The committee voted to recommend a mid-year budget change to add $75,000 for Inspections, using a mix of revenue tweaks and shifting money tied to economic development work. They also reviewed a proposed rewrite of the city’s residency rules after the city’s labor attorney warned the current policy may be too broad if challenged.
No public comments or communications recorded for this meeting.
City staff said the Inspections budget needs an additional $75,000 this year, whether the inspector job stays part-time or becomes full-time. The committee voted to recommend the budget amendment, which relies on revised revenue estimates (including lower investment interest and higher utility tax equivalent/fees) and a shift of City Manager budget tied to covering economic development duties during the Community Development Director vacancy. One committee member flagged a process concern: he preferred cutting spending to fund Inspections rather than moving money from the Economic Development Fund—an early warning that the funding approach may not be settled citywide.
The committee reviewed proposed edits to the city’s residency policy after the labor attorney advised the current language may be too broad if challenged. The proposal would remove residency requirements for a list of positions including City Clerk, Finance Director, Library Director, Tourism Director, and several engineering, parks programming, and police/fire office support roles. No committee vote was recorded in the minutes, but this is a meaningful policy shift because it changes who the city can require to live in (or near) Two Rivers as a condition of employment.
Staff said RW Baird was still preparing the city’s TIF review report, with a presentation to staff expected in about two weeks. This matters because TIF districts can redirect property tax growth and affect what services and projects get funded. For now, residents are still waiting on the actual findings and recommendations.
The City Manager reported no major updates beyond east-side street work underway. He also noted the Electric Department’s line truck order may need new financing because the originally planned WPPI loan is not eligible for that purchase. That kind of last-minute financing pivot is worth watching because it can change borrowing costs and timing for other equipment or projects.
The Finance Director shared a tentative schedule for building the 2026 city budget. The minutes do not include the schedule details, so residents can’t yet see key dates for when major spending choices will be made or when public input will be easiest. This is an early marker that budget season is starting, but the transparency depends on the city publishing the timeline clearly.