City manager outlines hires, City Hall move and new state property-tax task force

City Manager Carolyn Lair updated the council on staffing and facility plans, saying first-round interviews for public-works and finance director positions have concluded and that second-round interviews will be scheduled soon.

Lair said the municipal staff has begun moving back to the old City Hall and that the city expects to reopen public services there on Aug. 11. She said two days of public-service interruption will be required for the move and that a press release will announce temporary closures.

"Still planning on having City Hall open to the public at our permanent location, on August 11," Lair said. "Those are the 2 days that we expect city services to be unavailable to the public to accommodate their move back to City Hall, and then we'll reopen on the eleventh." Assistant City Manager Courtney O'Donnell confirmed earlier accessibility concerns in the new layout had been addressed.

Lair also called attention to state legislation that created a 13-member real estate property-tax relief task force, including local-municipality representation. The task force will study property-tax burdens and possible reforms; Lair said the city will monitor the group's work and engage as appropriate.

The meeting included a council discussion about whether to reinstate a standalone airport committee (several councilors expressed interest) and about scheduling and ordinance changes required to alter committee structure; staff said the matter could be taken up in committee the following week.

No formal action was taken on hiring or committee structure at the workshop; items were informational and will be processed through regular hiring and ordinance channels.