The impending resignation of Police Chief Felt prompted a critical debate on the recruitment strategy for his successor. The council considered soliciting proposals from executive recruiting firms to ensure a comprehensive candidate search. The chief mentioned that five internal candidates existed within the department who met the qualifications for the police chief position. However, he acknowledged that not all might be interested in applying. The council members were divided, with some advocating for an internal promotion to leverage existing community and departmental familiarity, while others emphasized the importance of a broad search to avoid perceptions of nepotism and to ensure the best candidate is selected.

Concerns were raised about potential conflicts of interest among council members with ties to law enforcement, prompting suggestions for an external party to lead the search to maintain objectivity. The discussion also touched on procedural aspects, such as a proposed three-week application period and the use of anonymous scoring systems to evaluate candidates. The importance of background checks conducted by an external firm was highlighted due to potential conflicts within the existing police department.

Financial considerations were also a point of contention, with some council members wary of the costs associated with hiring a search firm. Despite this, a motion was made to authorize staff to solicit proposals from recruiting firms, resulting in a tie vote and further deliberation about the next steps. The mayor emphasized the need to move forward with the search process while ensuring all options remain open.

In addition to the police chief selection, the council addressed the city’s budget, revealing a preliminary levy increase of 99.3%, later revised to 8.58% after council recommendations. The budget adjustments included a $25,000 grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield for cultural diversity events, which would help offset some costs. Discussions also covered the need for increased HR hours, with comparisons made to similarly sized cities highlighting a disparity in staffing levels. Concerns were voiced about the potential impacts of hiring additional part-time staff to avoid benefits costs, though the HR Director noted the department consistently exceeded 80 work hours per pay period.

Revenue figures for city facilities, including the Civic Center and community pool, were scrutinized. A council member raised concerns about the community center’s expenses doubling over two years despite a revenue report of $50,000. The council discussed the potential need for admission price increases at the pool, which had remained unchanged since its opening.

Lastly, the council debated the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), with proposals to adjust budget allocations for City Hall and discuss the potential impacts of reducing CIP funding from $450,000 to $350,000. The council weighed the necessity of prioritizing essential repairs over new projects, considering the ongoing budgetary constraints, inflation, and community expectations.