City Hall Council Meetings (Agenda) (neighborhood, quality of life, best)

[PolishEDview]

How Council Meeting in cities (NJ) look like? I assume it's open to public but please correct me if there are any limitations. Are agendas only subjects that are presented or each is discussed and residents have "real voice" before decisions are made?
Does such meetings look similar in every city or may be quite different? Are they worth to participate for average resident (someone who wants to know what's going on in the city as well as have some influence over decision that concerns him/her and quality of life at least in her/his neighborhood) ?

[HalfFull]

It varies by town/city. Your best route is to check the city website AND call or visit to ask for the details.

In general, your influence may be minimal, but attending some to understand the process and things that are happening is valuable.

[Retriever]

In addition to HalfFull's helpful advice, I will add the reality that public city council meetings are merely the culmination of all of the lobbying/deal-making/decision-making that has already taken place behind closed doors. Yes, you will be able to see how the various council members vote at that open meeting, but thinking that your comments will change their already-decided votes is...unrealistic.

I have taken the oppportunity to speak at City Council meetings in regard to issues that are not up for a vote that night, in the hope (perhaps, in vain...) that my comments might help to inform council members, and--possibly--influence their decisions at some point in the future. However, on the night of a city council meeting, all of the decisions have already been made, and their voting at that public session is not going to be altered by any comments that you might make that night.