Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Council Work Session convened on January 28, 2020, with the Mayor presiding. The meeting focused on informational discussions across three main agenda items: Public Comment, Budget Finance and Economic Development, and Council Reports.

During the session, the Council conducted six motions and votes while addressing various municipal matters. No public comments were received during the designated public comment period. The meeting served as a working session for council members to review budget and economic development matters and share reports on ongoing city business, with all agenda items being informational in nature rather than requiring formal action items.

Attendance

All eleven council members were present for the meeting.

Present: • Council Member Plowman • Council Member Farmer • Council Member Ellinger • Council Member Misati • Council Member Bledsoe • Council Member Maloney • Council Member Lamb • Council Member Worley • Council Member Evans • Council Member Reynolds • Council Member Massabi

Absent: None

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted six votes during the meeting, all of which passed by voice vote 0:00.

Procedural Approvals • Council Member Plowman motioned to approve the table of motions for the Work Session January 21st, seconded by Council Member Farmer. The motion passed by voice vote.

• Council Member Farmer motioned to approve the amended table of motions for the January 14th Council Work Session, seconded by Council Member Ellinger. The motion passed by voice vote.

• Council Member Plowman motioned to approve new business items, seconded by Council Member Farmer. The motion passed by voice vote.

Policy and Program Matters • Council Member Ellinger motioned on Council Capital Projects, seconded by Council Member Misati. The motion passed by voice vote.

• Council Member Maloney motioned for examination or creation of an Employee Organ and Bone Marrow Donor Leave Program, seconded by Council Member Lamb. The motion passed by voice vote.

Planning Commission Referral • Council Member Plowman motioned to refer the definition of tenant home to the Planning Commission, seconded by Vice Mayor Kaye. The motion passed by voice vote with one abstention.

All votes were conducted by voice vote rather than roll call, so individual member positions were not recorded for most items. The only exception was the final motion regarding the tenant home definition referral, which noted one abstention among the members present.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council addressed one financial item during this meeting.

• Grant Funding: The Council considered a $9,000 grant for the Bicycle and Bikeway Commission. This grant funding would support the commission's activities and initiatives related to bicycle infrastructure and bikeway development in the city.

*Note: Specific resolution numbers and transcript timestamps were not available in the provided meeting materials for this financial action.*

Contested Items

The Council meeting featured one significant point of contention regarding the Town Branch Commons Project contract award.

Resolution Accepting Pace Contracting Bid

A heated discussion arose over the resolution to accept the bid from Pace Contracting for the Town Branch Commons Project. Councilmember Maloney raised concerns about the resolution, specifically citing his responsibility to represent his constituents' interests in the matter.

The disagreement escalated into a broader discussion about the role of council members in representing their constituents versus serving the interests of the entire community. This fundamental question of representation appeared to be at the heart of Maloney's objections to moving forward with the Pace Contracting bid.

The specific nature of Maloney's concerns about the contracting decision was not detailed in the available information, nor was the final outcome of the vote on this resolution clearly documented. The discussion highlighted tensions between district-specific representation and city-wide governance responsibilities that council members must navigate when making decisions on municipal projects.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available for this contested item discussion.*

Public Comment

0:00

The Council meeting opened with the standard public comment period, providing an opportunity for community members to address the Council on any agenda items scheduled for discussion. However, no members of the public had signed up to speak during this portion of the meeting.

The public comment period is a regular feature of Council meetings that allows residents and stakeholders to share their perspectives, concerns, or support for items on the agenda before the Council begins its formal deliberations. This ensures that public input is heard and considered as part of the decision-making process.

With no speakers registered, the Council proceeded directly to the next portion of the meeting agenda without any public testimony or community input on the scheduled items.

Budget Finance and Economic Development

0:00

Councilmember Bledsoe presented a financial update to the Council, providing information on the city's fiscal status and economic development initiatives.

The presentation included a report on the surplus from fiscal year 2019, though specific dollar amounts were not detailed in the available materials. Councilmember Bledsoe discussed how this surplus impacts the city's overall financial position.

Additionally, Councilmember Bledsoe addressed an economic development funding proposal, outlining potential opportunities for investment in local economic growth initiatives. The presentation served as an informational briefing to keep Council members updated on the city's financial health and development prospects.

This was an informational presentation with no formal action taken by the Council. The update provided members with current financial data and economic development considerations for future planning and decision-making purposes.

Council Reports

Council members provided updates on various community events and initiatives during this informational segment of the meeting 0:00.

Key Participants: - Council Member Maloney - Council Member Plowman - Council Member Reynolds

The council reports section served as an opportunity for elected officials to share information about ongoing community activities and municipal initiatives with both fellow council members and the public in attendance.

Outcome: This was an informational item with no formal action required. The reports allowed council members to keep the community informed about various developments and upcoming events within their respective areas of focus.

*Note: Specific details about the content of individual council member reports were not available in the provided meeting materials. Citizens interested in the full details of these reports are encouraged to view the complete meeting recording or contact the respective council members directly.*