For example, before a new bar or liquor store can be established in a neighborhood, the residents must be notified and a public hearing must be conducted. Some citizens were complaining that new bars were being established and they weren't informed about the public meeting. No chance was given to express their opinion. When the Ethics and Public Safety Subcommittee members heard about this, they proposed a resolution to use new, bigger, neon green signs to tell people about the public hearing for liquor licenses. The members of the subcommittee were doing their job of helping government meet the needs of the citizens.
Council members spend a lot of their time meeting with citizens.
Citizens call their council representative because they have a question, a problem or an issue they want to discuss. The council member and his or her staff listen to the citizen and try to find a solution. When two or more neighbors are in disagreement about an issue, a council member's job is to help people find a solution. The council member will consult with all of the people involved, with any city departments that might know about the situation and with his or her staff. Besides meeting with citizens to discuss neighborhood issues, council members also meet with business owners.