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Council amends Harvest Days bylaws to add alternates; members debate scope of City Manager veto
Summary
Council approved amendments allowing up to two alternates on the Harvest Days Committee who may vote only when members are absent; Council Members raised concerns about the breadth of the City Manager's veto power and suggested further workshop discussion.
City staff proposed amendments to the Harvest Days Festival Committee bylaws to allow the mayor to appoint up to two alternates who may participate and vote only when regular members are absent. The amended language specifies a quorum requires at least three voting members and that alternates may vote only in a member's absence; the chair may select which alternate votes if only one member is absent.
Council Member Dustin Gettel asked that the City Manager's veto not be absolute, expressing concern an incoming manager could unilaterally cancel festival activities such as fireworks. City Attorney Garrett Wilcox and City Manager Matt Dahl explained the veto exists to protect budgetary and liability interests and that Council retains the ability to override. Council members proposed additional workshop discussion with the committee to clarify checks and balances before future reliance on veto authority.
