Features

Tuesday’s City Council meeting, which was mainly devoted to a discussion of the light brown apple moth, ended in a surprise finale, with an 11:30 p.m. vote to extend the meeting until midnight falling short of the needed two-thirds approval. The council had been in session since 5 p.m. 

That meant that the Condominium Conversion Ordinance discussion and vote, which 10 or so people had been waiting to discuss until that time, would not take place until the council’s March 11 meeting. Public comment speakers, waiting since 7 p.m. to address the council on items not on the agenda, were also unable to speak to the council. 

The council also delayed discussion on retroactive houseboat billing. 

The appellant did not appear at council to argue against adopting the zoning board decision to allow the move of the Blood House from 2526 Durant Ave. to another location, pending appropriate approvals. 

A five-story building with 44 apartments including seven affordable units is to be constructed on the site. The vote to affirm the zoning board approval was 8-1, with Councilmember Kriss Worthington in opposition. 

Councilmember Gordon Wozniak withdrew an item which would have mandated two votes by the City Council on measures brought to it by the Peace and Justice Commission. In its place, Wozniak is proposing an item that will be on the March 11 agenda, asking that all commissions post not only their agendas, but, when they do, also post on the city’s website, the background information on the items. 

On an item condemning the construction of a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, the council gave a 7-0-2 approval, with Councilmembers Laurie Capitelli and Gordon Wozniak abstaining.