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Council keeps $27K placeholder for State of the City; agrees to consider higher $35K figure
Summary
Staff proposed a $27,000 placeholder for the State of the City; council debated moving the event to a larger venue and cutting food costs to expand attendance and ultimately agreed to a $35,000 placeholder by consensus for budgeting flexibility.
Council weighed options for the State of the City event, with staff showing scenarios for attendance and production costs in different venues.
Don Magner explained the difference between production and food/beverage costs and offered estimates: a 400‑attendee scenario at the current venue totals roughly $27,000 (production plus food), while moving to Hill Performance Hall for larger attendance could raise total costs toward $50,000. The mayor suggested reducing the food budget to accommodate more attendees; Councilmember Arfin proposed $35,000 as a flexible placeholder and the mayor asked if there were objections. "There are not," the mayor said, and the council left that budgeted placeholder in place for later discussion in October.
Staff and councilmembers agreed the line item is a placeholder for discussion rather than an authorization to spend; final decisions will come after additional outreach and scheduling work.
