• Mayor Erickson opens up about being first female mayor. Mayor Christine Erickson addressed a roomful of women on Tuesday during Women's Day at the Sanford International Tournament, and much of her speech focused on what it's like to be a woman in a position of leadership and the role of grit in her life. She started by sharing a quote from the famous America Ferrera speech in "Barbie," and went on to encourage women to try new things before they're ready, to be resilient and to know they don't have to do it all alone.
    • Erickson also addressed the role she's playing as both mayor and as a mother – raising three boys who she hopes see women in leadership as the norm, not the exception.
    • "I'm trying to raise young men who respect strong women – young men who understand that a woman can lead the company," Erickson said. "She can run the meeting. She can own the business. She can make difficult decisions. She can be the mayor, and she still can be the mom sitting in the stands and cheering louder than anyone else."
  • City makes property tax relief 'charter official.' Ok, so there isn't a Facebook status update for this, but the City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to permanently codify the city's property tax relief program for elderly and disabled residents. The program has been in effect for several years now, but the vote makes it a permanent part of the city's ordinances.
  • Council OKs updates to down payment assistance. The City Council on Tuesday also voted unanimously to approve revisions to a down payment assistance program which offers money to city public safety employees (fire, police, 911 call center) who buy a house within city limits.