Holiday Island City Council met on Dec. 19 to pass final resolutions and ordinances before the end of the year.
General business involved talking about broadband instillation, which is currently not being done, trying to arrange for a second deputy for the city, and mailbox thefts that have been occurring in the city limits.
Resolution 2023-011 passed establishing a temporary building permit fee refund in cases where it is reasonable for council to do so. Requirements for the refund include that construction has not begun on the project, and the request is made within 90 days of project start. Ord. 2023-020 establishing a business license fee and penalty requirement passed first reading, although two members objected initially. One council member felt worried about its impact on people who work from home, and council agreed to look at other cities ordinances and choose wording carefully. The ordinance passed 4-1.
Other Items
- 2023-009 made changes to the policy for publishing, posting, and notification requirements for the city. One of the posting areas has been moved to inside city hall and changing to the state law of posting for thirty days, which the city had previously set at forty-five days.
- People’s requests regarding a budget for advertising the town and promoting the area was brought up with a council member saying it would be done without dipping into city savings. In January an ad hoc committee will be formed to develop an advertising program for the area.
- 2023-027 passed authorizing an inter-local agreement for road maintenance and declaring an emergency for roads where the city is responsible, which was approved and passed.
- 2023-028 concerning fire protection services for 2024 differs from the 2023 ordinance only in the amount of budget, which was increased for radio and technology improvements for emergency services.
- During public and councilmember comments, the city’s deal with Good Shepherd Humane Society was reviewed: the city can’t pay Good Shepherd to pick up animals but has allocated funds so that Good Shepherd will put aside kennel space for animals found in Holiday Island. One member used their comments to complain about a neighbor who is living off a generator and asked if an ordinance could be made that requires people living in Holiday Island to have electricity or be ordered to vacate their property, referring to it as a “nuisance neighbor” ordinance.
- A Ward 2 council member stepped down from office due to personal and health reasons and asked that a replacement be nominated. The meeting concluded for the holiday season.