The following is an update on the City's current initiatives, the key points discussed at Thursday’s City Council meeting, and several ongoing projects that will impact our operations in the months ahead. Transparency and communication are essential, and I want to make sure everyone has a clear understanding of where we’re headed:
Approved Ordinances
At the recent Council meeting, two essential ordinance updates were approved:
Ordinance 487-2025 – Allows the use of temporary construction containers under certain conditions.
Ordinance 488-2025 – Updates the Municipal Code so that any reference to “City Administrator” is officially recognized as equivalent to “City Manager.” This clarifies outdated language and better reflects the current structure of our government.
Upcoming Ordinances in Development
Staff and our City Attorney are actively working on several additional ordinance updates:
Water Regulations Overhaul
Weed currently has very minimal water regulations. We are preparing a comprehensive update to address water resource management, backflow prevention, responsibilities, and legal compliance. We intend to bring this forward in December.
Bus Regulation Ordinance
At the request of a Councilmember, we are drafting an ordinance regulating buses within city limits. We hope to bring this to Council in December or January.
Fire Department Ordinance Rewrite
Our Fire Department ordinance has not been substantially updated since the 1960s. A complete modernization is underway.
City Clerk Ordinance Update
We are also revising the ordinance governing the Office of the City Clerk to reflect modern practices and eliminate outdated language.
Vacation Balance Compliance
It was recently discovered that several employees had exceeded the two-year maximum vacation balance allowed by our personnel manual.
Council authorized me to:
Bring all employees back into compliance
Implement yearly audits moving forward
This ensures fairness, consistency, and adherence to our own internal policies.
City Hall: Next Steps
Although the Council has not yet chosen a long-term solution for City Hall (rebuild, relocate, or renovate), they did direct staff to move forward immediately with:
Mold remediation
Correcting electrical issues that are not up to code
These steps will help ensure a safe environment for both staff and residents while broader discussions continue.
New City Website Coming Soon
The City has signed a contract with TownWeb to design and host our next-generation website. Over the next six months, you’ll begin to see the transition take shape.
What residents will gain:
More online forms and digital services
The ability to submit payments online
A cleaner and more intuitive website design
Better communication tools for alerts and updates
Benefits for staff:
Automated workflows
Easier record-handling
A more efficient backend system for the City Clerk’s office
We’re excited to bring this modern technology to the community and improve our overall communication.
Citywide Social Media Policy
I have completed a draft Social Media Policy, which will be presented to the City Council in December. This policy will:
Apply to all official City pages (Police, Fire, and Government)
Limit direct engagement with commenters
Ensure pages are used for information-sharing only
Protect free speech while applying neutral moderation standards
Provide clear expectations for both staff and the public
This policy helps ensure consistency, professionalism, and transparency across all digital platforms.
Capital Improvement Planning (CIP)
We are currently building out our annual Capital Improvement Plan. Staff members are submitting their “wish lists” for major projects and equipment needs, which we then organize into:
1-year priorities
5-year priorities
10-year priorities
For 1-year items, we also identify funding sources. Items without immediate funding move to the 5-year list. This plan is updated annually and helps us stay ahead of infrastructure needs in a strategic and financially responsible manner.
Once I have finished, I will compile everything into a single report and present it to the City Council.
Investment Strategy to Strengthen City Finances
In coordination with our attorneys and financial advisors, I will also develop an investment plan. This would allow the City to:
Place funds into interest-earning accounts
Use safe, state-approved investment options
Make taxpayer dollars work for the community
Earned interest can help strengthen our bottom line and support future capital projects without requiring tax increases.
Closing Thoughts
Thank you to everyone in Weed for your continued engagement, feedback, and support. We have numerous projects underway, including modernizing ordinances, improving our website, planning long-term investments, and strengthening community infrastructure.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about these projects, please get in touch with City Hall. Transparency and communication are priorities for us, and I look forward to continuing to serve this community.
Respectfully,
Dustin Stambaugh
City Manager, City of Weed