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@@@ by the city announced that the City Council was 鈥渋mplementing several changes and new programs in response to community concerns.鈥漈he changes appear to be good first steps to helping the city learn from the unrest that has gripped the region for the past month, following night after night of protests after Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown on Canfield Drive.The City Council will implement a civilian review board for its police department, the public relations firm said. It will reduce court fines and reform a municipal court system that issues more warrants per capita than any city in Missouri.But here鈥檚 the problem: The city made these decisions without actually formally hearing from the public.The City Council hasn鈥檛 met, at least in public, since the unrest began. It hasn鈥檛 <a href=http://capstone.edu.sg/images/guccioutlet.onlinesalecc.php>Gucci Outlet</a> placed items on an agenda and had an open discussion and debate. It has failed to learn from one of the most important and underlying issues that made black residents of the city and region angry enough to take over the streets: They want to be a part of their government. They want to be heard from. They want transparency.State law demands such openness. The Open Meetings and Open Records Law, known as the , requires public business to be done openly. Its language on openness is unambiguous:鈥淚t is the public policy of this state that meetings, records, votes, actions, and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public,鈥?the law鈥檚 preamble reads.City councils cannot decide in some private fashion major changes to public policy, announce them, and then simply take pro forma votes at public meetings. That is illegal. The decisions, even if they are good ones, could become null and void. They would eventually <a href=http://capstone.edu.sg/images/guccioutlet.onlinesalecc.php>Gucci Outlet Store</a> be overturned, and Ferguson would have to start all over again.We understand that this small city has found itself out of its comfort zone as a worldwide media twister spins out of control. The process of holding its first public meeting, with likely demonstrations, possible security concerns and unprecedented attention, can鈥檛 be an easy proposition.But bypassing the process of good government is not the answer.The people of Ferguson want to be heard from; the council should let them speak. Making pre-emptive decisions disrespects both the people the <a href=http://www.avanttravel.com/michaelkorssonline.php> michael kors handbags</a> council is trying to mollify and the state law it has sworn to uphold.As we write this, there is no agenda for tonight鈥檚 meeting on the , though one has been mailed to reporters. Our calls and emails to the city and the public relations firm were not returned.This is really bad government in action. Also really bad public relations.Public debate can be messy and uncomfortable. But it sharpens ideas. It allows a rich discussion that can prevent mistakes. It helps increase public trust. If the mayor and council members can鈥檛 deal with new realities in Ferguson, they should step aside.The Ferguson City Council can鈥檛 outsource its difficult public job to a PR firm. If it is going to change policies that have left a group of its citizens feeling repressed, it needs first to listen to those citizens.