For years, the Suffolk City Council has traveled to other locations – Annapolis, Edenton, New Bern, Williamsburg – for its retreats.

But after last month’s 4-3 vote to stay home, this year’s retreat is being held in the conference room of the city’s economic development de-partment on East Washing-ton Street Sept. 14-16.

The event will kick off with a dinner Wednesday, followed by two days of intensive meetings with city department heads, said Dennis Craff, the city’s communications director. Council members will be in meetings from at least 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday

&uot;They will have a pretty full plate,&uot; said Craff. &uot;Department heads will essentially be giving a report card on the various initiatives that have been established through the council’s priorities and policies.&uot;

Tyler St. Clair, who is from the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service,

will be returning this year, said Craff.

Councilwoman Linda T. Johnson, during Wednesday’s meeting, asked that a workshop on Robert’s Rules of Order be included in the retreat schedule.

The retreat is open to the public.

allison.williams@suffolknewsherald.com