Marietta residents, mark your calendars. The City Council is ready to roll up its sleeves with a duo of meetings pegged for the first week of May. Come Monday, May 6, at 5:15 p.m., officials will kick things off with an agenda work session, as per the council's notice. This will be the prelude to their Wednesday, May 8 gathering, which will start with an agenda review at 6 p.m. and transition into their regular meeting at 7 p.m.

In line with the transparent governance, the public's got the green light to attend these sessions either in-person or virtually. If you're one to do your homework before showing up, the Council's agendas will be available online ahead of the actual meetings. Tech-savvy citizens or anyone who can't make it can catch the live action and the playbacks on mariettaga.gov, where it'll be broadcast live and archived for future viewing.

For those who fancy a more informal setting, there’s something on the plate for you as well. The City Council has arranged for a casual sit-down immediately following both the meetings set for May 6 and 8. Held at the council chamber, this more laid-back segment is designed for informal discussion and a bit of socializing—a chance to bend a council member’s ear off the clock.

The city council's engagement doesn't end there. You can also tune in to the regular City Council meetings, which air the last Saturday of the month at 3 p.m. on Comcast Channel 23. Call 770-794-5668 for more details, and for those married to social media, check out the updates on Facebook and Twitter. Remember, it’s our city, our council, and our right to stay in the loop.