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Council pivots to larger, presentation‑style open house for government campus outreach
Summary
Council members directed staff to expand an upcoming government campus open house beyond a 100‑person tabletop exercise, asking for a presentation followed by Q&A and broader outreach to accommodate more residents and better capture public feedback.
Council members directed staff April 22 to expand plans for a government campus open house after members and residents raised concerns that a 100‑person, tabletop format would limit outreach and productivity.
Staff had described the event as a tabletop with 10 tables and a 100‑person limit. Several council members, including Mayor Scott Singer, Deputy Mayor Nacklis and Council Members Drucker and Wigdor, recommended a different format: an up to 30‑minute presentation by the project team (Terra Ferris/Terra Frisbee in transcript), followed by Q&A and breakout stations for public comment and mark‑up of the refined plans. Council members argued the revised format would allow attendees to see how the project had been refined in response to prior input and would focus discussion on adoptable options instead of starting from scratch.
Council member Rucker and others also urged staff to add additional sessions in different parts of the city and to broaden advertising; staff reported about 100 pre‑registrations at the time of the meeting and agreed to re‑advertise and expand capacity, including exploring amphitheater or studio locations with larger capacities. Staff said they would make the pivot and re‑open registration so more residents can attend and suggested additional outreach and possible subsequent sessions in different neighborhoods.
Public commenters used the opportunity to urge athletic and recreation investments (one resident delivered petitions supporting downtown tennis courts) and to ask for clearer numbers about units per acre and shuttle ridership near the campus area.
Why it matters: The shift reflects council interest in maximizing resident participation and ensuring public meetings help attendees see how plans have changed in response to prior input.
What’s next: Staff will re‑advertise the open house, increase capacity or hold additional sessions, and structure the meeting to include a short presentation, Q&A and focused breakout exercises so residents can comment on refined plans.
