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Council reviews draft concealed‑carry workplace policy after 2025 state statute change; no final vote
Summary
Council reviewed a draft Standard Operating Procedure to guide department heads after a 2025 state statute removed municipal authority to prohibit concealed firearms on municipal property. Members requested language edits and will return the draft for approval at a later meeting.
The council reviewed a draft concealed‑carry Standard Operating Procedure intended to guide department heads after a 2025 state statute removed municipal authority to ban concealed firearms on municipal property. Staff said the new statute generally prohibits municipalities from restricting an individual’s possession of a concealed firearm on municipal property, with limited exceptions that do not largely apply to city employees.
Jerry Simons, city administrator, explained the draft is intended to give department heads steps for responding if an employee or volunteer is discovered to be carrying a concealed firearm, emphasizing de‑escalation, involving law enforcement if a firearm is used for intimidation, and routing complaints through human resources rather than having supervisors confront employees. Council members discussed the scope — whether the policy should reference city vehicles, utilities property, volunteers, and how law‑enforcement officers are treated under the policy — and requested staff reword a clause that limits the policy strictly to “utility property” so the policy covers all city property.
No formal action was taken. The council directed staff to revise the draft language (replace or expand the “utility property” wording to say “city property” where appropriate) and bring the updated policy back to the next council meeting for final consideration.
