The Medford City Council convened on July 16, 2025, to address various community concerns and administrative matters. The meeting began with a public hearing regarding System Development Charges (SDCs), where updates reflecting project support over the next decade were discussed. Council members expressed a need for further details on the breakdown of these charges, which will be provided in subsequent communications.

Following the administrative discussions, the council opened the floor for public comments, allowing 30 minutes for in-person contributions. The audience was reminded of the decorum policy, which prohibits disruptive behavior during comments. Three written submissions were noted, addressing issues such as Main Street reconfiguration, a request for a code enforcement citation waiver related to tree maintenance, and concerns about the legal use of fireworks.

Kathy Halloway, a resident, spoke about her citation for an overhanging tree, arguing that the city’s tree code needs revision. She highlighted her efforts to comply with the code and expressed frustration over the lack of communication from code enforcement. Council members acknowledged her concerns and directed her to follow up with the appropriate city staff for further assistance.

Jack Raim also addressed the council, raising alarms about the increasing use of fireworks in the community. He described the disturbances caused by loud explosions and urged the council to consider establishing stricter guidelines for fireworks usage to ensure public safety and peace.

The council then moved on to review the minutes from the previous meeting held on July 2, 2025, which were approved without revisions. The consent calendar was noted as having no items for consideration.

As the meeting progressed, the council began discussing ordinances and resolutions, with two items on the agenda for consideration. The session concluded with a commitment to address the community's concerns and follow up on the issues raised during public comments. The council's next steps will include further discussions on the SDCs and potential revisions to the tree code and fireworks regulations.