Bridgeport City Council will have a second meeting this week. And it’s on Tuesday.

 

Unlike most of their sessions, this agenda will feature one item and won’t be held at the Bridgeport Municipal Complex. Instead, a special City Council meeting will take place Tuesday at the Bridgeport Conference Center where the sole item up for discussion is the city’s annual strategic plan.

 

The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. For those familiar with these meetings, it won’t be a short one.

 

“This will likely last until midnight, which is what we have scheduled, or later,” said Bridgeport Mayor Andy Lang. “It’s a very important meeting to the direction the city will take over the next year.”

 

Although it’s the first meeting for Lang in his elected capacity, he’s had similar meetings with businesses he’s operated. While the strategy is the same, he said he’s hoping to streamline the process to allow for as many areas of the city to receive as much discussion and equal time as possible.

 

“The one thing I don’t want the meeting to do is to go off topic where everyone talks about one or two subject items for most of the meeting,” said Lang. “The goal is that if someone on Council has a topic they feel is important then we will devote time to it. We also plan on devoting time to each department in the city and how we can make each department improve the quality of life for all of residents and make the experience by visitors the best it can be.”

 

To help facilitate the meeting, Lang and Council directed City Manager Kim Haws, Assistant City Manager Jimmy Smith and City Clerk Andrea Kerr to work with department heads on items of importance for the upcoming year. Lang said that’s taken place.

 

“This process will allow each aspect of the city to be discussed. Kim, Jimmy and Andrea have gotten all of that information together and out to Council, which is greatly appreciated,” said Lang.

 

Lang said he hopes each Council member, and expects each Council member, to bring up concerns or goals they’d like to see the city strive to reach in 2018. Lang said his goal will focus on making the city better for those with disabilities.

 

“I’m going to make sure we are handling things such as being ADA compliant everywhere, including when replacing sidewalks and repairing them. I want easy access to all of our public buildings and public spaces because if you have a child or relative in a situation where they need that and you have the access and facilities in your city, it not only benefits those that are here but it makes those not here want to live here,” said Lang.

 

Lang said he anticipates the meeting to begin with Haws and Smith addressing the group. After that, he said each topic will be addressed and individual department heads will show up to address Council.