The Access 2050 survey was a focal point, providing a platform for residents to voice their preferences on transportation projects and potential funding avenues, such as community investment tax and gas tax, among others. The survey, accessible in multiple languages and ADA compliant, includes prioritizing transportation projects, selecting funding sources, and indicating support for specific initiatives like highway widening and transit projects.

Council members underscored the importance of the survey in gathering input for future transportation investments. One member stressed the need to promote survey participation, suggesting the dissemination of information through various city locations like the family recreation center, Lightfoot Recreation Center, and the library. The TPO representative affirmed the council’s suggestions and committed to providing additional materials for survey promotion.

Questions arose regarding the cost estimates for transportation projects, the approval and funding process, and strategies to maximize community participation in the survey. The TPO representative addressed these inquiries, noting that demographic information and assumptions are updated every five years and that survey results would be published and shared with the council. They also clarified that for projects to receive state or federal funding, they must align with the long-range transportation plan.

The council’s concern over road maintenance costs revealed during a discussion of the city’s historical paving fact also captured attention. The budget for repaving has risen sharply in recent years, prompting debate on the sustainability of the maintenance schedule and exploring potential solutions.

National proclamations and local initiatives also received recognition during the meeting. Notably, National Library Week was celebrated, stressing the role of libraries as inclusive spaces and the solar eclipse event. National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week was marked with a proclamation, acknowledging the essential service of telecommunicators and the need to fill dispatcher vacancies. Child Abuse Prevention Month and Water Conservation Month were similarly recognized, underscoring community engagement and the importance of conserving water resources, respectively.

Strategic planning for the city was another key topic, with council members examining strategic suggestions from a session held earlier in the year. These suggestions encompassed growth, citizen interaction, planning, employee focus, and process improvement. The council appreciated the alignment of budget priorities with strategic goals.

The upcoming budget development process for fiscal year 2025 was outlined, with plans for a goal-setting meeting and public budget discussions in the subsequent months, emphasizing transparency and public involvement.

Updates on Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) included discussions on a court settlement, potential charter changes, and the scheduling of the National League of Cities meetings. The struggle for new revenue sources and the establishment of a charter review commission to revise the financial constraints in the HART charter were highlighted.

Other business included the approval of a resolution for the sale of a parcel of city property and the rescheduling of a community event.