Starting the week of Sept. 21, periodically live scheduled online sessions will be staged to allow Manteca residents to ask City Manager Miranda Lutzow questions regarding concerns and issues connected with the city.

There will be some issues off limits that Lutzow can’t answer such as personnel matters that state law bars from being discussed in public.

The frequency of such interactions nor the exact day hasn’t been determined.

It is part of an ongoing effort to step up access and transparency while at same time listening to people in a bid to make the city more responsive and effective providing services to Manteca’s 85,000 residents.

It is the first time a Manteca city manager will be establishing regular set times for citizens to bend their ears, let alone doing so online.

While the pandemic may have forced such a venue to be done remotely, the model actually makes it significantly easier for the public to participate as they don’t have to travel to a physical location.

It means a Manteca resident who commutes to a Bay Area job could take a work break to share concerns.

It also means someone that deals with limited mobility can join the session from their homes.

“Mornings with Miranda” is the latest in a series of initiatives the city is undertaking to improve communication as well as get a better understanding of the needs of the community.

Last week, Lutzow and all department heads — police, fire, public works, and community development among others — took the first of what will be monthly walking tours of downtown businesses. The goal is to hear what concerns and needs are so the city can fine tune its efforts at addressing problems and issues downtown.

While the city has done several walking tours downtown dealing with specific endeavors such as developing strategies to help improve the central district, they have never basically been open forums.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com