A public commenter on July 23 urged the City Council to issue a request for proposals so a nonprofit could manage the city museum, saying the city has spent money on off-site storage and that outside management could cut annual costs.

West Fulton said he was asked to help the museum with strategic planning and described a stalled transfer process. “The city spent more than a $120,000 on the warehouse,” Fulton said, and added that two years have passed without an RFP being issued. He argued that issuing an RFP could transfer operational headaches to a nonprofit and “help you solve a $72,000 problem.”

The comment came during the public-comment period. Mary, a city staff member, told the council members there is a memo in the meeting packet that is “the state auditors opinion regarding ownership for transfer of museum artifacts” and said staff hopes to bring the tabled item back to the council in September for consideration. Mary also said city staff will be working through August with the Utility Rate Advisory Committee and will return with material in September.

Council members did not take formal action on the public comment during the meeting; the museum item remains tabled and staff indicated they will bring it back for consideration in September. The council did not vote that night to issue an RFP.

Speakers and written materials in the meeting packet referenced possible next steps, including identifying an annex building to hold collections so the main museum building could offer more exhibit space. Fulton said museum planners had identified potential annex buildings and spoken with property owners but that “because nothing ever happened, they did have no status, so nothing moved forward.”

The council did not adopt a new policy or approve transfer of artifacts at the session. In her staff remarks, Mary directed the council to review the state auditor’s opinion included in the meeting materials and indicated staff’s plan to return the item in September for further council consideration.

The public-commenter’s remarks and staff memo together framed the issue as one of cost and operational responsibility; no ordinance, contract or final council decision concerning museum management was recorded at the meeting.