The City Council gave first readings to three municipal code changes from the Public Health and Safety Committee: tighter commercial solicitation licensing, revisions to nuisance (vegetation) rules and amendments to waste-container storage and timing. The council also rejected temporarily extending liquor sales hours for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and moved to retain existing closing hours.

The solicitation amendment (bill 35-63) adds screening questions about whether an applicant has been accused of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or a felony and whether there are active warrants; the ordinance gives the city authority to revoke licenses and establishes appeal routes to the city administrator and then to the board of adjustment.

The nuisance and waste-container changes (bill 35-64) remove a prior requirement that trees more than 50% dead must automatically be removed, instead giving the city arborist discretion and exempting forested or wooded areas. The waste-container rules clarify that containers on corner lots must not be visible from the primary street assigned to the residential structure, maintain the prior maximum of seven containers, and continue 5 p.m. placement before collection with a new allowance to return containers by 9 a.m. the following day (previously required by midnight).

On liquor-hour policy for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the council voted in favor of a bill to remove a state-authorized extension and keep current closing hours. The Public Health & Safety Chair referenced police shift reports and ongoing drunk-driving enforcement as reasons to avoid extended late-night alcohol availability. The first reading of bill 35-65 passed 8-0.

Decisions and votes: bills 35-63 and 35-64 passed first readings on a voice/roll call vote (first reading tally recorded as 8-0). Bill 35-65 (the liquor-hours exemption) passed first reading 8-0; the city clerk later read the bill as exempting the city from the identified state statute.

Why it matters: the solicitation amendment tightens licensing vetting for people who canvass or solicit locally; nuisance rule changes shift some judgment to the city arborist and clarify public-right-of-way vegetation responsibilities; waste-container adjustments address visibility and timing conflicts between collection and neighborhood disturbance. The liquor-hours decision maintains the status quo for business closing times during a high-profile international sporting event and reflects public-safety concerns raised by police leadership.

Speakers and attribution: the items were presented by Public Health and Safety Committee Chair Mary Monticello and discussed by council members; the police chief’s shift reports were cited by the committee as a basis for the liquor-hour position.