Whitehall City Council Meeting – March 17, 2026

The Whitehall City Council held its regular meeting on March 17, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber. Key agenda items included a presentation by Dr. Nathan Harris of See Brilliance, reports from standing committees and officials, public comment on community issues and the recall effort, and the adoption of several ordinances. The meeting also featured updates on the city's economic development standardization, an arbitration ruling, and implementation of Avery's Law.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The minutes from the March 3, 2026 Agenda & Regular Meeting and the March 10, 2026 Committee Meeting were approved by a voice vote (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Resident (name not stated): Expressed gratitude for winning a car at the State of the City event and praised the city's programming for youth and seniors.
• Resident (name not stated): Requested a public service announcement about proper mattress disposal and asked for the ability to enlarge photos in the city newsletter. Also expressed sadness about the recall effort.
• Marie Long: Praised the progress under Mayor Bivens and his team, criticized the recall as an attempt to undo 14 years of improvement, and expressed support for the current administration.
• Michael Spicer: Voiced support for Mayor Bivens, Councilmember Harcar, and (excused) Councilmember Elmore, stating he and other neighbors would work to keep them in office.

Discussion Items

• Special Presentation – Dr. Nathan Harris (See Brilliance): Dr. Harris, President & CEO, described his nonprofit's mission to provide STEAM programming for youth historically marginalized in STEM. He noted that See Brilliance has already conducted two events in Whitehall (serving up to 150 children) and aims to expand into Whitehall schools. He requested connections to the Whitehall School Board and industry partners. Council members expressed strong support for the initiative.
• Mayor Michael T. Bivens: Reported positive public feedback on the city's direction. He announced that the administration is standardizing economic development incentives (tax abatements, CRA agreements, etc.) and that a plan will be presented at the next committee meeting. He also provided an update on the city's pavement assessment, which will inform the next capital improvement plan. The Mayor further discussed a recent arbitration decision, noting that the arbitrator found no evidence that the city targeted union leaders for protected activities, marking the fourth time in two years such claims have been rejected. He affirmed the city's commitment to fair union relations.
• City Attorney Bradley S. Nicodemus: Gave an update on Avery's Law (dangerous dog legislation), which takes effect March 18, 2026. He explained that due to complexities in seizure and appeal timelines, the city will rely on Franklin County Animal Control and the county prosecutor's office for seizure determinations, while the city handles criminal cases. He recommended against adopting a local ordinance at this time. Councilmembers asked clarifying questions and agreed to monitor the situation.
• City Auditor Shaquille Alexander: Noted the city's strong financial position and offered to provide a detailed briefing on city finances. He expressed favorable consideration for Ordinances 20-2026, 21-2026, and 23-2026.
• Director of Public Service Casey Rowlands: Reported that the city has gone out to bid for the waterline project and that residents will receive mailers with project updates. She requested favorable consideration for Ordinances 20-2026 and 21-2026.
• Standing Committee Reports: Each committee chair reported that meetings were held the previous week and that minutes are on file; next meetings are scheduled for Tuesday after 6:30 p.m.
• Adoption of Council Rules (2026-2027 Term): After discussion, Councilmember McCann expressed concerns that some rule changes (e.g., restrictions on bringing back tabled legislation, sign policies) were aimed at protecting individuals rather than decorum. The rules were adopted by a 7-0 vote.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes Approved: March 3 and March 10 minutes approved unanimously.
• Council Rules Adopted: The draft Rules of Procedure for the 2026-2027 term were adopted by a 7-0 vote.
• Ordinance No. 011-2026 (Second Reading): Authorizing adoption of the May 2026 replacement pages to the Codified Ordinances and declaring an emergency. Read by title only; no vote was recorded on this item.
• Ordinance No. 020-2026 (First Reading): Advancing $250,000 from the General Fund to the Fleet Reserve & Maintenance Fund; appropriating $250,000 for fleet expenses. Introduced by Morrison, seconded by Brown. Suspended rules and adopted by 7-0.
• Ordinance No. 021-2026 (First Reading): Appropriating $400,000 from the City Hall Reno Fund to the City Hall Reno Expense Account. Introduced by Morrison, seconded by Brown. Suspended rules and adopted by 7-0.
• Ordinance No. 022-2026 (First Reading): Amending the Planning and Zoning Code to require special permits for detention facilities. Read by title only; no further action was taken on this item during the meeting.
• Ordinance No. 023-2026 (First Reading): Amending the Codified Ordinances Table of Authorized Personnel for FY2026 and declaring an emergency. Introduced by Morrison, seconded by McCann. Suspended rules and adopted by 7-0.
• Public Comments on Recall & Support: Residents spoke both in support of and against the recall effort; Councilmembers expressed appreciation for community engagement.