The Town Planning Commission voted to hold a community “mingle” on Aug. 19 downstairs in Maple Hall to collect resident input on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access points, sidewalks and other local transportation pain points.

The session will be scaled down so the community mingle is the primary agenda item, and staff said they will provide alternative ways for residents to comment if they cannot attend. “What we are doing with this feedback is we're gonna work with public works to integrate that into the 6 year transportation improvement program and the 6 year capital improvement program,” Jennifer Herring, administrative clerk and planning staff, said.

The commission described the mingle as an early step to identify recurring problems — for example, missing sidewalks, crosswalk safety and a four-way stop by Sixth Street that commissioners said needs additional study — and emphasized the event is intended to surface issues for budgeting, not to deliver immediate fixes. Staff said integrating items into the six-year programs will help ensure projects are budgeted, though timelines may be extended because they would be funded through regular capital planning rather than emergency grants.

Commissioners discussed scheduling and venue trade-offs. The Garden Club was mentioned as an option but would prevent a recorded session because it lacks Wi‑Fi; the chosen location, Maple Hall (downstairs), allows recording but may be echoey. Staff also said a second mingle could be held in early October if attendance and feedback warrant further outreach.

Commissioners asked staff to publicize the event carefully, noting it is not a one‑night fix but a way to gather priorities for future capital budgeting. Staff said they would accept written comments and other alternative inputs before and after the Aug. 19 session.

The planning commission will bring a streamlined agenda on Aug. 19 so the mingle can be the primary focus; commissioners asked staff to note relevant ADA, sidewalk and stop‑control concerns raised at the event for follow-up with Public Works and inclusion in the capital and transportation programs.