The Jackson City Council has agreed to participate in a yearlong effort to provide better access to the city's elected officials, a city-issued release said.

Each month, at least one or two members of the council will be at specific locations at times that will always be prior to or at 6 p.m. The locations vary in an attempt to allow people to present neighborhood concerns to the council members.

The daytime hours for the meetings are scheduled to allow those who are unable to attend the normal twice monthly evening city council meetings a more convenient time and place to contact elected officials. No city business will be conducted as meetings are intended only to gather input and answer questions from residents.

Councilman Keith Sweet suggested the informal contact process and it was unanimously agreed to by the other council members. It will also allow the council to distribute information regarding various city activities such as the Neighborhood Watch program.

The meeting schedule for 2009 can be viewed at http://ci.jackson.ca.us/. The first one will be held Feb. 18 at 4 p.m. at the Argonaut Heights Fire Station.