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Heated debate over City Hall and park protections: council agrees to ballot question and to draft a strong ordinance
Summary
Council members split over whether to enshrine prohibitions on selling parks and City Hall in the charter or to pursue a strong ordinance; after lengthy discussion council directed staff to draft ordinance language and also advance a ballot question so residents can vote.
Councilmembers spent substantial time July 20 debating whether the city should require voter approval to sell, transfer or otherwise convey designated parklands and the City Hall parcel. Proponents argued the original deed and public trust principles favor returning control to voters; opponents warned a rigid charter restriction could limit future redevelopment, public-private partnerships and necessary flexibility for infrastructure or community-center projects.
Staff noted deed-restriction history and urged careful drafting; staff also said a charter restriction could impede some redevelopment options and recommended a strong ordinance (super-majority or unanimous requirement) as a practical compromise. "If you put this in the charter, you're losing all your options," one council member said, urging caution; others replied that voters should decide the fundamental question.
The council ultimately directed staff to prepare a strong ordinance (super-majority or unanimous threshold was discussed) and also agreed to place a ballot question forward so residents may decide whether to limit sale or conveyance of parks or City Hall. The council also discussed public-private partnership options that would keep the city as landowner and use long-term leases to secure development benefits without selling property.
