Elected officials from Jackson will hold something of an informal Q&A tomorrow morning at Hein & Co. Bookstore, part of an effort to make themselves more accessible to city residents.

The 10 a.m. gathering will see members of the Jackson City Council making themselves available to answer questions related to city services or the budget, discuss neighborhood issues, provide information regarding neighborhood watch programs, or listen to any special interests or concerns of local residents.

This is the first of a twice-monthly series of meetings that will be held throughout the year on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. It was conceived by Councilman Keith Sweet as a way to gather public input from residents who don't attend evening council meetings.

The next scheduled meeting is March 18 at 3 p.m. at the Rollingwood Community Center in Jackson. The full schedule can be found on the city's Web site at www.ci.jackson.ca.

Also on the city's Web site are two online surveys related to Jackson's general plan update.

The city is in the process of updating the housing element of the general plan. The element reviews Jackson's housing inventory and needs, and develops goals and strategies to ensure an adequate housing supply for all segments of the population.

The city is surveying residents and businesses to determine current housing issues, future needs and to plan for future housing opportunities. Households are being asked to complete a housing needs survey, while business operators and other employers have been invited to fill out a workforce housing survey.