Community Announcement

At the December City Council meeting, a procedural error occurred involving council seating. Erin Minnis participated in the meeting before her term officially began, and the incoming councilmember elected to fill the vacated Position #1, Tina Van Pelt, should have been seated instead. This should have been caught internally by the City. We acknowledge the error and take responsibility for correcting it. Importantly, all actions taken at the meeting remain valid and were approved by a lawful majority of duly seated councilmembers. To ensure this does not happen again, the City is developing a clear incoming councilmember checklist that outlines required steps, responsibilities, and timing for oath administration, seating, and participation, so expectations are clear for both staff and councilmembers. Internal procedures and training will be updated accordingly. As the City transitions into a new administration, restoring public trust through accuracy, accountability, and stronger process is a top priority.