Councilor Stewart proposes temporary disabling of council badges during candidate packet turn-in

Council Member Stewart proposed a resolution to temporarily disable council security badges around the time candidates submit packets, saying the step would help "make sure that all candidates, regardless of whether or not they sit on this body or not, are treated equally." The measure would disable badges starting at 5:00 a.m. the day before packet turn-in and continue until 8:00 a.m. on the day packets are submitted.

The proposal was discussed at the Nov. 24 study session but not formally voted on. An unidentified council member asked how early-arriving council members would access the building for meetings; Stewart and other councilors said the city manager would have authority to grant exceptions. Another council member said they would vote no and argued that local elections are already secure and that the council should prioritize other issues, including homelessness.

Stewart framed the measure as a limited, operational change tied specifically to candidate packet turn-in. The council did not adopt the resolution during the study session; staff and councilors discussed timing and potential exceptions and did not record a formal motion or vote. The item may return on a future agenda for formal consideration.

"I would like to see the city council badges disabled the day before starting at 05:00 ... up until 8AM the day that the packets are turned in," Stewart said.

No formal action was taken at the study session; council members asked staff to clarify implementation details and exception authority before moving forward.