Council agrees topics and tentative dates for retreat; work session ends with approval to enter closed session

Council members reviewed a proposed retreat agenda and tentatively selected out-of-town options, scheduling preferences and subject areas for deeper discussion. Manager Varney presented a proposed retreat agenda that included long-range planning, comprehensive land-use and downtown development, housing and homelessness, the capital improvement plan and finance and budget previews. Varney asked council members for date preferences and noted external speakers would be invited, including representatives from higher-education and economic-development partners.

During discussion members emphasized infrastructure (water and sewer), housing and legislative priorities as high priorities for the retreat. Several council members suggested Wilmington as a host city because of its downtown redevelopment examples; consensus emerged to pursue Wilmington as a potential site. Council members discussed scheduling trade-offs and the need to avoid spring break dates; the group tentatively targeted mid-February to the third week in March depending on participants' schedules and speaker availability.

Before adjourning the open session, the council moved to enter a closed session. The chair asked for approval to end the open session and enter closed session; the council voice-voted "Aye," and the meeting proceeded to closed session.

Ending: Council staff will follow up with logistical arrangements for the retreat, check availability with the mayor and external speakers, and place housing and infrastructure topics on the retreat agenda. The work session then moved into closed session with council approval.