Sunset City Council adopts camping ordinance, updates water billing and approves several agreements

Sunset City Council at a regular meeting on Feb. 18, 2025, adopted a new camping ordinance and a change to the city's water and sewer billing code and approved several routine agreements and motions.

Council approved Ordinance 2025‑02, adding chapter 8 (Camping) to title 4 (Public Health and Safety) of the Sunset City code. Council member Carlson moved the ordinance; Council member Bartling seconded. Council member Carlson, Council member Thompson, Council member Smalling and Council member Bartling cast affirmative votes. The mayor noted the vote was unanimous.

The council also approved Ordinance 2025‑03, amending section 8‑2‑4 (billing) related to water and sewer services. City Manager Nicole told the council the change stemmed from a state privacy mandate and from operational issues complying with after‑hours payment requests. “So this is just implementing that into our code,” Nicole said, describing practice changes that will limit after‑hours reconnections and align local rules with what other cities practice. The ordinance passed by voice vote with the members present voting aye.

Other actions approved by the council included the farmer's market agreement for the 2025 season (dates updated from last year and an explicit restriction removing park electricity use at vendor stalls; vendors may bring their own portable generators), and real‑time administrative approvals for routine items.

The council considered a land‑use approval for the Ascendant Mixed‑Use Subdivision at 1661 North Main. The council voted to accept the project contingent on final responses to two outstanding engineering questions and on a later development agreement; the motion was moved by Council member Carlson and seconded by Council member Smalling. The motion carried with three members voting in favor and one opposed; the record does not name the opposing member during the roll call captured in the transcript. The council chair and staff explicitly noted no building permits or physical work will proceed until the engineer's items are resolved and a development agreement is returned to the council.

Council also approved an internal policy change to the personnel policies and procedures handbook to add a generative AI policy (to be codified as section 18) and to move social media guidance under the use of city electronic communications. City Manager Nicole said the city attorney reviewed the policy and the change is intended to set conditions for allowable AI use in city business. The motion passed on a voice vote.

Why it matters: The camping ordinance changes the city's enforceable code on camping in public spaces and is intended to clarify the city’s approach to homelessness‑related public‑health and public‑safety issues. The billing amendment changes operational staff practice on after‑hours reconnections, reducing overnight service calls and aligning the city with neighboring jurisdictions. The Ascendant project approval moves a private subdivision through land‑use check points but with explicit engineering contingencies that must be cleared before construction activity starts.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 2025‑02 (add chapter 8, Camping to title 4): Mover — Council member Carlson; Second — Council member Bartling; Roll call recorded: Carlson — yes; Thompson — yes; Smalling — yes; Bartling — yes; Outcome — approved (unanimous of members present).

- Ordinance 2025‑03 (amend section 8‑2‑4, water and sewer billing): Mover — Council member Bartling; Second — Council member Smalling; Outcome — approved (voice vote; members present voted aye).

- Farmer's Market agreement, 2025 season: Mover — Council member (motion made from the dais); Second — Council member Thompson; Outcome — approved (voice vote; members present voted aye). Agreement changes: updated dates; electricity at park removed at vendor request; portable generators allowed.

- Ascendant Mixed‑Use Subdivision land‑use approval (1661 North Main): Mover — Council member Carlson; Second — Council member Smalling; Outcome — approved contingent on engineer’s final responses and future development agreement; recorded vote: yes 3, no 1 (opposed member not named in the transcript); note — building or permits deferred until engineering items resolved.

- Personnel policy: generative AI policy added as section 18 and realignment of social media and electronic communications sections: Mover — Council member Thompson; Second — Council member Smalling; Outcome — approved (voice vote).

Provenance: transcript excerpts supporting these items are in the meeting record; below are representative excerpts for the items above.