City Council members hit pause Monday on requesting a real estate tax cut proposal and a popular event venue’s expansion, leaving these and other decisions for future meetings.

The tax cut request, part of a resolution introduced in November, asks Mayor Danny Avula to provide a budget proposal with a $1.16 real estate tax rate for 2027 and 2028. Administration officials warn keeping the rate at $1.20 is necessary to fund schools, city services and employee pay. Council members, however, express concern that the current rate contributes to housing affordability challenges. The resolution also asks Avula to provide estimates of additional revenue and planned expenditures for that fiscal year if the tax rate is not reduced. 

Council members also postponed a vote on a special-use permit for Lavender Hill to expand its venue at 1705 Commonwealth Ave. for outdoor events. The permit drew the largest public response of the meeting, with supporters and opponents — including Lavender Hill owner Nadia Anderson — speaking during a nearly 90-minute hearing. 

Votes on declaring city-owned property at 8790 Strath Road surplus for potential sale were also postponed after Avula withdrew the items from the agenda hours before the meeting. City officials introduced the ordinance for the sale last July in response to an offer from state Del. Delores McQuinn, who lives next to the property with her husband. Some council members handled, prompting a separate resolution to put the property up for competitive bids. objected to how the sale was 

“The Mayor withdrew the two items because he wants to ensure the City has a comprehensive, consistent process in place for declaring surplus property and moving toward any potential sale,” Press Secretary Mira Singer said when asked about the withdrawals. “We look forward to developing and clarifying that process, and bringing items forward in a way that reflects that consistency.” 

Not every agenda item was deferred. Council members unanimously voted to hire Foster Curtiss as inspector general. Curtiss had served as interim inspector general since May, after members fired his predecessor, Jim Osuna, during a closed session. 

Council members Ellen Robertson and Kenya Gibson introduced an ordinance to ensure the Affordable Housing Trust Fund is fully funded. The ordinance, which replaces the current revenue stream approach with one annually crediting 2.5% of real estate tax collections to the fund, requires annual reporting on balances and expenditures. 

The budget proposal request and the Lavender Hill permit will be considered during the meeting on Monday, Jan. 26.