7/28/2026 - Empire Village | Public Hearing and Meeting Minutes

Summary

The Empire Village Council regular meeting on July 28, 2026, involved discussions on several topics, including the mass gathering ordinance, short-term rental (STR) issues, and various operational matters. Significant decisions were made regarding the approval of a mass gathering ordinance, setting a public hearing for the STR registration ordinance, and discussions about waiving parking fees for the Asparagus Festival.

Public Comments

During public comments, several citizens expressed their views: - Cheryl Clark voiced concerns regarding the New Neighborhood Escrow Agreement. - David Kroll discussed the classification of short-term rentals as commercial enterprises. - Bob Chase advocated for setting a date for the STR hearing and waiving parking fees at the beach. - Frank Clements suggested tabling the STR ordinance in favor of establishing a registration ordinance with a cap. - Terry Bacon noted appreciation for the council's engagement with public comments concerning STRs.

Old Business

- **Mass Gathering Ordinance**: The council reviewed changes to the ordinance. A motion to approve the Mass Gathering Ordinance No.4 of 2026 passed unanimously. - **Public Hearing for Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance**: A motion to schedule a public hearing for the STR registration ordinance at the next regular meeting was discussed. It was decided to proceed despite some concerns regarding the timing and adequacy of information. The vote resulted in a majority approval with two dissenting votes. - **Waive Parking Related Fees for Asparagus Festival**: A motion to reimburse for beach parking fees during the festival was passed, although there was discussion on whether to uphold the parking ordinance.

New Business

- **Liquor Code Enforcement**: Rademacher was volunteered to handle liquor inspections, with a motion approving this initiative passing unanimously. - **Wiring and Concrete Slabs for Fuel Tanks**: The council moved to waive the multiple bids policy for urgent repairs needed for fuel tanks, with a spending cap of $10K. The motion passed unanimously. - **Gravel and Grading for DPW Building**: A bid for grading and graveling the DPW rear parking lot for a cost not to exceed $4K was approved. - **Tree Removal Quote**: The council agreed to proceed with tree removals and stump grinding not to exceed $8K, despite the absence of multiple bids. - **Advertise to Sell 2013 GMC Pickup**: A motion to list the vehicle for sale at $3k or best offer was unanimously passed.

Other Business

The council received communications regarding the New Neighborhood escrow account, and the attorney advised that the escrow account cannot be dissolved.

Action Items

- Further discussion of the New Neighborhood escrow agreement is to be scheduled for the next work session based on public comment. - Verify with Smith whether a trustee can perform roles in liquor inspections and confirm potential compensation. - Review the placement of the stop sign on Wood and Aylsworth due to safety concerns raised by public comments.