City Council Regular Meeting

Detailed briefing

CITY COUNCIL MEETING — OCTOBER 6, 2025 • Council opened its capital improvement planning process without approving specific projects or funding. Members agreed by consensus to score proposed projects independently. Staff said the draft must be prepared for Planning Commission review in mid-November, followed by council review in December. Proposed equipment purchases total about $2 million, requiring choices about which vehicles and machinery can be delayed. • No funding decision was made on rebuilding the eastern boardwalk. The city reported about $160,000 in donations and pledges, but that includes a $50,000 pledge triggered only after funding reaches $250,000 and a $20,000 pledge triggered when construction begins. Without those pledges, the amount was described as about $90,000. Council members requested a clearer breakdown of demolition and replacement costs before considering a suggested $250,000 city contribution. • Council halted downtown lamp-post painting for now. After public comments and a closed session regarding legal advice, a motion carried directing the DDA to prepare a comprehensive plan with public input, detailed color schematics, consideration of other downtown features and surrounding areas, and a map of the posts proposed for painting. The motion allows three posts to be painted in different colors if used to support public input. • Motions appointing Allison Larson to the Downtown Development Authority and Molly Ving to the Tree Advisory Board carried. No applicant was reported for the open Zoning Board of Appeals position. • Council adopted the goals and priorities provided to the city manager after a closed personnel-review session. The contents of those goals were not read into the public transcript. • The city manager reported that the State Street project was expected to be completed by the end of the month. Master Brands has started paying the city $3,000 per month in rent, one year earlier than originally anticipated. Three proposals for council-chamber audiovisual improvements are expected by mid-November or early December. Worth watching: 1. Staff still must provide demolition and rebuilding cost details for the eastern boardwalk before council considers a city contribution. 2. The DDA must develop a broader lamp-post and streetscape proposal before painting can proceed. 3. The possible FEMA reimbursement was stated as both $48,000 and $480,000 during the report; the correct amount remains unclear. Upcoming: Capital project scoring is to begin promptly, with Planning Commission review expected in mid-November and council consideration in December; federal lawsuit mediation was tentatively set for October 20. Why it matters: Council is weighing limited capital resources against major infrastructure, equipment, waterfront, and downtown design needs.

Agenda items

• 3 · Approval of Agendaapproved
• 4 · Consent Agendaapproved
• 5A · Capital Improvements Planning 2026-2031 - Review and Discussiondiscussed
• 5B · Boardwalk Fundraising Status and Discussiondiscussed
• 5C · Downtown Lamppost Painting Discussion - Open and Closed Sessionsdiscussed
• 7 · Board Appointments - DDA and Tree Advisory Boarddiscussed
• 9 · Closed Session - City Manager Personnel Review and Goalsdiscussed

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

Related issues

• Marina / Harbormaster Building Renovation and Waterfront Fund Recoverydiscussed
• Zoning / Land Usediscussed
• Electric Infrastructurediscussed