David E. Richmond

The meeting included a public hearing regarding rezoning request PC-01-26 for 1013 N. Bridge Street, seeking to change the zoning from LS (Local Service District) to R-3 (Single-Family Residential District). The property, currently used as a single-family dwelling in a non-conforming status, generated public discussion concerning mortgage issues and zoning flexibility. The commission also held the annual election of officers, resulting in Aaron Wiens being nominated as Chairperson and Cody Roblyer as Vice Chairperson. Following further review, the Commission voted to recommend approval of the conditional rezoning request to the City Council, contingent upon the applicant's specified conditions, acknowledging that it serves as a short-term solution aligned with maintaining neighborhood quality while recognizing it deviates from the long-term goal of promoting office/mixed-use development in the area. A suggestion was made during citizens' comments to conduct a traffic study for Silver Lake Court after LAFF pathway completion. The HDC liaison also provided an update on Mill Renovations.

The City Council meeting agenda included the Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call, Special Presentations (Annual Firefighter Awards), Public Hearings, Correspondence, and Public Comment period (limited to 3 minutes per speaker). The Consent Agenda items covered the approval of January 12, 2026, City Council Meeting Minutes, Parks and Recreation Commission Appointment for Stephanie Shaw, several Street Corner Collection Applications, and the Financial Report. New Business included consideration of the F.A.C.T. Consortium Cost Allocation for PEG Funding Applications and Resolution No. 01-26 MDOT Resolution and Contract Approval. The agenda also listed updates from the City Manager and City Attorney, Department Reports, Council Comments, and a Closed Session for attorney consultation regarding pending litigation.

The City Council Work Session agenda for February 9, 2026, includes call to order, pledge of allegiance, and roll call. Correspondence includes the 2025 Annual Reports from the Historic District Commission and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA). The consent agenda covers approval of January 26, 2026, meeting minutes, a permit application for the VFW Post 4642 Memorial Day Parade, and financial reports. Key discussion items involve draft Housing Focused Zoning Ordinance Amendments, a Conditional Rezoning Request for 1013 North Bridge St., the Mill Pond Treatment Contract for Aquatic Nuisance Plant Control, recording of meetings, the Loose Senior Center, and evaluations. The manager will provide an update on grants.

The City Council meeting included a special presentation on dementia-friendly communities. Discussion items covered the F.A.C.T. Consortium Cost Allocation for PEG Funding Applications, which was tabled for the next meeting. Significant discussion occurred regarding downtown parking and intersection reconfiguration, leading to a motion to engage with the Presbyterian Church regarding public parking sharing and to have engineers assist with design and cost analysis for utilizing millings. Council also defined budget priorities for the upcoming fiscal year, with staff tasked to incorporate these requests, ongoing projects, and research related to traffic signal modifications and parking lot improvements into the draft budget. The City Manager reported on recent conditional rezoning approval, annex project completion, and the Mill project update.

The agenda for the meeting on January 22, 2026, includes the call to order and roll call, followed by the approval of the Minutes of the November 27, 2025 Regular Meeting. Key discussion items slated for the meeting involve public comment on non-agenda items, review of correspondence including the Planning Commission Annual Report, and financial reports such as the Check Register. Discussion topics include the Dementia-Friendly Communities Workshop. New business covers the Election of Officers, the 2025 Annual Report, and the DDA Façade Grant Re-Application & Disbursement Request.