The funding approval for the dog park design was a key agenda item. Ava Gristl, serving as the CPA coordinator and conservation agent, presented the proposal to the council. She highlighted that the dog park committee had successfully raised $2,500 in donations, and the requested funds would match this amount. The site for the park had already secured approval from the East Hampton Parks and Recreation Commission. Gristl informed the council that an architect had been engaged for the project and was ready to start the design phase. With no objections or questions from council members or the public, the motion to appropriate the funds was passed unanimously, closing the public hearing on this matter.

Parallel to the dog park discussions, the issue of housing took center stage during the public comment period. Natalyia Ruiz, a resident and member of the Eastampton Tenants Union, advocated for the establishment of a housing crisis task force. Ruiz shared personal experiences of fraud and neglect by landlords, emphasizing the precarious position of renters in the area. She cited the increasing age of homebuyers in Massachusetts and the prolonged periods many individuals spend renting as a critical factor necessitating improved tenant protections. Her argument underscored the collaboration needed among the city, advocacy groups, and citizens to address housing challenges effectively. Ruiz notablely remarked, “Many of us are a single paycheck away from missing our rent payments. And if that’s not a crisis, I’m not sure what is.”

Supporting Ruiz’s call, Carl Prawl and Carolyn Cushing also voiced their endorsement of the task force. Prawl emphasized the necessity of organizing and concentrating efforts on housing issues, while Cushing, involved in a brand study committee, advocated for coordination among various committees working on related concerns.

Following public commentary, the City Council deliberated on a resolution to support the creation of the East Hampton Housing Crisis Task Force. The resolution was sent to the rules committee for further study, a move that was agreed upon without objection. The council’s decision to forward the resolution reflects an acknowledgment of the need to investigate and potentially address housing issues through structured initiatives.

In other council communications, an announcement was made regarding meetings of the Eastampton Tenants Union, occurring every Thursday. There was also a mention of the upcoming cancellation of the cultural event, Cultural Chaos, with encouragement for public attendance at the forthcoming cultural district subcommittee meeting to discuss its future.

The meeting also addressed several other topics. Among them was the approval of extending a borrowing authorization for city space restoration at Honeywell for 90 days. The council also discussed public safety, with a report highlighting visibility concerns on Cottage Street and plans for officers to monitor pedestrian crossings. Complaints regarding unshoveled sidewalks after snowstorms were addressed.

A notable point of clarification came from Chief Alexander of the East Hampton Police Department, who assured the council that the department does not collaborate with ICE. He emphasized that the police would only intervene if ICE operations involved excessive force.

The appointments committee reported on ongoing discussions about a draft appointments manual, and future meetings were scheduled to finalize various committee and subcommittee matters. This included the appointment of Tamara Smith to the bees committee, which was referred to the appointments committee for approval.