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Council approves Eastside Park preservation ordinance after debate over park board role; minutes later flagged for correction
Summary
The council approved an ordinance adding steps (including two listening sessions) before making major changes at Eastside Park. Members expressed concern about creating precedent or constraining the volunteer park board; a later correction to the minutes clarified the vote tally.
The Morris City Council voted to approve an ordinance intended to preserve Eastside Park by requiring listening sessions before major park improvements. Councilmembers debated whether a parcel-specific ordinance could set an unwelcome precedent or impose extra burdens on the volunteer park board.
Council discussion centered on two points: the ordinance's procedural change (requiring additional public listening sessions before major projects) and whether applying it to a single parcel would unintentionally limit future improvements. Councilmember (speaker 6) said the ordinance was useful but warned it could "handcuff a volunteer board" if the board felt unable to pursue improvements. The mayor framed the ordinance as creating a clear path: "I just think it really lays out a ... path to follow," the mayor said.
After debate, the council moved and took a roll-call vote. The meeting record as taken at the time showed mixed votes; during "other business" a councilmember asked that the minutes be corrected to reflect the accurate tally. A councilmember later said the minutes should state the vote was two in favor, one abstaining and one against and requested correction to both the regular and condensed minutes.
Why it matters: The ordinance establishes a process for public engagement on significant park projects and could change how the city reviews large park proposals and how the park board approaches improvements.
What's next: Staff will update meeting minutes as requested; the ordinance provides a framework for future large park projects and directs staff to schedule the required listening sessions when applicable.
