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Councilors press for transparency, permit postings and a dedicated oversight process for water projects
Summary
Council members urged clearer communication and more oversight of utility projects — including posting permits publicly, using the communications team, and considering a standing oversight commission for large water and wastewater projects.
Several council members said transparency has been lacking and called for tangible next steps: post permit documents and project reports online, use the communications office to update residents and consider a standing body or commission to oversee the water utility's large capital program.
Councilor Sai described the issue as a trust problem and asked for a clear funding pathway for the estimated $50 million resilience program. Another city councilor said the city speaks through resolutions and asked residents to provide specific items they want included; staff agreed to draft and circulate a resolution and to consult with communications to post documents publicly.
Why it matters: councilors framed the issue as both procedural and fiscal — residents want evidence that proposed work is permitted and engineered correctly, and councilors want an oversight mechanism to track spending and public engagement.
Next steps: staff said they will check the availability of the conceptual design report, post what is public and draft a resolution for council consideration.
