Council adopts community center fee schedule and salary ordinance; police flag solicitors and e‑bike concerns

The St John Town Council unanimously adopted two ordinances on second reading during the May 27 meeting and heard department reports on public‑safety concerns.

Ordinance 1893, which amends Town Code chapter 10 to update the community center fee schedule, passed on second reading by a voice vote of 5–0. The council then approved Ordinance 1894 on second reading, which amends salary ordinance 1890 to set a schedule of wages, salaries and benefits for town employees including police and fire personnel; that motion also carried 5–0.

In reports and correspondence, Chief Flores updated the council on police matters. He thanked the council for adding an additional officer in the budget and said the department is working to bring that new hire on board, aiming to swear the officer in possibly at the July meeting. He reported stepped‑up enforcement against solicitors operating without permits and said officers had begun issuing tickets after multiple warnings.

Chief Flores also raised public‑safety concerns about e‑bikes. "They're dangerous. A lot of these kids are— they're everywhere. They are everywhere and they're dangerous and these kids are reckless and we need to address that as well, too," he said, and noted he is coordinating with other chiefs and legislators because state law is vague.

Council did not take formal ordinance action on solicitors or e‑bikes during the meeting; Chief Flores said staff would prepare proposed ordinance language and work with legislators on state law clarification for future action.

The meeting closed with brief updates on the amphitheater and a Jewel Foods development progressing toward an expected Labor Day opening.