The Maple Valley City Council voted Monday night to reduce the number of required monthly meetings from three to two by eliminating the regular study session.

The council vote was split four to three with Mayor Bill Allison, Sean Kelly, Noel Gerken and Erin Weaver voting in favor of the change and Deputy Mayor Victoria Jonas, Linda Johnson and Layne Barnes voting against.

The idea of reducing the number of council meetings from three a month to two a month was raised in June at the City Council retreat. A public hearing was held on the matter Aug. 5 when residents spoke against the idea, citing concerns about accountability, the number of public comment opportunities, and control of the city’s affairs.

At the City Council special meeting on Sept. 3 council members again discussed the possibility. Mayor Bill Allison had previously spoken in favor of reducing the number of meetings and councilwoman Weaver also spoke in favor at the Sept. 3 meeting. Both felt that reducing the number of meetings would allow city staff to focus on other issues instead of preparing for meetings and reducing the number of meetings would increase efficiency.

Councilman Barnes said at the Sept. 3 meeting that he favored the idea but felt at this time that the council should stick to the three times a month meetings and instead cancel meetings that they feel they don’t need.

“I think there are some real positives to going to two meetings,” Barnes said.

He went on to explain that he wasn’t concerned about the number of public comment opportunities because citizens can also contact the council members at public events, email and call. Barnes said that by maintaining the current schedule and canceling meetings the council can assess if the third meeting is necessary.

“I think ultimately we are going to adopt this,” Barnes said.

At the meeting on Monday night Jonas reiterated her concerns about the council’s ability to do its work with only two meetings a month, particularly with the upcoming budget process and a comprehensive plan update that is scheduled next year. Jonas also cited past difficulties with scheduling additional council meetings and coordinating all the council members’ schedules.

“I’m very concerned that in three years we’ve gone from four meetings to three, and now some want to go to two,” Jonas said at the Sept. 9 meeting.

Jonas also raised questions about how council members are compensated and if their compensation should be adjusted, and pointed out that fewer meetings could lead to longer meetings. Councilwoman Johnson voiced her agreement with Jonas and cited the same concerns.

“This has been such a contentious subject that it breaks my heart that we are continuing to press on,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be a 4-3 vote and I think something like this needs more consensus. I think our citizens deserve better of us and I’m very disappointed.”

At the Sept. 9 meeting, City Manager David Johnston said that he anticipates the beginning of 2014 being the likely time that the council will begin the two meetings per month schedule. Johnston said that the budget process, which will continue through the end of the year, will necessitate additional meetings and when the council returns to its normal workload would be a logical time to facilitate the new schedule.