Calgary city council meetings can cost thousands when run overtime

The cost of doing business can add up quickly at city hallwhen Monday council meetings run into the evenings.

Cityadministrators estimate the number canbe as much as $10,000 to cover staff overtime costs and other expenses.

The total cost doesn't come as a shock to Mayor Naheed Nenshi, given how many people need to stay when meetings go long.

"It doesn't surprise me but you know, these are things where we continuallyas an organization have to continue to be as efficient as possible," he said. "Sometimes we like to go on and on and on about things, request lots of reports and so on. Sometimes, we just gotta make a decision."

Coun.PeterDemong says the expense is part of the price of democracy butdoes wishcouncil could get its business done with shorter meetings.

"It did quite shock me. I'm not quite entirely sure what the staff is that we're holding over that aren't management and/or general managers that's encompassing this $10,000," he said. "That is something I'm going to look into because Ijust don't know who the people are that are being held over that's costing us this much."

While administrators caution the figure is just a costestimate, they say the point of providing it isto show elected officials that thereis a cost to meetings going late.