Council considers permitting board, plans workshop on ethics ordinance

Councilman Schmidt proposed creating a permitting board to provide oversight, checks and balances, and clearer reporting to the public. He outlined benefits including streamlined communication, timelines for permits, third‑party review of potential violations, and improved public disclosure.

Schmidt said the board could consist of five to seven members with permit responsibilities, enabling quicker identification of deviations from approved plans and facilitating photographic reporting back to council. Several members said the ethics‑ordinance item and permitting‑board details warrant a workshop; council agreed to circulate suggested language and schedule further discussion at a future meeting.

The council deferred several other work‑session items to the regular meeting and signaled support for additional public engagement and a workshop to vet permitting‑board structure and ethics code language.