The Programs & Services Committee met on Wednesday, May 6. See the video.
City Clerk (report)
City Clerk Drew Willison presented the department budget. In 2025, the City Council conducted 184 meetings, issued 59 special permits, passed 19 ordinances, and heard 376 docket items. The Clerk’s office issued 267 business certificates and over 2,500 dog licenses. There were two elections in FY26, and the city reached its second-highest number of registered voters ever at 60,921. The department is currently hiring for the Deputy City Clerk, Vitals & Election Specialist, and Compliance Coordinator roles; the Election Supervisor role is being consolidated into the Deputy City Clerk role. Willison anticipated the department would be fully staffed by July. The docketing system is transitioning from the current Docket Tracking System to CivicPlus, which will also be used to develop a new city website. Staff will receive training over the summer, with full implementation by September.
Councilors asked about salary levels for open positions. Willison said applicants have been eager and well-qualified. The election budget variance from year to year is due to staff turnover and to whether federal and state elections occur in a given year. Election security focus is on individuals who attempt to intimidate voters or disrupt poll workers; the State has not highlighted any threats. Changes to wedding ceremony availability will reduce the number of events in the chamber. A few polling locations are in non-public buildings.
The Committee unanimously approved the recommended City Clerk Department budget of $2,704,972.
Law (report)
City Solicitor Alissa Giuliani and Deputy City Solicitor Jonah Temple presented the Law Department budget. The Senior Labor Attorney role has been filled after years of vacancy. The department is considering combining the ADA Coordinator role with another assistant city solicitor position. The department has taken on a new responsibility: representing the City before the Appellate Tax Board, a role previously handled by outside counsel. The “Books, Manuals, Periodicals” line item was increased to $70,000 to reflect AI capabilities added to the WestLaw research program and a new e-discovery tool.
Councilors asked about recodification of the City’s ordinances (extremely time-intensive; the option of hiring consultants has been considered but Willison wants to achieve level staffing first); AI integration in the Law Department (collaborating with IT and the Mayor’s office; tools currently used for research, not legal opinions); liens on properties from unpaid taxes. Attorney Temple said it has been the policy in past administrations not to foreclose on occupied homes. The department is identifying properties that may be referred to outside counsel for foreclosure proceedings. The only way to forcibly collect fines is through filing a criminal complaint in district court; pending special state legislation would allow liens to be placed on properties with unpaid fines.
The Committee unanimously approved the recommended Law Department budget of $2,347,969.
Health & Human Services (report)
Commissioner Shin-Yi Lao presented the HHS budget. School nurses, employed within HHS, engaged with students 108,984 times during SY24-25. The Human Services division supported more than 400 households in 2025 through financial assistance, food access, and employment resources, and conducted a city-wide food drive during the federal government shutdown in November 2025. The division completed 19 NARCAN trainings and distributed over 300 kits. FY27 goals include collaborating with Economic Development to guide applicants through the permitting process and implementing new case management software.
Councilors asked about the loss of Host Community Agreement funding for medical and counseling services (some functions are now supported by opioid funds, including a grant to Riverside Community Care for a school-based emergency services responder); the number and types of inspections performed (about 98% by environmental health staff, ranging from restaurant food safety to living conditions); school nurse scheduling (contracted only through the school year, can be hired for extended school year programs); and the partnership with NPS on mental health services (a Global Crisis Intervention Clinician associated with Riverside is dedicated to the public schools; a youth outpatient program is funded from HHS).
The Committee unanimously approved the recommended Health & Human Services Department budget of $5,777,377.
Older Adult Services (report)
Director Mignonne Murray presented the OAS budget. “The overarching goal of the department is for residents to create connections and stem isolation.” The Cooper Center for Active Living opened in December 2025 and has drawn thousands of visitors and hundreds of volunteers across its 33,000 square feet and three floors of programming. A café has recently opened within the center. New staff positions were created for FY27 to address growth in programming and services.
Councilors asked about the Bridge AI texting service (designed to answer basic questions about hours and programming; sensitive questions about housing or food insecurity are flagged for staff); future budget projections (may continue to grow as awareness increases but will not grow as fast as from FY26 to FY27); pricing at the Cooper Café (different pricing for community members and those aged 55 and older, with a scholarship system for those needing assistance); and whether the Cooper Center could serve as an event rental space (OAS is primarily focused on programming but sees weekend rental opportunity).
The Committee unanimously approved the recommended Older Adult Services Department budget of $2,083,070.
Present: Councilors Krintzman (Chair), Malakie (Vice Chair), Farrell, Charm, Bixby, and Baker. Absent: Councilors Oliver and Micley. Also present: Councilors Wright, Irish, and Block.
City staff: Liam Hurley, NPS Assistant Superintendent; Drew Willison, City Clerk; Alissa Giuliani, City Solicitor; Jonah Temple, Deputy City Solicitor; Shin-Yi Lao, Commissioner of Health & Human Services; Mignonne Murray, Director of OAS; Ashley Shaheen, Deputy Director of OAS; Josh Morse, COO; John Rice, Chief Community Service Officer; Dana Hanson, Mayor’s Chief of Staff; Douglas Botelho, Manager of Financial Services; Endrit Poreci, Senior Financial Analyst; Trevor Goehring, Financial Analyst; Mary O’Neill, Senior HR Partner; Caroline Wilson, HR Benefits Manager; Norine Silton, OAS Executive Administrator; Meryl Kessler, Director of Arts & Culture; Carolyn Stapleton, Rec Program Manager; Miles Starkey, Committee Clerk.