Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge fuller review and public disclosure before Renshaw ballot; attorney to provide final ballot text
Summary
Multiple residents asked council to publish what alternatives were considered before placing the Renshaw Apartments sale question on a ballot and demanded to see final ballot language in an open meeting; city attorney acknowledged earlier procedural confusion and agreed to present the finalized ballot wording at the next council meeting.
At the June 16 meeting several residents pressed the council for a fuller accounting of alternatives and more public transparency before the city asks voters to approve a possible sale of the Renshaw Apartments.
Speakers including Jamie Gillis (public comment) and Katie Terrell argued that the council's packet and public materials had not shown whether the city had actively pursued alternatives such as ADA grant funding, nonprofit operators, management partners, or eligibility requirements that might preserve the property and avoid displacement. Gillis said residents and council members had repeatedly asked for original estimates, actual costs and inflation-adjusted projections and called for those comparisons to appear in future bond or asset briefings.
Both Gillis and Terrell also raised concerns about human impacts: Terrell urged the council to consider geriatric and clinical research showing forced moves can be disruptive to older adults, and to weigh displacement harms alongside fiscal arguments.
Ballot language and process: Several residents told council that the final ballot language would not return to council in a public meeting before certification; the city attorney, Mr. Riker, acknowledged earlier misstatements and agreed to bring the finalized ballot wording to the next council meeting for review in public. He apologized for the confusion and committed to providing the language to the council and public.
What the council said: Council members and staff took public comments and did not take a new action on Renshaw at the meeting. Speakers asked for a written record of alternatives considered and for documentation of any ADA or other grant opportunities researched by staff. The city manager and staff were asked to provide cost details and to ensure the public has access to the final ballot wording before it goes to the election process.
Next steps: The attorney will provide final ballot text at the next meeting; staff will be asked (by residents) to present any records of grant and nonprofit outreach and a clear accounting of alternatives considered before the ballot question was finalized.
