Residents praise MLK program and press council on transit, redevelopment concerns

Several members of the public used the council’s public-comment period on Jan. 26 to thank officials for the city’s Martin Luther King Jr. program and to press the council on transportation and redevelopment policy.

Evelyn T. Robinson applauded the event and credited the mayor and council for changes to local shuttle service, calling the 'Laura bus' a blessing and noting the city moved a bus stop to 6th Street to improve downtown access. Robinson said the shuttle schedule changes and publicity help residents who are not on social media stay informed.

Sherry Greer and other attendees raised confusion over a flyer that suggested an AccessLink program for students would be free until June; county staff had previously said that subsidized access had ended in June 2025. City staff and the business administrator, Ricardo Fernandez, said the city would follow up with the county and asked to receive the flyer to investigate the discrepancy. City staff clarified that the city-run shuttle remains free and that AccessLink is a separate, county-run paratransit program serving people with disabilities.

Parker Brown, identified as a managing partner at Brown Waters Productions, used public comment to critique redevelopment incentives such as density bonuses. Brown said density bonuses can produce more units on paper but often do not reduce rent for current residents, fail to prevent displacement, and can privilege developers unless the city attaches stronger guardrails and tenant protections. City staff responded that proposed changes to density calculations were intended to add affordable units and that HUD and federal definitions set income limits used in affordability calculations.

The council committed staff to follow up on the transportation flyer, and council members acknowledged residents’ concerns about redevelopment policy while noting the city’s aim to add affordable housing through incentive mechanisms.