

The city held its first "City Hall Insider" session Tuesday evening, drawing about 30 residents to learn the nuts-and-bolts procedures of municipal government in an effort to encourage greater civic participation.

The initiative aims to diminish perceived barriers between residents and local government by providing a clear understanding of procedures that often intimidate potential participants. Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, Ward 1 Councilmember Philip Falcone and Ward 5 Councilmember Sean Mill attended the presentation led by City Clerk Donesia Gause, who provided practical guidance on council meeting procedures and public comment protocols.

The session served to demystify the process and encourage participation in local democratic governance, addressing the reality that while residents may feel powerless in national politics, local government offers more accessible opportunities for meaningful civic engagement.

Lock Dawson emphasized that public meetings represent only a fraction of municipal work. "What goes on behind the scenes at a city council meeting is not just at the council meeting, right? It's days before. It's weeks before, as Donesia and her team get ready to roll it out. As our councilmembers review the council reports and determine, you know, what questions they want to ask and how things are going to go down," she said.

Gause offered practical tips for effective public comment, advising residents not to state their names since they're introduced by the clerk, not to thank the council, and to get straight to their points during limited speaking time. She explained the difference between consent calendar items and discussion items, how residents can request items be moved between categories, and outlined the structure and decorum related to city council meetings.

One notable addition to the process of how the city is governed was the recently approved but not yet assigned inspector general.

Gause explained that council meetings function as business meetings rather than workshops, with detailed work occurring in committee settings.

The session’s educational value became clear when residents raised concerns about a recent change to the city’s public transparency rules, often called “sunshine” provisions. That change had been placed on the consent calendar instead of the discussion calendar, meaning it received a yes/no vote without debate or public input. Some residents felt the item should have been discussed, prompting Gause to outline how residents can address such concerns, including contacting councilmembers to reintroduce items or using referendum processes to challenge council actions.

The exchange served as a microcosm of the session’s broader theme: understanding civic processes transforms frustration into actionable participation.

The clerk’s ability to provide immediate, specific remedies for residents’ procedural concerns illustrated how knowledge of governmental mechanics can empower effective participation.

The city plans additional "City Hall Insider" sessions to continue building civic literacy among residents. Check the city’s calendar or website for future events.