Council debate over last-minute agenda item to remove 'tourism district' from town code

Councilmember Khalil moved at the start of the meeting to add an action item to place a public hearing on removing the town’s tourism district on a future agenda. The motion — to schedule a publicly advertised hearing, not to adopt an ordinance that night — prompted immediate objections from multiple council members who said no staff report or recommendation from the Planning Commission had been distributed.

Council Member Stout and others said they had not received any Planning Commission recommendation in their emails and questioned how the mayor could claim the item had been "returned" by the Commission. The mayor and a council liaison said the Planning Commission had returned the matter without a recommendation; other members disputed that and asked to see an email or record demonstrating the return.

The council’s legal adviser reminded members that agenda amendment rules are norms councils can set for themselves and are not necessarily externally required; several members said the council should not schedule a public hearing until staff and the Planning Commission had provided analysis and a recommendation. The motion to schedule the hearing remained on the floor while the body later moved on to other agenda items; council indicated it would take up the ordinance formally at a future meeting ahead of any public hearing advertising period.

Opponents framed the move as "cart before the horse," saying the town lacked the staff analysis needed for an informed hearing; supporters said scheduling a hearing is a procedural step that allows the council to control timing and ensures the public can weigh in once staff reports are available.