Raising a Glass to Local Governance: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Impact through City Council Participation

In episode 69, we unravel the tapestry of local government with our own tale of ordinary people tackling the nuts and bolts of our community.  Join us as we talk through our experience of sitting through a local city council meeting and how they stitch together the fabric of our everyday lives.


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Transcript

Sara: 0:00

And what I thought was just really relatable and just like helped me remember that city council members are, you know, just like us. One of the members asked the head of the service department how does one report a streetlight out in the city? Because there's one like by my house I saw when I was walking my dog the other day. So that was just like cool, you know, just a good reminder, like hey, we're all just normal people and we're all just trying to like make the city better.

Sara: 0:28

Yeah, you know, and that that includes, like making sure streetlights are you know, have actual light coming.

Ashley: 0:34

They actually work.

Sara: 0:36

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Ashley: 0:43

Welcome back to the United she Stands podcast, the show that brings kindness and women into politics.

Sara: 0:48

I'm Ashley and I'm Sarah and we're two women from Ohio who are here to become more educated about American politics and build a community so we can all get involved and make an impact together, we hope will inspire and empower you along the way.

Sara: 1:15

Hello everyone and welcome back to another episode of the United she Stands podcast. Today we are going to talk about a fun little experience that I had. I recently watched one of my city council meetings online on YouTube and I just took some notes. And Ashley's going to ask me some questions about it and it's going to be. It's going to be fun, it's going to be a good time, right, Ash?

Ashley: 1:40

Yeah, we're going to hear all about what it's like to witness a city council meeting.

Sara: 1:44

Amazing, I mean I'm. I was floored, you know yeah.

Ashley: 1:48

That's really honestly, but good takeaways, so definitely worth the listen. Yes, all right. So before we do that, let's have what we're drinking.

Sara: 1:56

Let's talk about it. It is 1129 am. It is Tuesday with a day off and we're recording a bit early, but we did crack a beer so yeah, you know, the commitment is real and we have a few more episodes to record today, so it's going to be a good day. We are both drinking, actually, huffy Puffy from Missing Mountain, missing Mountains in Cuyahoga Falls, ohio, and it's a nice hazy IPA.

Ashley: 2:22

Yes it's delicious. Yeah, all right, what did we know? Okay, what did you like, maybe expect out of your city council meeting? What did you think it was going to be like?

Sara: 2:32

Yeah, I thought and this is one of my like overall takeaways but I just thought it was going to sound bad. I thought it was going to be like a little more exciting. But I feel like I kind of just pictured it, as I did expect more people to be there, like in the audience, just to like observe and watch, but also like, for example, I watched on YouTube. So like, how many other people are watching on YouTube, type of thing. Yeah, that's true, but yeah, I didn't really know. I didn't really know what to expect. I'll be honest.

Ashley: 3:03

Yeah, I feel like I mean, I didn't watch mine yet. It's on my to-do list, but I feel like for me, my expectation this sounds bad too. It was low. I thought it would be boring, which is probably also why I haven't like committed. It's super been like, okay, I'm going to go do it, but I am going to go do it. But I will share too. Like I follow a lot of the Hudson City Council people on their Facebook accounts, oh, so they post recaps of the meetings a lot of times. So I kind of feel like I like get enough to be like, oh, okay.

Ashley: 3:28

I know what's going on in the city, Like in a post, like you'll just do it on both of your lists and be like here's what came out of the meeting, you know, or even if, like, apparently there's like some drama, like if there's drama, they'll be like you know, I want to address this issue, blah, blah, blah. So like I feel like I get enough of like kind of the ins and outs, and then Hudson actually has like a city magazine that gets delivered once a month too, and it talks about all the stuff going on the city.

Ashley: 3:51

So I just feel like I've actually like am very informed enough that I'm like which is also why I haven't been like I should go see or like watch a city council meeting. But yeah, we'll talk about it later. I feel like there ever was like an issue I really cared about. I would like make a point to do it. Yeah, that makes sense. All right, Are you ready, Sarah, let's go Do it. All right, I'm gonna start with. How did you even know about your meetings, your city council meetings, and how did you know they were recorded and how did you find them?

Sara: 4:15

Yeah. So I recently moved over the summer and my friend lives in the same area, like the same little city. She was like, oh, you should sign up for the texts and the emails that come from the city. I'm like, oh yeah, great idea. So I went on their website and I signed up for just emails from there. I think it was just on their homepage like, oh, stay informed, blah, blah, blah.

Sara: 4:40

So I get, I don't know, probably like three to four emails from the city each week and they range from road closures if there's the Columbus Marathon, for example, or they have little festivals in the summer on some Saturday. So they'll say, oh, road closure from X time to whatever. So those are what the emails usually are. And then there's always an email prior to a city council meeting saying, hey, meetings at this date, this time, even though it's consistent, but just to remind folks. And then I believe there's a link to their website that's like, oh, find the recordings here or something along those lines. That where I was like, oh, these are recorded, that's convenient.

Sara: 5:21

So from there I really just went to their website and I dug around because I couldn't find a. When I actually went to watch it I couldn't find one of the emails that had the direct link. So I just poked around on the city's website and found the recordings, which led me to their YouTube channel, and so it was just like quite the history of city council meetings on the YouTube channel, which was nice, and I just picked the most recent one. So, but they had regular council meetings, so all of the committees are represented there. But then there's like they had shorter meetings recorded, like the finance committee meetings and things of that sort, so it was more than just classic city council meetings. How much government transparency.

Ashley: 6:05

I mean, it was a crazy thing, I know. All right, so set the stage. What did the room look like?

Sara: 6:09

on this point, yeah, yeah, so it was the entire council. From what I could tell, they were sitting in like a U-shape kind of like formation, so three long tables shaped like a U. The mayor was there, which was cool because I voted for her. There was a transcriber there also that you could tell, was just like taking notes and transcribing the meeting. And then there was also so the camera was set up where it was like kind of in the audience.

Sara: 6:39

So I don't know like how many seats were set up for the audience. It was kind of just like a big room and they set up seats and tables from there. So it wasn't like any sort of an auditorium or anything. But there was also like this big TV facing the audience and I couldn't quite tell what was on it because it was like a white document and it was just like really bright coming through the live stream. But I think it was the agenda for the day because I could see like the transcriber kind of like moving through it when we would like accomplish something. So I'm assuming that was the agenda.

Ashley: 7:14

Nice, yeah, okay. So tell us about the meeting. Yeah, how did it go? What was covered? Was there any drama? Tell me all the things. Yeah, there was a lot.

Sara: 7:22

There was a lot. It was the one I picked. And I picked this because it was the most recent one. It was like the first Monday in December or something and it was an hour and 42 minutes and I, Wow. I immediately was like oh my God, do we have to do this episode Like?

Sara: 7:40

An hour and 42 minutes. I was not thrilled about it, but I did the classic. You know, watch it on X speed and I kind of skipped through some parts that you know. I kind of got the gist and just wanted to move on from.

Ashley: 7:53

But isn't that kind of crazy to think about. Like just your local government. Yeah, how often do they meet? I think like once a month they have the actual set to come to meet Right, and it's like that much to discuss or do. That's crazy.

Sara: 8:04

Yeah, I know, yeah, so it was definitely jam-packed. One thing that I was really shook by in the first like two to three minutes, they started all by standing and saying the pledge of allegiance. Like I was like what are we back in high school? Like, did I still even do that in high schools? I don't know. I know, honestly, I know there's like some controversy around it, because you know there always is controversy around something, but yeah, so I was like struck by that. That's how. That's how it started off.

Ashley: 8:32

That is interesting. I mean, I guess it kind of makes it like you start like we start sporting events with, like the national anthem. Yeah, I guess it's like the sporting event for a government.

Sara: 8:43

I mean, yeah, that's a good point.

Ashley: 8:45

And now I'm curious, though, like I wonder. I mean we've watched a lot of stuff in like the you Congress, like yeah, I've never noticed, like do they start anything? Oh, I don't know, that'd be something I'd be interested to check out.

Sara: 8:56

Yeah, but no, that's a great call. We'll have to pay attention. Yeah, that's a big c-span watching for anybody listening knows she does a message. Yeah, or if anyone knows that if, like any teachers out there, they still do it in like public schools, I think they?

Ashley: 9:10

I don't know yeah.

Sara: 9:13

So, anyways, that's how they started. And then they did Overall call just to make sure everyone was in attendance or you know, jot down whoever was it. And then this was really, really cute. They started with their recognitions and resolutions section. So apparently the local girls cross-country team made it to state this year and, you know, had a really successful season. So they had the entire local high schools Girls cross-country team in like at the meeting, yeah, and they they got some sort of award. It looked like kind of like a plaque or something, and I think they all got a picture with the mayor, yeah, yeah, and one of the city council members had like a nice little like write-up kind of summary of their season and whatnot. And then they also did like individual awards for seniors on the cross-country team, which was cute and I think that and also included some of the guys from the guys cross-country team. So that was nice. And then, once all of that was complete, they all laughed and their parents left.

Ashley: 10:15

So a lot of the audience After that, which I don't blame them.

Sara: 10:19

Yeah, thanks for our award. See ya, right, and it felt like they don't usually start with this section, like the recognition, recognition section, yeah, because they're like well, let's start with this. It kind of seemed like a let's do it so everyone can leave, type of thing, yeah, which is thoughtful. So then after that, the citizens that attended the meeting, they got to come up to the podium in front of the city council and talk about like local issues and ordinances and whether they were like for, against them. So one in particular was around source of income discrimination when, like renting, yeah, and it was really interesting. Everyone got five minutes to speak.

Sara: 10:59

You know, some people used all of it, some people didn't, but what I found most interesting from that part, there was this man, probably like Mid to late 30s, from what I gathered. He was a landlord in the or he is a landlord in the city and he, from what I gathered from what he was saying, I think he spoke at a previous city council meeting. I think he was. I don't remember his original stance on this issue, but basically he admitted the first time he spoke at the last meeting. You know he spoke with a lot of passion and he admitted he hadn't done a lot of like research or reading up on the topic. And after that meeting he went back and did some research and he actually decided he was the you know opposite on the issue. You know, that's yeah. And he like straight up admitted that in front of everyone. He's like you know, when I was here last time, blah, blah, blah. But since then, like I've decided blah, blah, blah and I was just Really impressed what like a responsible and good yeah citizen.

Sara: 12:00

Yeah, I was. I was so impressed. I was like you know, at first I wasn't like fully paying attention, but then I was like Wait, is he saying what I think he's saying? And then I kind of rewind it.

Ashley: 12:10

I'm like, okay, this is really like, this is big of him, like that's like he could have spoke passionately, went home and then Pissed off about the situation, you know like whatever it was, and instead he's just like educate himself and then formed a different opinion.

Sara: 12:23

That's like yeah, amazing, I know I was. I was so impressed and I think it's just a really important thing For anyone to do, obviously, but it was just cool to see it in action, because I feel like that's something that we, you know, always like try to hit home on and, you know, highlight the importance of it, and just to like see it unfolding in my own immunity, I was like, okay, bravo, bravo, yeah, that's awesome, yeah. So I think there were probably like four or five people that came up in and spoke about the specific issue and then they also read some online comments that were submitted. So I thought that was nice to do. There were like different ways to get your voice heard. Yeah, the specific ordinance. So that probably. That took up a decent chunk of time. And then they did New appointments for the advisory boards and other local groups.

Ashley: 13:12

So did they? Did they vote on the ordinance afterwards or is that? Did that happen later? So they just heard from people in this section.

Sara: 13:19

They heard from people. They voted on ordinances later and then they also tabled some ordinances for the next meeting.

Ashley: 13:27

Yeah, yeah sorry, I didn't mean to jump ahead, I just didn't know yeah, no, that's okay.

Sara: 13:31

Yeah, I feel like this was also a unique Meeting because this, I believe this was the first full city council meeting after the election. Oh yeah. So I think, like they were the new appointments for, like the boards and stuff, they were, you know, just getting everything set for the next year Did people leave after the comment section like more people?

Ashley: 13:50

Oh yeah, that's probably also why they did it up front, right, yes, but later, without people there, but like they wanted people to be able to say exactly because, like the people, like the citizens, don't vote on who's like the city council votes On, who's like the lead of whatever, yeah, um, yeah, so good point.

Sara: 14:04

Everyone I think everyone had stayed to watch, like the other folks you know, say their piece about the ordinance, but then, once that section was done, they all left, yeah, yeah. So then they moved on to those appointments and it wasn't like it was really just a formality, it was like, oh, so and so for this board, yeah, everyone say I like I, yeah, yeah, so, yeah, that one quick. Then this was like just fun, because this is like things that I Often or I think like folks forget about that. It's actual like city government stuff. But they had updates from like the service department and the head of that said like, oh, we're still picking up leaves, this is our last day.

Sara: 14:48

There's some street lights out on this road, like we're getting to them this week, blah, blah, blah, yeah, um, like, oh, the gas company still working on things around the town before the snow plows come out, things like that. And what I thought was just really relatable and just like helped me remember that city council members are, you know, just like us. One of the members asked the, the head of the service department how does, how does one report a street light out in the city? Because there's one like by my house I saw when I was walking my dog the other day and yeah, so that was. That was just like cool, you know, just a good reminder, like hey, we're all just normal people and we're all just trying to like make the city better, yeah you know, and that that includes like making sure street lights are you know, have actual light coming.

Ashley: 15:37

Yeah, they actually work yeah.

Sara: 15:38

Yeah. So that was that was like relatable, because I was like, oh, if I had a yard, I know when I have to get my leaves out. Yeah, they do send emails about that too, like, oh, leaf pickup, like. So I get those to my, to my email. But and then they just went around committee by committee asking for any updates, so like the safety committee, public facilities, economic development, the library budget updates, etc. But yeah, as you as like did everyone kind of leave after that, and even from Folks that don't sit on the council, that are part of like some of these committees that were there for updates, they left after that as well.

Sara: 16:17

Yeah, and so, from what I could see from the Video, the only person that was left at this point was the new incoming city council member. Yeah, yeah, so tough crowd, but I don't blame them. And then they voted on ordinances after that. So they would just call out their last names and they would say their answer, yes or no. There was only. There was a debate on One of the ordinances, and I think it was. I don't, I don't even remember, but it was. It was interesting. It wasn't like you know a fight, but it was. You know, the city council members were debating. Yeah, it did get like a little heated at one point, but nothing that was like disrespectful or what I felt like did it stay respectful and it did.

Ashley: 17:04

Yeah, that's good.

Sara: 17:05

Yeah, I hear that, but there were like little comments like oh, like, as I said in the last meeting, or oh, I brought this up the last three meetings like little, like things, very passive, right, right, which like like when you write an email to a co-worker.

Sara: 17:18

You know it's like my last email, see my latest response below oh my god, yeah, and then they were also debating about having a lengthier process for Someone to become the city council president, like I think right now it's just a very like you know, like you Do a quick vote, and I think they wanted to make it more lengthy.

Ashley: 17:42

I guess, yeah, I don't know.

Sara: 17:43

Yeah, just more hurdles, basically. So they talked about that a bit and then they couldn't decide on that, so they tabled that until the next one, yeah. And then so there was one city council member that did not win the election. So it's cool because, like this was my ballot and I got to see some of the faces that I voted for, and it's cool.

Sara: 18:03

Yeah, so it was, it was Interesting and like the first time I've really like paid this much attention obviously. So it was just like cool to see, yeah, like oh, those are my folks sitting right there. So, anyways, there were three seats up for reelection on our city council and four people were running. So one person didn't win and it was actually an incumbent. So At the very end, everyone was kind of like going around saying very nice things about him and how you know They'll miss working with him and how you know he's made a difference, and all these very nice things yeah and you'd, like I said the the incoming council member was sitting in the audience, but yeah, and then they just like kind of ended the meeting.

Sara: 18:42

I thought they would have like a more formal, like okay meeting adjourned like gavel or something.

Sara: 18:47

Yeah, I mean they literally started the meeting with the pledge of allegiance, like yeah, it's just, it felt like there would be like a more formal like everyone says I don't know, yeah, but um no, it just kind of ended and yeah. So those were basically like from my notes of like, kind of like the flow. Yeah, I also saw a security guard at one point in the video, just like I think he walked from one end of the room to the other, so I just thought that was interesting. I guess the more I think about it, the more it makes sense, but I'm just like yeah, it's open to the public.

Ashley: 19:18

Right, people can get heated. Um, what it? I was going to ask about this. Was there any like point like whether it was like opening or closing? Like I know you just said closing was really informal, but was there any point where it's like they were speaking like legal jargon-ish or like you know, like I didn't know if there was any point where it's like a normal like you watching you were like what the hell are they saying? Or what's going on? Yeah, was it very like, very accessible, like you could, like you kind of knew what was happening the whole time, even if maybe you didn't know. You know the exact split. You could follow along Like how was it? Was there any?

Sara: 19:48

Yeah, that's a really great question. I think for the most part it was easy to follow. Yeah, I think where I was kind of more confused and where I don't have like a lot of details in my notes are on the specific ordinances. Like everyone was just familiar with the issues and the ordinances, so they would kind of like say the title or like a one sentence, like brief on it, and then like discuss and I'm like okay, wait, I feel like I don't, I don't really fully know what everyone's talking about or you know the next and current needs with it. So I feel like that was the most part where I was, or the part where I was most like I'm not sure what's happening, yeah, or not fully sure, but like for the most part, like it wasn't like you were like watching a scene of like a lawyers in a courtroom you know what I mean.

Ashley: 20:29

Yeah, yeah, that's what I was wondering. Like, did it feel like you, you know like, if you went inside there, like it wasn't like a scary feeling to watch or like you weren't intimidated by it? Right, that's right, that's good. I love that, yeah, okay, so let's try to wrap this a bit. So what were your overall takeaways from watching your city council meeting?

Sara: 20:46

Yeah, great segue, because you just said like not as not that intimidating, and I would say that's my first overall takeaway it wasn't as intimidating as I thought it was going to be. Granted, as I said, I was watching it on YouTube, so I was watching it from the comfort of my own couch you know my Christmas candle going, my Christmas tree on cozy. But I don't think the experience would have been too much different if I was sitting there in person.

Ashley: 21:08

Yeah, Hallmark movie city council meeting.

Sara: 21:10

I mean, I mean, how could?

Ashley: 21:12

you not fix it?

Sara: 21:14

I know, I know, I mean I'd pick that all day, right. I was also impressed. It really felt like a well oiled machine in terms of like, even though I think the agenda was kind of flip flopped a bit for some of the sections from regular meetings, but it really felt like everyone knew. Like when they were going to do like call their names out, you have to say yes or no, and it wasn't like it felt like no one was confused, everyone just like knew what to do. Yeah, which, granted, this was like the end of the term, right, so everyone had been on city council for at least one term and whatnot. But I was impressed with how well it was ran, even though it was a long meeting. They couldn't do so much. So, yeah, even like, when the like the residents came up and spoke, like they felt like they knew what they were doing to.

Sara: 21:59

I think it kind of deterred me from wanting to run for city council.

Ashley: 22:04

That's interesting. Yeah, I feel like it gave me the opposite. I know I didn't watch yours, but I kind of gave me the opposite. So say more about that, yeah.

Sara: 22:11

Yeah, no, I honestly expected you to say that. That's so funny. I will be honest, yes, I think I was just a little bummed at how this is going to sound so bad. I was just a little bummed at, like, how boring overall it seemed and how bored everyone seemed to me as well. Yeah, like there was no like enthusiasm in the room.

Ashley: 22:34

Right.

Sara: 22:34

Right, like the most enthusiasm was around, like the girls cross-country team, which is like great, you know, but like everything else it just I don't know. It was like December, right in between the holidays, you know. I think it was the last meeting for you know that specific term. So it could have been a lot of things right, but I just felt like everyone was just like kind of bored and like ready to leave, which, like I mean, I believe these meetings are like on Monday, tuesday nights. They're long, obviously Right Evenings.

Ashley: 23:03

I have people already work all day Right exactly.

Sara: 23:04

They have a lot of them have full-time jobs, right, not their day job, for sure. So I don't know, I'm not like based my final decision on this specific meeting alone, but it was just something where I was like, huh, no one seems like super pumped, which like granted, I don't know if I would be either like sitting in the room and being super the only one being super enthusiastic, you know, yeah, so I don't know, yeah.

Ashley: 23:28

So for me my answer is like the opposite, because of all the things you said, like it wasn't intimidating. Yeah, it feels very accessible, Like it's like okay, I mean I know just from talking to you, know past guests like Megan Hartwick, I mean she spends Sunday nights reading these ordinances. Really, she has to read all these docs. You know there's a lot of work involved. And then I think too, her passion and her excitement was when she brought an ordinance too, or she brought a change for us.

Ashley: 23:54

To me. I'm sure there are months where maybe it's months at a time where these meetings are kind of like, yeah, you're going in, you're doing like you're going through the motions a bit and some of the basic stuff to keep city running. But then I think there's the things where you feel like you can't really make a change or make an impact. But for me, what I love to hear you say in this was how just accessible it felt, how not intimidating it felt, how they spoke in English and not legal or political jargon. So I liked all that. I was like, oh yeah, maybe I'll run for city council.

Ashley: 24:23

I mean not right now, because Nick would kill me, but one day I was like OK that doesn't feel as scary as maybe I thought it would.

Sara: 24:30

I don't know that's fair. I mean, I think those are like. Both of our assessments are fair, like oh we want it to be fun and exciting, but also accessible and not intimidating. Interpoint.

Ashley: 24:41

I mean it's one meeting, but just like those were kind of my initial thoughts when you were walking through it, yeah yeah, for sure, that makes sense.

Sara: 24:48

Also, I thought it was really cool that when the citizens came up, or the residents came up to speak, it was really people of all different ages, genders. I was really impressed at the diversity that came. There was probably a guy my age, maybe early 30s. There was probably two middle-aged men, a middle-aged woman, a younger woman, and this one guy came in a suit. Other guys came in sweatpants and it was just come as you are, basically, and they all had like same amount of time, same amount of voice.

Ashley: 25:25

Yeah, that was really nice.

Sara: 25:26

Right and it just felt like accessible again. I could have ran there after a workout and said my piece and, you know, peaced out and been done Exactly, and some people had written down their points or things like that. Some people just came up and spoke even for a minute, just like, hey, this is my piece and I'm done. Yeah, that was awesome. Yeah. So it was just cool to see actual people in the community just coming as they are, coming to speak their opinion. Yeah, that is cool. Yeah.

Sara: 25:55

And, like I said earlier, it was really, really cool to pinpoint the folks that I voted for on City Council and I voted for the woman who's incoming incoming seat, so it was cool to see her and it was just like I don't know I mean, the election was like almost a month before that, so it was pretty fresh and I was like, oh my gosh, I voted for this girl and I know she owns like a little biscuit shop down the street and just to see them in action too, I'm like, oh my god, my vote matters. You know, like I did that, I helped that right. So cool, I love that. Yeah, it was super cool Overall. I don't know if I would continue to watch these on a monthly basis, but would totally feel comfortable going in and speaking my stance on something if something came up that I was super passionate about.

Ashley: 26:40

Yeah that's awesome.

Sara: 26:41

Yeah, yeah. So it was a good experience. I'm glad I did it. Like I said, I didn't watch the whole hour and 42 minutes at normal speed, but I still felt like I learned a lot and felt like it was a good just good experience to see my local government in action.

Ashley: 27:00

Yeah, and I think too, like it's just OK now, like in the future, to your point, if you do, if there is an issue that comes up that you care about, like you're comfortable walking in and be like I'm going to go speak on this because you've seen it, or even if it's just like there's a topic I really want to hear about, you know where on YouTube to find them. You know where to go look at these recordings. You know what I mean. You know how to find those stuff. So it's like you're just informed. You're equipped to engage with your government if you need to or you want to for something.

Sara: 27:24

So I think that's really awesome. Yeah, for sure. I definitely felt really good about myself, even though I was just watching and observing, basically for this episode, but I felt really good. I was like I wonder how many people do this and seek this out. It was not hard to find the videos you just have to poke around the menu on the website to the thing and actually I'd say I found the words are recorded too for Hudson.

Ashley: 27:47

I, just like I said, I haven't watched it yet.

Ashley: 27:49

But yeah, so at least I know where they are and I think too, it's important, maybe especially if people don't get their news any other way, because it is hard to hear about what's going on here at Google government. Before I lived in Hudson, I never could have told you what was happening. Like my community now does a really good job between the monthly magazine. Like I said, I intentionally followed some of the council members on Facebook and stuff, so they do a really good job, I think, of posting. But it's like, if you're not intentionally seeking that stuff out, this is a good way if you really want to get a pulse on what's happening.

Sara: 28:19

Yeah, and to be honest, I don't know if I would have signed up for the city emails and alerts if my friend didn't tell me to and she had. She's been living in the city for almost five years now, so she was just giving me a pointer as another local resident. But yeah, if I didn't have that idea from her, I don't know if I would have done it.

Ashley: 28:41

I'm interested in that comment Because I wonder if that's the difference in owning and renting a little bit, because, example owning, that was some of the first questions. Nick was like all right, we need to figure out when garbage day is, yeah, when the leads are getting picked up. I already followed everyone like the city of Hudson on Facebook and all that, so it's like I could easily tell them that stuff. And then we started getting the mail and it was fine. But it's like, as you're a renter, you don't really give a comment, right?

Sara: 29:06

And my friend is actually a renter too. Oh, OK, Interesting.

Ashley: 29:08

So I'm just interested to like, because I was thinking that too when I rented back in the day. I would have never signed up for that stuff. I don't care when the leaves come, I don't care about snow removal, I'm not doing any of that.

Sara: 29:17

Yeah, so it's just interesting. That is such a good point. My trash room is right across from my apartment on an inside building. My car is parked in a parking garage, like it doesn't have to be snow plowed. Obviously don't like rake the leaves, like I just live.

Ashley: 29:34

That's what I mean. Like there's some like general maintenance stuff that comes with homeownership, anyway, that's a whole different topic, but I was just like why we also have a new issue. We're saying that. No that makes a lot of sense for sure.

Sara: 29:43

All right, do you want to bring us home? Yeah, let's bring it home. So if you're interested to hear what your city is up to, I could put a lot of money on betting that they record their meetings as well. So go to your city's website and click around a bit to find where they keep the recordings. Mine was under a menu option called I'm looking for dot dot, dot, and then I selected Watch Public Meeting. Wow, imagine that. How convenient. If you do that, please don't forget to let us know what you think of your city council meetings, even if you watch it at two times the speed. We understand we have lives as well. But yeah, we would love to hear kind of your analysis of yours.

Ashley: 30:19

Yeah, thank you guys all for tuning in this week and we hope you learned a little something. Yeah, thanks everyone. See you. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah.

Sara: 30:27

Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. Thanks for joining us for today's episode. We really appreciate the support.

Ashley: 30:33

We would also really appreciate it if you hit the follow button and share this episode with anyone you think would enjoy it.

Sara: 30:38

And we'd like to thank Kevin Tanner, who edited this episode. If you're interested in learning more about him and his services, his website and Instagram are in the show notes.

Ashley: 30:46

With that, we'll see you next week.