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Residents urge clearer timelines after committee hears complaints about stalled projects
Summary
Public commenters urged the committee to require clearer, public project timelines and annual reporting for budgeted projects—particularly sidewalks and neighborhood infrastructure—so residents can track progress and hold the city accountable.
Community members told the Charter Review Committee they frequently see projects appear in the adopted budget but never move to delivery, and they asked for stronger transparency or reporting requirements so neighborhoods know when work will start and finish.
At the meeting, Alison (community policy presenter) described recurring delays on small infrastructure projects and recommended public timelines, required annual reporting, and clearer linkage between CRA funds and city investments. "The community feels that they have more ability to touch their city council than they have administration," she told the committee, urging accountable timelines and public milestones for projects.
Staff and the committee noted many departments already publish strategic plans and a CIP (capital improvement program) viewer with project lists. Legal counsel and staff said embedding project‑by‑project delivery deadlines into the charter is unusual and could create unintended management and procurement consequences; however, they agreed a targeted transparency requirement (for infrastructure projects above a dollar or program threshold) could be drafted and routed either as a recommendation or as charter language.
Next steps: Members agreed to have staff produce sample language for a reporting requirement or ordinance that would make project status information more visible to the public. A small group volunteered to draft initial wording for review.
