Committee approves conditional move of Districts 7 and 8 polling site to Marathon Park Eastgate Hall

City elections staff told the Public Health and Safety Committee that Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church — the usual polling location for Districts 7 and 8 — will undergo remodeling, and recommended moving those districts to Marathon Park Eastgate Hall for any February primary and for April voting.

Caitlin, who presented the update, said the city will know by Jan. 6 whether a primary is necessary; if a primary is held, the committee approved a conditional move to Eastgate Hall so ballots and operations are not disrupted. The chair said the approval is conditional on the primary and that staff will return in January with a permanent poll‑site recommendation if no February primary is required.

The motion to approve the conditional move carried by voice vote after a motion from Larson and a second from Watson. Committee members asked whether the school district had responded about using West and were told the city had not received a positive response; Saint Anne’s Church had declined earlier for student‑safety reasons.

If the primary is required, staff will place the poll‑site change on the Jan. 13 council meeting agenda for formal council approval; if not, staff will continue to seek a permanent polling location to avoid shifting voters between sites later in the year.