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Council outlines shared priorities: streetlights, code enforcement, parks and internships
Summary
In a wide‑ranging goals session councilors converged on top priorities—public safety and staffing, neighborhood streetlights and sidewalks, stronger code enforcement, parks and events, and youth internship/grant‑writing capacity—and asked staff to return with concrete options and costs.
Council members used the study session to present overlapping priorities and to ask staff for concrete follow‑ups.
Multiple councilors raised street lighting and pedestrian safety as immediate neighborhood needs. Council Member Tao cited specific trouble spots (MLK/11th–12th and M Street drainage and flooding) and urged lighting and crosswalk improvements; Council Member Smith urged staff to study a maintenance district or CFD pathway that would let neighbors opt into assessments to pay both installation and annual maintenance costs. "You gotta say, I wanna have the assessment put on my bill," staff explained in response, laying out the assessment model, capital cost and annual maintenance tradeoffs.
Code enforcement and park stewardship also drew sustained attention. Mayor Pro Tem Boyle and others said stronger enforcement and clearer processes would rank high in any ballot or funding discussion. Several council members urged empowering Parks and Community Services to lead community events and to expand maintenance, restrooms and lighting at parks.
Councilors sought new capacity to raise revenue and capture opportunities: multiple members recommended hiring a grant writer to pursue discretionary grants (including Safe Streets and federal programs) and a business license audit to identify unlicensed economic activity. Council members also supported creating a formal internship program with HR and a city job description so departments can host paid interns safely and lawfully.
The council agreed on next steps: staff will produce CIP and cost estimates, fee and revenue scenarios, and options for maintenance districts or bond financing; council members discussed forming ad‑hoc subcommittees to refine priorities and return with recommended phasing.
