City Manager Downing used his update to highlight several city communications and public-safety items and to preview how staff will use resident feedback going forward.

Downing summarized the city's first FlashVote survey (deployed Sept. 16–18): "We had 590 total respondents on that survey," he said, and noted the city has almost 1,000 sign-ups for future surveys. He reported that 77% of city respondents rated communications "okay or better" and that email emerged as the preferred channel across most districts. Downing said staff will expand 'notify me' categories on the city website, cross-post on social platforms, and follow up with targeted outreach to see whether improvements changed resident sentiment.

On public safety, Downing and police and fire staff previewed Operation Holiday Cheer — a multi-county Dec. 18 event where more than 100 officers will visit hospitals — and described tiller (tractor-drawn aerial ladder) training being conducted by the 5 Cities Fire Authority in anticipation of acquiring a tiller truck.

Downing also announced the city's budget team received a Government Finance Officers Association distinguished budget presentation award and that the city clerk rolled out a refreshed website with accessibility enhancements such as text enlargement and color inversion.

Council members questioned how FlashVote filters distinguish verified local respondents from outside participants; staff said locality filters are available and that staff will prioritize 'locals' for matters the council will legislate on while retaining broader survey data as useful context.