Tag: city council
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$34 Million Appropriation Would Finish Foundry Row and West Bellwater Transit Segments
The city council voted 6-1 to approve a $34 million appropriation completing construction financing for the transit corridor’s West Bellwater and Foundry Row segments, with Cedar Hollow’s council member casting the lone no vote.
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Council Splits Over Chief Simms’ $94 Million Police Budget Request
A push to redirect police overtime funding toward a mental-health co-response pilot became the sharpest fight of this year’s budget season, ending in a committee compromise that funds a smaller pilot alongside a $91.2 million police budget.
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After Years of Delay, Bellwater Commits to a Bus Rapid Transit Corridor
The city council narrowly approved an $86 million bus rapid transit corridor linking West Bellwater to Foundry Row, but only after adding stronger affordable-housing requirements for new development along the route.
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Cedar Hollow Council Member Wants Biotech Windfall to Fund Addiction Treatment
Council Member Gary Petrowski wants to lock in multi-year addiction treatment funding, including a long-sought second outreach van, using a share of the city’s unexpected biotech tax revenue windfall.
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Debate Over Foundry Row Building Heights Pits Biotech Demand Against Displacement Fears
A proposal to cap new Foundry Row towers at 12 stories has split biotech employers seeking room to grow from tenant advocates who say unchecked height will accelerate displacement, with a council vote expected in coming weeks.
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Council Narrowly Approves $410,000 for Riverside Heights Murals
The city council voted 4-3 to approve $410,000 for a second phase of Kestrel River Greenway murals extending into Riverside Heights, with dissenting members again arguing the money should go toward treatment and neighborhood reinvestment instead.
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Crowded Fields Emerge for Council President and Foundry Row Seats as Filing Closes
Bellwater’s council election filing deadline closed with only two of seven seats contested: the at-large council presidency and the Foundry Row district seat held by Luis Bettencourt, whose campaign is unfolding amid an ethics review.
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Whitfield Warns of $18.6 Million Gap as Budget Season Begins
City Manager Marcus Whitfield opened budget season by warning the city faces an $18.6 million gap next year, as rising pension and health care costs outpace growing biotech-sector tax revenue.
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Muhammad Moves to Unseat Kowalczyk as Council President
Council Member Aisha Muhammad is challenging Walter Kowalczyk for the city council presidency, arguing his committee assignments have shortchanged housing and neighborhood issues after his eleven years unopposed in the role.
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Complaint Alleges Bundled Donations From Foundry Row Developer to Council Member
The city’s ethics board has opened a review of a complaint alleging Millrace Development Partners bundled campaign contributions to Council Member Luis Bettencourt ahead of a zoning vote benefiting the developer.