Council was told security hired to prevent encampments wouldn’t make arrests. One councillor is questioning why city documents say otherwise.
A man and woman are facing drug charges after police say they were under the influence of drugs while on council.
Police say there was a dispute in the public gallery when the two were leaving the chamber.
The dispute started when one of the councillors wanted to speak about a parking issue.
Police say the man refused to listen.
Police are investigating whether to charge the man with assault.
Police say the man then walked away.
The woman was also charged with obstructing an officer.
The incident is not being treated as a security matter, officials say.
The man was released for a posted court date.
The woman was given an appearance ticket.
We are working with the police and the City Manager’s Office on the matter.
The City Manager’s Office has also issued a statement saying this does not appear to be a security matter and was handled as a dispute about a parking citation.
As the city works to clean up its streets, some people are asking for patience from those who have to walk a few feet to the Public Safety Building to get inside. For the first time in its 15-year history, the city has made parking a more difficult process.
It took the city 15 months to implement the new policy, and council has been told of the wait.
One issue is that people with special-needs badges, such as wheelchairs and people with autism, can no longer park in the public, left-hand or right-hand parking spots in City Hall.
City staff had estimated that over the next few months people who used to have a free right to use their spots would need to be issued a disabled parking sticker or move to the private parking lots.
The city says it is in the process of installing a new, non-disabled parking permit that would be valid for six months. Councillor Joe Mihevc, the city’s deputy mayor, wants to be released more information on when the new permit will be issued.
Some people are also calling for a