Clayton City Council — September 22: firefighter contract, Flock LPR debate, and FY2027 budget all approved
The full seven-member council adopted a new three-year firefighter union contract and the FY2027 budget, then held an extended public debate over the city's Flock license-plate-reader system.
What happened
The Clayton City Council met on September 22, 2026, and worked through a full agenda. The council gave second-reading approval to the fiscal year 2027 operating and capital budget, the 2026 property tax levies, a new city website contract, and a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the firefighters' union. The meeting's longest and most contested segment was a presentation by the police chief on the city's Flock license-plate-reader technology, followed by extensive council debate and public comment from multiple residents urging the council to cancel or restrict the contract.
What the council decided
- Granted a conditional use permit for State Bank at 6369 Clayton Road to operate a drive-through banking lane, approving Resolution No. 2026-25 by voice vote with no opposition.
- Granted a conditional use permit for Mr. Myer's Live & Vinyl Lounge at 7931 Forsyth Boulevard, approving Resolution No. 202630 by voice vote with no opposition.
- Approved the consent agenda — including the prior meeting's minutes and a liquor license for Tani Clayton — on a 7-0 roll-call vote (Susan Buse, Becky Patel, Gary Feder, Jeffery Yorg, Kami Waldman, Betsy Meyland-Smith, Mayor Bridget McAndrew all aye).
- Adopted the amended 2026 property tax levies as Bill No. 7172.1 on a 7-0 roll-call vote (Buse, Patel, Gary Feder, Jeffery Yorg, Waldman, Meyland-Smith, Mayor McAndrew all aye).
- Adopted the FY2027 operating and capital improvement budget as Bill No. 7173 on a 7-0 roll-call vote.
- Approved a contract with GHD Services Incorporated for website redesign, development, hosting, and support services as Bill No. 7174 on a 7-0 roll-call vote.
- Approved the appointment of Joanne Garcia to the Daniele Community Improvement District board as Bill No. 7175 on a 7-0 roll-call vote.
- Approved Amendment No. 1 to the 1995 agreement with the Trustees of the Hillcrest Subdivision as Bill No. 7176 on a 6-0 roll-call vote (Buse, Gary Feder, Yorg, Waldman, Meyland-Smith, Mayor McAndrew all aye; one member abstained).
- Approved a task order agreement not to exceed $10,000 with Jugo Plus Architects LLC for a Hanley House exterior renovation study as Bill No. 7177 on a 7-0 roll-call vote.
- Approved a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Firefighters, Local 2665, as Bill No. 7178 on a 7-0 roll-call vote.
- Voted 7-0 to convene in closed executive session on legal, real estate, personnel, contract negotiation, and public safety matters, on motion by Betsy Meyland-Smith.
Who was there
All seven members were recorded voting on the consent agenda roll call: Council Members Susan Buse, Becky Patel, Gary Feder, Jeffery Yorg, Kami Waldman, and Betsy Meyland-Smith, and Mayor Bridget McAndrew. One member — identified in the transcript as a Hillcrest resident — abstained from the vote on Bill No. 7176, which is why that roll call shows six ayes rather than seven.