Council to review interim leases and floodgate policy after tenant complaints; staff to examine lease responsibilities and barrier triggers

Council members and staff discussed interim leases for city-owned waterfront properties, tenants' concerns about floodgate deployment and when the city should raise barriers ahead of storm events.

Several council members said tenants at Arrow Court and other city-leased properties complained about unclear lease terms and the timing of flood barrier deployment; one tenant reported an insurance company had deemed the city negligent following a past event. Council members asked staff to review lease terms to determine tenant and city responsibilities and to consider outsourcing leasing management to reduce the city's direct rental role.

Public works staff said they have identified possible flood-panel modifications and are investigating procurement pathways. Staff also reported outreach to the state emergency management office about available integrated barriers and resources and said they will evaluate how to stack and deploy flood protections in a way that balances early deployment (which can disrupt tenants) against late deployment (which creates damage risk).

Council asked staff to provide clearer written protocols for when barriers will be raised, and to return with draft lease language and an assessment of whether the city should continue as interim landlord for those spaces. Staff said they will prepare additional information for a future meeting and noted that contract changes and operational staffing implications would need to be addressed.