Council and residents on Oct. 9 raised the need for improved security at public meetings and other town gatherings, and the council opened the topic for further study rather than taking immediate formal action.

"I think it's reasonable and even a priority that every public gathering, including our town meetings, have security for the protection of residents, council members, and staff," a council member said during the discussion.

Residents and security professionals offered differing recommendations. Adrian Edinrod, described in the meeting packet as a security consultant, was present to assist with planning and systems; a resident and security professional, Adrian Hecker, said he was "happy to assist with guidance or any free consultation" and cited recent work on municipal and faith-community security assessments.

Legal advice at the meeting clarified the scope of authority for private guards. The legal advisor said, "I can speak to that, under 15 a dash 4 0 4, which is the statute of internal procedure act for when persons can be arrested in the state. Private security guard is not a sworn law enforcement officer. It's a private citizen... and they do not have the power to rep." The advisor explained that a private guard could detain a disruptive person only in the context of a breach of the peace that would support a detention.

Public commenters split on armed responses. Carol Kinnaman, a resident, urged caution: "I feel much more threatened by people allowed to have concealed carry than I do having an active shooter come into this facility." Another resident urged consideration of legally armed citizens as a safeguard, noting local law allows concealed carry.

Council members and speakers emphasized a layered approach: conduct a risk assessment, adopt operating procedures and baseline security measures, and consider personnel only as one component. One council member said operating procedures and following them "is probably the most important thing." The council did not vote on a security policy at the meeting; one member said they would "probably make a separate motion" to advance specific measures.

The discussion also touched on staffing realities: a public commenter said there are only about 30 deputies shared among nearby jurisdictions, which affects on-duty coverage at any given time. Council members asked staff to research templates for risk assessments and to return with recommendations on tiered security measures, baseline options for meetings, and policy language.

No formal action or contract award was recorded in the transcript; staff and consultants were asked to continue work and report back to the council.