The Junction City Council voted 5-0 to approve a standing process allowing street closures for neighborhood block parties tied to National Night Out and to authorize the Public Works Department to coordinate closures with the police department. The motion gives staff authority to process block-party requests and provide barricades and other support when approved.

Police staff described National Night Out (NNO) as a neighborhood-focused initiative encouraging residents to host block parties so officers and firefighters can visit, hand out stickers and meet neighbors. The police presenter said the department created a simple application form to record requests and track the number of block parties; public works would handle barricade requests and site approvals. “If they want barricades, we'll fill out the proper documentation so that public works has that, and then we'll keep track of how many parties that we have in town and we'll go visit,” the presenter said.

Councilor Leach moved the motion to approve street closures for National Night Out and authorize the Public Works Department to coordinate with the police department; Councilor Worschburn seconded. Councilors voted yes without recorded abstentions or no votes.

Council discussion was supportive; members praised the police department for organizing the outreach and said neighborhood visits can build positive interactions between residents and first responders. Staff said they will continue to accept applications, approve barricade requests through Public Works, and coordinate visits by police and fire personnel. No additional conditions or city expenditures beyond normal barricade logistics were recorded at the meeting.

The approval creates an administrative process for recurring neighborhood requests for NNO block parties; individual closures will still require completion of the application and coordination with Public Works for barricade placement and traffic control.