Council sends public safety millage language to workshop; staff to provide factual materials only

Council moved to and approved a transition to a public safety millage workshop open to the public, where staff and council members will further develop ballot language for voters to consider.

City Administrator Michelle Witherspoon told the council that staff were asking only for council approval to place language on the ballot, not to levy a tax. "We are not asking council to increase the tax themselves. We're asking for council to provide the opportunity for the city voters to weigh in on the services and the cost of those services," Witherspoon said.

Witherspoon also told the council and attendees the city, as an organization, must remain neutral after the decision is made: "We have to be very neutral with our language and just put out pure facts that's per state law." She added that employee associations, such as the fire or police association, would be free to advocate for or against the measure.

Council and speakers in the public urged substantial voter education, including door-to-door outreach, to explain how millage revenue would be used and to answer resident questions. Justice Walden, a resident who addressed the council, said a successful ballot measure will depend on outreach: "There's a lot of people that didn't see [the presentation]. I really wish there were more people here to see it." Witherspoon said state Representative Riley has provided a letter of support for a related grant and is available if the city pursues state assistance.