Tuesday, November 18, 2025

The council voted 5-0 to approve the consent agenda, which included a $50,000 contract with TV Pro Gear, Inc. for council meeting video services; before the vote, Councilmember Darden questioned costs and the city manager confirmed approximately $49,875 had already been expended at roughly $5,800 per meeting, meaning the contract amount was nearly exhausted at the moment of approval — three additional recurring personnel items passed on the same 5-0 consent vote without further discussion: a Grants Director position (up to $132,457 annually), an amended Maintenance Worker Trainee classification ($41,912), and a new Receptionist Clerk position ($38,003). On action items, the council voted 5-0 to authorize $214,730 in CDBG funds for the Clean Team employment training program, covering approximately ten temporary positions at $20.15 per hour, and voted 5-0 to accept $192,729 in state tobacco enforcement grant funds with $173,621 in authorized expenditures. No new spending was approved during the public hearing on potential reallocation of approximately $7.5 million in unspent federal CDBG and HOME funds dating back to 2018 — six residents spoke, raising questions about delayed fund deployment, park conditions, and toxic site remediation, and staff was directed to return with revised proposals. During general public comment, multiple speakers raised concerns about a city credit card charge linked to Councilmember Spicer; Spicer stated the charge was for a June event featuring a performer named Jason Martin, not a medical provider.