2026-09-08 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official approved minutes (no agenda or video on file). Meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM.

All eight Council Members and Mayor Erickson present. Consent agenda approved 7-0 (moved by Merkouris, seconded by Oppenheimer) with Pankonin excused under City Ordinance 30.017; it included the September 1 minutes and contracts over $100K. Regular agenda approved 8-0.
Adopted the FY2027 budget and 2027-2031 Capital Program (Resolution 101-26) 7-1 after five amendments, and Ordinance 69-26 (property tax revenue increase and appropriations) 7-1; Pankonin voted no on both.
A motion to strike $120,000 for flock cameras from the police budget failed 2-6.
Cut $950,000 from stadium improvements (6-2) and adopted the stadium turf conditions resolution 7-1.
Adopted the Public Safety Down Payment Assistance Program (Resolution 99-26) 8-0 as amended.
Adopted Ordinance 67-26 (easement agreement), Ordinance 68-26 (Taxation chapter) and Ordinance 70-26 (supplemental appropriations), each 8-0, and Resolution 103-26 adding $1,000,000 for Frank Olson Park Aquatics (8-0).
First readings of seven 2024 International Codes ordinances, second reading set for September 15 (8-0 each).
Deferred the 7005 Mystic Drive annexation to September 15 (7-0).
Approved seven city director appointments and the interim mayor succession order, each 8-0; adopted citizen board appointments 7-0.
No public input.

Resolution 101-26 moved by Oppenheimer, seconded by Spellerberg. Amendments (all 8-0 except as noted): Benson Road +$800,000 Sanford Development and +$3,000,000 SDDOT (Sigette, Basye); Zoo Master Plan $4,000,000 entertainment tax held pending restrictions (Basye, Merkouris); $175,000 for Whittier neighborhood street outreach from General Fund reserves (Merkouris, Thomason); stadium improvements down $950,000, 6-2 with Spellerberg and Pankonin no (Sigette, Basye); strike $120,000 for Flock Cameras, failed 2-6 with only Pankonin and Okuwe yes (Pankonin, Okuwe). Adopted as amended 7-1.
Ordinance 69-26: Sigette, Basye; amendment to include all budget amendments 7-1; adopted amended 7-1 (Pankonin no). Ordinance 70-26: Oppenheimer, Spellerberg; 8-0.

Resolution 103-26 amending the 2026-2030 Capital Program: project 14086 up $1,000,000 in 2026 funded by a donation from the Kirbys (Basye, Sigette); 8-0.

Resolution 100-26 (Spellerberg, Pankonin); Section 3 added by amendment (Basye, Merkouris, 8-0) barring turf spending until a consulting contract on the event center campus has started; adopted as amended 7-1, Thomason no.

Resolution 99-26 (Spellerberg, Sigette). Oppenheimer (seconded by Basye) replaced Section 6 so the Housing Division administers the program and may make reasonable exceptions; amendment 8-0, adoption as amended 8-0. Up to $15,000 per household; FY2027 cap $150,000.

Ordinance 68-26, adding a new subchapter to Chapter 37 (Taxation) (Spellerberg, Basye); 8-0.

First readings of Items 24 to 30 (fire, property maintenance, swimming pool and spa, residential, mechanical and fuel gas, existing building, building codes); second reading set for September 15, 8-0 each.

Item 31 (Annexation 023501-2026): Pankonin moved adoption and then deferral to September 15 (Spellerberg seconded); 7-0 with Okuwe not present.

Mayor Erickson passed the gavel to Chair Merkouris. Sigette, Spellerberg; 8-0. Item 38, number and order of interim mayor and successor designees (Sigette, Basye), 8-0.

Ordinance 67-26 approving an easement agreement for Public Works (Sigette, Spellerberg), 8-0. Several one-day liquor and malt licenses on the consent agenda.
Audit Committee reports received: 26-01 Alcohol Licensing, 26-02 Bishop Dudley Subsidy Agreement, 26-03 Utility Billing Reconciliation Consulting, 26-04 Payroll Audit.