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Residents flag SeeClickFix delays, poor lighting and downtown safety; city manager outlines 'Update Mondays' and lighting assessment
Summary
Multiple residents raised concerns about the SeeClickFix reporting system, long response times, dark streets and downtown public‑safety incidents. City Manager Steven Carter described a new 'Update Mondays' accountability step and pledged a lighting assessment with Dominion.
Several residents used the nonagenda public comment period to press the city on response times to SeeClickFix reports, prolonged outages of street lighting and public‑safety conditions downtown; the city manager described steps to improve accountability and said the city will assess lighting with Dominion.
Dan House told the council he had repeatedly used SeeClickFix to report code issues and graffiti and says many tickets are closed with little or no remedial work. "There's no oversight," House said, describing messages that closed requests because an item predated a code change rather than because repairs occurred.
City Manager Steven Carter told the council that the city triages SeeClickFix reports and that staff will work with councilmembers to review the system's effectiveness. Carter described a new accountability practice he calls "Update Mondays," requiring staff to review outstanding service requests on the first and third Mondays of each month to ensure responses are issued. He also urged residents to call 311 for emergencies so they can speak directly with staff.
Multiple speakers also raised lighting and downtown safety concerns. Sherman Tyler and Sergio O'Neil urged more attention to lighting and neighborhood safety in Prentice Park and surrounding neighborhoods. Business owner Tony Goodwin described several recent late‑night incidents downtown and cited multiple out‑of‑service lights under highway underpasses and along corridors; he urged faster repairs and enforcement to prevent storefront vacancies.
Council members and staff discussed connections between lighting, crime and downtown business health. Councilwoman Thomas noted a recent council resolution supporting Vision Zero / Safe Streets for All and asked whether lighting assessment could be part of that program; City Manager Carter agreed lighting and marking are elements eligible for federal Safe Streets for All grants and said staff will inventory operational and nonoperational lights and work with Dominion Energy to address outages.
No formal action or ordinance was taken at the meeting; Carter said staff will provide additional information and work with council on next steps.
