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Council discusses citywide September cleanup; liability, organization and ward plans debated
Summary
Councilors discussed a proposed September citywide cleanup, debated neighborhood ward-based scheduling and raised liability concerns if the city 'sponsors' volunteer activity; they agreed to consult the city attorney and bring a concrete plan back next week.
Under new business, the committee discussed organizing a citywide cleanup in September, possibly dividing work by ward and scheduling Saturdays across the month. A council member proposed splitting Ward 2 into halves and assigning Saturdays so volunteers would not be overwhelmed: "So let's just say there's 4 Saturdays in September. We are Ward 2. I would get get a map. I would split Ward 2 in 0.5," the member said.
Members debated whether the city should be the event sponsor — which could carry liability — or whether the council should hand off organization to churches or nonprofits. "My educated guess... is that if the city council says this is a citywide city sponsored project, that we will have liability," one councilor said. The committee asked the mayor and staff to consult the city attorney about insurance and liability and agreed to bring a clearer plan back to the next meeting for a possible decision.
No formal motion was adopted; the committee directed staff to research liability issues and consider partnering with community groups to lead volunteer efforts if legal counsel advises caution.
