City Council Meeting - 2022-03-21

Detailed briefing

City Council Meeting — March 21, 2022 • Council approved ballot language for a Headlee override. Staff described the proposal as permitting council to increase the millage by up to 0.5 mill per year, toward an 8-mill cap, if needed. Council members said public education would be important because residents have previously said they did not understand the issue. • Council did not approve a resolution putting paid parking on the August ballot. Residents and council members debated whether paid parking and Headlee should be considered together or separately. Some argued a single Headlee question would be easier for voters to understand; others stressed that Headlee and paid parking are different revenue sources and that Headlee alone may not be sufficient. Staff said council can enact paid parking directly, but a voter rejection of a paid-parking ordinance would limit action for at least a year. • A proposed one-day Christian Music Festival at Zawn Park, planned for August 6 from 4 to 8 p.m., is expected to come before council in April. Staff said it had no issue with the event and was awaiting confirmation of the local nonprofit status required under city policy. Live music would be covered by the city code provision for council-approved events and concerts. • Council approved an ordinance defining city residents for board and commission eligibility. The approach generally uses the registered-voter list, with the city clerk able to verify city domicile for someone who is not registered to vote but may otherwise qualify. • Council voted to rename the Park Board as the Parks and Recreation Board. Staff said an ordinance will be presented at the next meeting. Council also voiced support for developing a school-led mural project in the spillway/tunnel, intended to improve the space and discourage graffiti; a design is expected to return for review. • The police chief introduced new officer Matt Howell and reported on 2021 department activity. Council supported pursuing a hybrid patrol vehicle, with the chief to return with final details. The department also plans for Tyler Swiss to serve as a school resource officer and receive school-safety and active-shooter training. Worth watching: • Whether and when paid parking returns for a ballot decision or direct council action. • The public education effort and voter response to the Headlee override. • Final pricing and authorization for the hybrid patrol vehicle. Upcoming: City offices will be closed the morning of April 12 for staff training; council is expected to consider the master plan on April 18; Arbor Fest is scheduled for May 28, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Why it matters: Council’s revenue decisions will shape how the city funds operations, projects, and future service needs.

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.