Complaint over council‑sponsored town hall prompts legal review before approval

A public commenter asked council to reject a proposed city‑facilitated town hall, saying it had been posted on the campaign page of the council member sponsoring the event and that creation of a city‑sponsored televised forum within 45 days of an election could be viewed as a campaign activity. "Council Member Rule has posted this event on her campaign page... that makes it a campaign event," the commenter said during public comment.

Council and staff discussed options: Miss Burgess, the city attorney, said an informational town hall "on its face would not be a campaign activity" but that staff should review the post and the event details. Council approved proceeding with the town hall on the consent calendar contingent on legal review and agreed to change the sponsor or make it staff‑led if the city attorney finds an issue. Council member Whitman abstained from the final consent vote on the item; the roll call showed three votes in favor, one no and one abstention on the procedural motion to proceed pending review.