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Council presses staff on public works staffing, street project oversight and fee notice to residents
Summary
Councilors asked staff to flag agenda items that could increase fees or taxes after a constituent complaint, pressed for a timeline to recruit a public works director, and raised concerns about oversight of recent repaving projects. Staff said recruitment will begin in January and consultants are supporting project delivery.
Councilors pressed city staff for clearer public notice when council action could increase fees or taxes and asked for a staffing timeline for the public works department.
The mayor described a constituent who was surprised by a fee increase and asked that agendas include a prominent notice when a meeting could result in higher fees or taxes. Councilor Gerald and others supported reconsidering whether adequate notice was provided for recent fee changes such as the street fee. Staff said they have started posting “what’s on the agenda” on social media and will expand notices as requested; they said they do not recall an explicit direction to mail notices to all voters.
On staffing, staff said the city has not yet advertised for a public works director; recruitment is planned to begin in early January and staff are working with a consultant to assess the department and run the search. Councilors raised oversight concerns stemming from a summer repaving project that produced a standing water issue; staff said they are working with consultants and engineering staff and acknowledged the need for better communication and possible additional hires (civil engineer position remains unfilled).
On business permitting, staff said a sidewalk‑use code and fee for outdoor seating adopted in 2020 had not been enforced during COVID; letters were recently sent to businesses and enforcement will proceed unless council directs otherwise. Staff also said transient lodging (lodging tax) follow‑ups identified noncompliance and that enforcement actions were underway.
Next steps: staff will place a prominent agenda notice for items that may change fees/taxes starting in January, begin the public works director recruitment early in the year and provide updates on street project oversight and code enforcement activities.
