Council sends ward-specific events and grants policy back to committee after transparency and election concerns

The City Council on Oct. 28 referred a newly created ward-specific events and projects policy back to committee after an extended debate about transparency, oversight and election‑period restrictions.

Councilmember Stephen Robillard described the policy's intent to distribute event funding more equitably across wards and support recurring community events. But several colleagues raised concerns about how funds are tracked and reported, who approves expenditures, whether recurring events would be blocked by a proposed 90‑day pre‑election restriction, and whether staff or council members should have final authority over implementation.

Councilmember Mill said he worried the 90‑day prohibition could prevent long-established fall events such as a yearly fall festival, and expressed frustration at unclear accounting: "When I go and look and it says negative $31,293.85, it looks like Ward 5 has been kind of malfeasant with their money." Staff confirmed budgets are managed through Parks & Recreation but said reporting improvements could be put in place per council direction.

Councilmembers suggested a middle ground: clearer reporting templates, a public-start-of-year budget meeting for event planning, explicit rules limiting use of councilmembers' names in promotional materials near elections, and clarity about which departments absorb permit and public‑safety costs. After debate a motion to send the policy back to committee passed 5–1 (Ward 1 opposed). Staff said they will return with revised language addressing the raised issues.