The council’s deliberations on board appointments started with the Community Redevelopment Agency, where Gary Ptow was reappointed as chair following a nomination and roll call vote. The vice chair position went to Kevin Meyers, who was appointed after receiving majority support during a roll call vote. These appointments are crucial as they influence the agency’s direction and impact on local redevelopment efforts.

Attention then turned to the Planning Commission, a body responsible for guiding the city’s future growth and development. Dean Haddock was appointed to fill an unexpired term on the commission, while Matthew Filer was selected for a new four-year term. These appointments were consistent with the council’s practice of promoting alternates to regular seats.

The Board of Adjustment, which addresses zoning and variance requests, saw a thorough discussion regarding its vacancies. Karen Doherty was appointed to a regular member seat, filling an unexpired term set to expire in December 2028. Gary Hawket was unanimously appointed as the first alternate, providing an opportunity for newer members to gain insight into the board’s operations. Alex Ertle, despite initial hesitations about his willingness to serve, was appointed as the second alternate after a consensus was reached, with his term extending until December 2029.

In addition to board appointments, the council addressed a proposed ordinance from the city’s Chief Financial Officer, Ashley Gosset. The ordinance sought to modernize the city’s purchasing policy manual, which had not been updated since 2008. A key change was increasing the bid threshold from $25,000 to $50,000, a decision informed by local practice reviews and inflation adjustments. The ordinance also aimed to streamline operations by repealing outdated code sections and renaming the purchasing manual to the procurement manual.

Despite the ordinance’s significance, the public hearing saw no citizen comments for or against it. The council proceeded with a roll call vote, approving the ordinance on its first reading with one dissenting vote. This marked a substantial step in aligning the city’s procurement practices with contemporary standards.