Council Meeting - October 12th, 2026

The Municipality of Princeton Mayor and Council meeting on October 12, 2026, included a vote to proceed with purchasing two electric shuttle buses using an awarded state grant. The vehicles are estimated to cost just over $700,000, with roughly $400,000–$434,000 expected from the grant and about $300,000 in municipal costs. Council approved moving forward despite concerns about passenger capacity, charging and maintenance arrangements, battery life, and the funding mechanism; one council member voted no, citing equity concerns. Staff must confirm how the purchase can be funded and account for it, and the grant decision is needed by October 30. The buses are expected to be available in June 2027. Council also approved canceling the previously authorized Phoenix Motor Cars order because the vendor could not supply the vehicles.

Other spending-related actions included approval of a contract not to exceed $120,000 with White Buffalo, Inc. for deer management services, and authorization of a $27.4 million general-obligation bond sale ($26.6 million in general improvement bonds and $800,000 in redevelopment-area bonds). Council noted interest rates had risen and planned to review market conditions before the anticipated mid-November offering. Community Park South fundraising was discussed, including a reported $600,000 commitment from Princeton Tennis toward court reconstruction, but council did not authorize a fundraising framework or project commitment; members called for a project and costs to be clarified first.