Agenda - Council - 07/28/2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Heineman agreed with Councilmember Riley that the Council had not finished discussing the policy but understood why staff included the language based on the previous direction they had received. He said he was comfortable delaying action on the development agreement while allowing the remainder of the project to move forward so the Council could complete its discussion before making a final decision. The City Council discussed an appropriate timeframe for the development agreement to return for further discussion and language modifications. Recess Mayor Heineman recessed the meeting at approximately 6:45 p.m., and reconvened at approximately 8:00 p.m. 2.04: Waterfront Park City Administrator Hagen explained that Waterfront Park had officially opened on July 1 and that staff had already received considerable public feedback during the first two weeks of operation. While the overall response had been overwhelmingly positive, staff had also identified several operational and safety concerns that warranted Council discussion. He explained that staff also wanted direction regarding the large open grassy area west of the splash pad and whether temporary improvements should be considered until a long-term park master plan is completed. Mr. Hagen presented several concepts for temporary improvements at Waterfront Park while preserving the site's long-term flexibility for future park development. He explained that because a comprehensive master plan had not yet been completed, any improvements installed in the near future should be relatively inexpensive, portable where possible, and relocatable if the City's long-term vision changes. Staff emphasized that the newly established lawn area would provide a flexible open space for community programming beginning in the spring. Councilmember Buscher began by asking about the communication process surrounding the park's opening. She explained that several Councilmembers learned, via a Facebook announcement the evening before, that the park would open on July 1. While she was not criticizing staff, she felt it would have been helpful if Councilmembers had received earlier notice so they could better communicate with residents and answer questions. Mr. Hagen acknowledged the concern and candidly admitted that the communication could have been handled better. He explained that he had been on vacation and that construction remained on an extremely tight schedule. Mr. Riverblood explained that staff did not know with certainty until the day before that the contractor would successfully meet the July 1 opening target. Although earlier communication would have been preferable, he was pleased that the project opened on schedule and that residents were already making extensive use of the facility. City Council Work Session / July 14, 2026 Page 11 of 14