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The 15-member commission was appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg earlier this year.

The panel is charged with making changes to the City Charter, which is essentially the city's constitution.

Despite a low public turnout, Charter Commission Chairman Matthew Goldstein -- who is also the chancellor of CUNY -- said he remains optimistic.

"Our job at this point is to really elicit as much comments and ideas that we can from deep into communities all around that city," Goldstein said.

While many ideas were floated about how to improve government in the city, the commission was urged to tackle hot-button issues like term limits, the city's land use process, and nonpartisan elections.

"The commission hearing tonight was so unfortunate. Because, here we had an opportunity to engage New Yorkers. Give them notice. Get people to participate. Use new technology to have this kick off hearing. And, by any standard, this is a pretty lame turnout," said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.

"We have a chance to fix some of what's wrong with our city government," said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. " Obviously, term limits is the first thing I think they have to deal with. They have to let the people decide that issue. But now lets talk about the city agencies. What's working and what's not working."

Buffalo businessman and gubernatorial hopeful Carl Paladino was also in attendance and made the argument that what's happening in the city with the commission is relevant to the state capitol.

"This is just a shadow or a reflection of what we have in Albany," Paladino said. "And all the good reasons I can point out about why we need term limits in Albany are the same good reasons here."

Four more public hearings are scheduled for this month.

Any proposed changes to the City Charter could go before voters on the November ballot.