Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Highland public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
4 issues in taxes budget with medium priority
Traffic monitoring software purchase
Urban SDK would give the city real-time speed and volume data for every road using anonymized vehicle GPS data — no cameras, no personal info. It's about $25,000 a year for three years and could save staff days of manual traffic counts, though some council members questioned whether the council will actually follow the data.
Legislative consultant contract vs. in-house grant administration
The council split 3-2 on renewing David Stewart's $100,000-a-year contract, which has helped land ~$4 million in grants. Opponents want a front-door alternative — possibly a part-time grant administration coordinator as a two-year pilot — and staff will research it for the FY2028 budget.
Investment portfolio performance
The $15 million Meeder laddered investment is trailing the state PTIF by about half a percent — some councilmembers want closer scrutiny while others call it a long-term play.
Solid waste costs rising
North Point's $5/ton tipping fee hike and Waste Management's 4.8% rate increase will add roughly $100,000 to the city's garbage costs — meaning a modest residential bill increase, likely under $1/month.