I am sharing the attached PDF of my email communications with the City Council covering the past several months. I am doing this intentionally and openly.

As Mayor, I believe in the golden rule-treating people the way I would want to be treated. That includes accountability at every level, including my own. When I served on the City Council, I wanted to be informed, included, and respected. That experience continues to shape how I lead today.

These communications reflect my effort to:

• Keep the entire Council informed,
• Seek input publicly and on the record, and
• Avoid deliberation behind closed doors or decision-making outside of properly noticed meetings.

To be clear:

• I am not attempting to deliberate privately.
• I am not running the City through side conversations.
• I am not trying to keep matters “off the record.”

My goal has been the opposite: open communication, shared awareness, and public accountability.

You will see that, in addition to email correspondence, a small number of text messages are included in this record. These communications were limited to logistical, technical, or administrative matters, such as assisting Council members with setting up and accessing their city-issued email accounts, providing city-issued devices for official use, and ensuring they had the tools needed to conduct city business appropriately.

I have communicated with every Council member in an effort to help them transition to and use city-provided email and devices for official communications-going so far as to assist with setup where needed. Council members are aware that city email is the primary and official channel for formal communication, and that all substantive and formal correspondence is sent through city email.

I also routinely use these channels to keep both the Council and the public informed about city events, meetings, and opportunities for engagement.

I have consistently encouraged Council participation and sought feedback during public meetings. At the same time, I have heard concerns that meetings can be lengthy. I am willing to continue exploring ways to balance efficiency with inclusion-for both the Council and the public. However, if certain approaches do not meaningfully add value or engagement, I will not continue them simply for appearance’s sake. Everyone’s time matters.

Behind the scenes, our staff and Department Heads have been doing the hard, unglamorous work of building a solid foundation for city governance. There is no glory in this work-but it is essential. Like any good construction project, it requires site preparation, which often means digging through a lot of dirt before a stable foundation can be set.

I intend to show as much of that process, and what we find buried, as is reasonable and appropriate-because transparency matters. What we ultimately want you to see is a strong, stable city government that serves the people and clearly demonstrates how taxpayer dollars are being used.

Thank you for your engagement, your questions, and your continued interest in how your city is governed. I will continue to lead with openness, respect, and accountability.