Hey, I'd like to call to order the August 17, 2020 city council meeting at
700 p.m. If you all rise for the pledge of
» allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
» Thank you [clears throat] room. We actually have a full staff roll
call. We're all here today. Um,
before I begin and get on the agenda, I'd like to I'd like to just take a
moment to remember that and the and honor Jeff Weiss, the longtime director
of Scapoo Public Library who passed away on July 24. Jeff served our community as
library director since 2017. He brought with him 25 years of library experience
from Muny, Indiana, where I believe people here will remember most his
quiet, gentle nature and his genuine commitment to helping others. Jeff
worked countless hours to make our library um and was is there for our
community. He believed that everyone who walked through the library doors
mattered and deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. So on behalf of
the city council and the city of Scaffos, I want to extend our deepest
condolences to Jeff's family, friends, library colleagues, and everyone in our
community who knew and appreciated him. So I'd like to ask everybody to join me
in a moment of silence for Jeff's memory.
» Okay, thank you. Um, okay. As we move on to tonight's
agenda, um, I did want to make one little change on resolution 26 07. It
should read 2611, uh, number five.
And I was wondering if I could add um add just one. Uh, we have Tyler Ferrer
here today. I'd like to be able to say something that maybe works. You guys
feel that uh number three right after the
oath of office. A little thank you to Tyler.
[clears throat] Make it 2. A 2.2.
We have to change all the other numbers. [clears throat]
We're looking at that. I would look for a motion to approve tonight's agenda.
» Mr. Mayor, I move to approve tonight's agenda as amended.
» Councelor Hogan makes a motion to approve tonight's agenda as amended. Any
second? >> Second.
» Second by councelor Santiago. Any more discussion? Seeing none, all
those in favor say by saying I. I. >> Opposed? Motion carries.
So tonight, uh we are now on to public comment. This is the place on the agenda
where the public's invited to speak to council regarding any matter not on the
agenda and not scheduled for public hearing. Members of the public
addressing council are requested to give their name and city of residents. Please
try not to repeat questions to allow for more speakers. Speakers will limit their
testimony to five minutes. We're limited to 30 minutes total for all public
comments. I do have one so far. Miss Higgus, if you'd like to step up to the
microphone,
» this one working this time.
» It should be good. >> Uh, my name is Alicia Higgus, resident
of Scapus. Good evening, mayor and council. Tonight, I'm going to be very
direct. I believe the city of Scapus has a leadership problem. I've spent years
raising concerns about accountability, transparency, inconsistent enforcement,
and conduct within this city. When the same problems continue under the same
leadership, we have to stop pretending they're isolated incidents. The urban
renewal grant is a perfect example. My husband and I have asked what
documentation showed that previously identified compliance issues were
corrected before the grant application moved forward. City Manager Ben
Berginger told us that a final staff report memor memorialized staff's review
and determination that the application met the grant requirements.
When it wasn't provided, we filed a public records request seeking that
documentation he told us existed. Only then did Mr. Berginger acknowledge he
needed to correct a prior statement. The city's official records response
followed. The final staff report he referenced, none exists. A written staff
recommendation, none exists.
Documentation that the compliance issues were corrected or identifying who
verified the corrective work, nothing in writing exists. That's a serious
credibility problem. Council relies on the city manager, too. If residents
cannot rely on the accuracy of his representations, how can council be
confident the information you're receiving is accurate? These
accountability concerns also extend to enforcement. An abandoned boat sat on a
public street for months. SPD knew about it. It had already been cited. And on
July 1st, Officer McFarland posted an abandoned vehicle notice citing SMC
11.04.2080. two 280.
Yet, the owner was given until August 19th before it would be towed,
approximately seven additional weeks. Why was this consistent with how SPD
treats other residents? Or was someone given special treatment?
What other laws and ordinances aren't being enforced? And who decides when
enforcement is optional? My concerns with SPD go beyond enforcement? I have a
video of an encounter involving recently promoted Detective Johnson and a
resident who called the police himself last month. The resident was frustrated
and trying to grab his phone. Rather than deescalating, Johnson's response
escalated the encounter to the point that he reached for and attempted to
draw his firearm in the presence of half a dozen children. And the council needs
to know something else. He couldn't get the gun out of his holster. Think about
that. Why was reaching for a firearm
necessary? And if an officer believes circumstances justify drawing one, is he
sufficiently trained and proficient to respond safely? Those are serious public
safety questions. The resident subsequently complained to
Chief Llewellyn, so leadership was notified and is aware of the concern.
Was Johnson's bodywn camera footage reviewed? Was his decision for reaching
for his firearm and his inability to successfully draw it evaluated?
Was the complaint investigated? And how does an officer involved in an
incident raising these questions subsequently get promoted to detective?
SPD needs meaningful deescalation training before somebody gets hurt.
But this goes beyond one officer. I've raised concerns about SPD's
accountability, transparency, enforcement practices, and conduct for
years. I believe we've reached the point where the Scampoo's Police Department
needs new leadership. And the leadership problem doesn't stop with SPD. The city
city manager oversees city operations. Council oversees the city manager. I
have lost confidence in both the police department's leadership and the city
manager. I'm asking council to seriously evaluate whether you still have
confidence in that leadership. An oath of office requires integrity,
accountability, equal application of our laws, protection of this community, and
telling the truth even when it's inconvenient.
I shouldn't have to file public records requests to determine whether things I'm
being told by city leaders leadership are true. Residents shouldn't have to
question whether city ordinances are enforced equally or whether some people
are given special treatment. And we shouldn't have to wait for somebody to
get hurt before demanding accountability from our police department. These aren't
isolated complaints anymore. This is a pattern and patterns are a leadership
issue. Scapus deserves leadership that the public and this council can trust.
Thank you. >> Thank you.
Okay. Um, we're on to Is there any more public comment online? Anybody else
here? Pink's list. All right. Thank you. We'll close public comment. Moving on to
number one. Tonight's consent agenda. July 2026,
city council meeting minutes. I'm looking for approval of tonight's
consent agenda. [clears throat]
» Mayor, I move to consent agenda. Councelor Marque makes a motion to
approve. Any second? >> Second.
» Second by councelor Santiago. Any more discussion?
Seeing none, all those in favor state by saying I.
» I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. On to number
two. Oath of office for officer Cunningham. Please join me down here.
Appreciate it.
» [clears throat] >> Reaffirming the oath of office. Uh,
please I mean I please state your full name. I
» hereby swear on my oath >> to honestly and faithfully discharge my
duties >> of police officer for the city of Scapus
» and that I will uh support the laws >> the constitution of the state of Oregon
» and the United States of America >> and the charter and ordinances of the
city of Scapus. to the best of my ability.
So help me God. >> All right. Thank you.
» Officer Davos already warned me about this.
» Uh it is a pleasure to be here. Uh from day one on I think it was March 23rd, uh
chief told me I was hired. Uh I was just very excited to start. 16 weeks to the
academy was grueling, a little boring in some spots, but it was great to be back
on week one and get straight to the straight to the road and just kind of
hit the road running. Uh, it's been great so far. I appreciate you, Chief. I
appreciate all the other officers that have been there and supported me through
the entire thing. So, it's great to be here. Thank you.
» Thank you very much.
Okay, thank you everybody.
» Hey, one more. We're on to 2B. If um Tyler Ferrer, come on up there.
» Mr. Mayor. Yes. >> Here's a box for coming in here.
» You make that yourself. [laughter] All right. Uh Tyler uh was
representative of the Scapu School District on our student council last
year. So I wanted we wanted to give this to him. This certificate is proudly
presented to 202025 2026 city council student representative Tyler Ferrer in
recognition of your outstanding dedication, commitment, and valuable
contributions as a volunteer with Scapu City Council. Your efforts have made a
meaningful impact and we sincerely sincere sincerely appreciate your time,
energy, and service. Mayor Joe Bakus and city council presented today, August 17,
2026. Thank you.
All right.
Big one here. Um, okay. We're on to old business.
I'm doing this. All right. We um last meeting we had our first reading of
ordinance 927
notes.
It's first reading there. Your second
this ordinance is on second reading. They received a motion for approval and
a second during the July 2026 city council meeting. So, is there any other
additional discussion? Couple counselors that have read and
listened online, but we're not here at the meeting. If you guys have any
questions, you guys have asked your questions, have had discussions, I'm
assuming. >> Okay.
» Mr. Mayor, I'd like to recuse myself. >> Okay.
» And I'll be recusing myself as well. >> Okay. What I will do then, um, why don't
we just to make it good is have you guys leave, um, and, um, we'll call you back
in as soon as we're done.
Is there anything new to add since our last meeting, Lori?
» Uh, no, there is nothing to add here. Uh, if not, I'll read the ordinance
title for the second time and call for the vote. Ordinance 927, an ordinance
relating to land use, amending the urban growth boundary, establishing urban
reserves, amending the comprehensive plan text and map, amending the zoning
map, and amending the Scapoo's municipal code chapters 17.22, 17.26, 17.40,
17.44, 17.50, 50 17.54 17.56 17.62
17.68 17.70 17.74 17.81 17.82 17.84
17.85 17.86 17.89 17.92 17.94 17.100 17.104
17.106 106 17.114 17.120
17.126 17.130 17.134
17.136 17.140 17.142
17.150 17.152
17.154 17.160
17.162 and 17.164
So we had a first and second and no more discussion. Um, all those in favor state
by saying I. >> I
» oppose.
» Did you vote? >> Yes.
» Okay. Um, so four one. Uh, motion carries. Um, so that is that on the
50-year plan and ordinance 927. I want to thank you Lori and Cru for all
your help and work on this for several years. uh Beth and and appreciate all
your help. So hopefully now we'll make sure it works well. Okay, we're done
there. If they want to come back in, Marty's out in the hall.
Okay, now we're on to new business. Um St. Helens to Scapoo Trail Refinement
Project feasibility study. uh community development director Lori Joseph with
her report. >> Thank you, mayor and council. Uh so
tonight I'm just bringing you uh really an update on this project. It um
actually got kicked off last December. We've had a few uh project management
meetings. Um and just uh as a reminder, it was back in uh June 23rd, 2024 that
city council first approved the resolution. uh which allowed Scapus to
enter into an IGA with St. Helens to coordinate on this project. Uh the city
has already paid their match for this grant. Um and so the purpose really was
uh there were some questions that ODOT leadership received about feasibility
and cost effectiveness. There was a slight pause uh while information was
gathered um to resolve this and just to get early kind of touch points and buyin
from council um here in Scapus as well as in St. Helens and the county board of
commissioners. Uh ODOT chose to incorporate this feasibility study at
the beginning of the project kind of moved it up in the process um as part of
task three. And so the purpose of the preliminary feasibility assessment
really is to identify any uh uh well first of all to identify potential
alignments for the path. Um you'll notice as you look through the packet
that the uh trail alignment is is divided into three different segments
with three different um alternative options for the trail alignment within
each of those segments. Um once those potential alignments were
um evalu were discussed um they evaluated the feasibility of each of
those potential alignments. The initial screening does show that
feasible options for a path exist. And then just a note that the evaluation
in this report uh relies on available data does not yet include any uh
community input or coordination with uh interested parties such as maybe some of
the private um property owners that this could affect.
that input will be conducted at a later later stage in this project to confirm
feasibility um and inform the selection of the preferred path alternative.
Uh, additionally, the consultant team conducted brief case studies to identify
and then summarize the approaches that some other similar paths uh have used to
address similar key challenges such as in our case uh this is going to traverse
wetlands uh private property railroad coordination. There is some flood plane
as well. Um, and that information is included in appendix A, which uh which
is in your packets. And so, ODOT asks that the preliminary
feasibility study be shared with council and that any major concerns are
identified now before any additional planning work continues.
And then uh as stated by ODOT, all of the funding to complete this uh planning
does remain in place and all other existing tasks would continue to move
forward um once ODOT hears back from um Scapus and St. Helen City Councils and
Columbia County Board of Commissioners. And so you'll see in figure uh four
within the feasibility study that the trail route again you have three
different segments three different potential uh trail alignments within
those for our segment which is the southern segment three. Um the
discussion on that starts on page 102 of your packet. There is a map of the
potential alignments on uh page 103. Um again there is an actual table that
kind of grades and lists um each of the concerns that are identified. That table
is on a uh page 115. And then for scapuse uh which again is
trail segment three alternative B and C trail alignments uh are both emerging as
promising options. we um the consultant team is not seeing any fatal flaws uh
with with those alignments at this stage.
And so um once in terms of finalizing the trail alignments, that's going to
involve uh a site visit which we will also open up to our uh public advisory
committee and technical advisory committee members. It will also include
utility rail and property owner coordination
uh partner review and refinement. Uh we'll be working closely with the rail
as well. Uh we will have public engagement. So that definitely we want
that public input [clears throat] before the preferred alternative is
selected and then further evaluation um in terms
of getting a little bit more specific on that uh preferred alignment. So looking
at things such as uh you know right-of-way acquisition, physical space
constraints, any utility conflicts, safety, and then access to key
destinations along the proposed alignment.
So again, this is just included for for you all to to have a look at and then to
let me know of any concerns that that you have at this point or you know if
your feedback is this is great and exciting. Um happy to take that uh back
to to the team as well.
» Um quick question I have is kind of looking at it. I mean, would we then be
I know we paid a third of the matching. Would we be responsible basically for
the cost of our section? >> Yeah. And those discussions haven't
really occurred yet because this is um essentially what this results in is a
30% plan for construction of the preferred alternative. Right. So, it
doesn't include any type of construction funding at this at this stage. Um and I
think uh mayor that that would make sense that you know each jurisdiction
would share in the cost of development. Um
I would say if it's outside of you know rugg
um that would be a good case for that would more be on the county side of
things. Uh but those discussions haven't actually taken place yet. I anecdotally
have heard through the consultant um and through ODOT that there could be future
grant funding available for the actual construction piece
» and that total project cost of 405,000 that's a portion of it.
» The 405,000 is just to do this uh 30% design.
Uh Lori, um yes, first first I'm delighted to see this moving forward.
» Yeah. >> Um and uh it's been a long time in
coming, but uh uh one of the questions I have is uh on page on 103 map. Um I I
assume you could you could mix and match option B and C in terms of a route
across more road and west lane. Um simply, you know, just from the
st viewpoint of a cyclinger. >> Yeah.
» I hate driving with a rail with a with a gravel trucks. Mhm.
» Um, and so, you know, I think, you know, either one of those would be would be
good if you I think it would better if you took took them off the the gravel
truck route. >> But I'll I'll make that comment later,
too. >> Okay. Perfect.
» Yep. >> Thank you.
» So, so you're just basically what what preference we A, B, or C. Correct.
That's >> not even that. um you know because we're
going to get more feedback as we um delve into the project a little bit more
and get community input etc. Um and so not not you know for this meeting it's
not about you know which which alignment you prefer. It's more do you have any
overall concerns with uh this whole thing moving forward in terms of just
completing the 30% design and and >> no I I I'm totally for the idea. I I
just if I was thinking of concern I was like trying to avoid the highway 30.
» Yeah. And I would I will say that um for each of the trail segments the first
option was just having having it on the 30 alignment. Um that is the fatal flaw
with all of them. It doesn't work because in most cases ODOT rightway
butts directly up against the rail rideway and so there really isn't uh a
great place to put a trail. Great. Okay. And then you said like for example
um alternative C that doesn't have already a road. So then we has to be
constructed. So this uh 405,000K that already estimated in all of the
options. >> So again that's just to do this planning
» that has nothing to do with construction. Um, appendix B was the
last item in that um, packet and that has the uh, costs. Yeah.
» And for Yeah. Alternative B and C actually they have essentially uh, at
the same cost. So either one is
» they look at moving the rail and using the rail line as a trail and moving the
rail somewhere else. >> No. [laughter] Wouldn't that be nice?
I've seen a lot of old railroad lines trails to trails, you know. [laughter]
» And can you not make a trail on top of the dyke? Can that be a trail? Can you
not pave the top of a dyke and not >> You could, but that's outside of the
project area. Yeah. >> Yeah. Right.
» Um, so I guess the biggest concern that I have on these types of projects is the
property owners willing to transact. Yes. There's no
legal authority to force them to do anything in these cases, is there?
» Um, you know, potential not to my knowledge and that's not
necessarily a direction we would want to go. The only thing I could think of is
like if they were to force an eminent domain or something and state that it's
for a public purpose, but I, you know, I don't know that that's really what
anyone's looking to do here. Um, and that's why it's going to be really
important to have those property owner conversations.
» And what do they make that a step more upfront before we put too much time
into? Okay. >> Yes. So we don't obviously we don't want
to present this um generally to the public to get their buy in until those
conversations have been had to know that you know these are still possibilities
in in the different routes that we're looking at.
» How does the immunity get triggered on things like this if something happens on
the trail? Maybe now is not the right time to ask this question, but I guess I
» from a property owner's perspective, that is one of the concerns that I would
have is if somebody sustains an injury. Well,
on their part of, you know, on their parole, the the part that passes
through. I mean, I would think that hopefully as a part of this, you know,
it it can either happen where the cities or county um can acquire the property.
Yeah. Or it's going to come through an easement. And so I guess I I'm not quite
certain what that looks like if Ben has any.
» Right. That would have to be reviewed by attorney recreation community should
apply to some extent if it's a city purpose or county purpose trail for
recreation purposes. Um, but yeah, we'd have to get official legal opinion on
that. >> I guess
to kind of firm that up, I am curious if it's if it's an easement, if that
immunity still applies or does the government entity have to own
the dirt to >> Yeah. Yeah, like I said, we need to
follow up on that, but if it's a citybuilt and maintained
uh facility, it's usually even with an easement, just like you're leasing
property, that would be a city's or county um infrastructure that it' be
viable for. >> I'm just flagging that because if you
approach me, that'd be one of the questions that I would immediately have.
» That's a good question >> on that piece.
Thank you. No, I I No, I just I answered my own
question because I couldn't see. I didn't bring my glasses and I was just
wondering what >> Gotcha. I'm good.
» I think this is good. >> Appreciate this. And I like the having
the other options to go on and look and go out and check out these other trails
and see how they've worked. >> Right.
» Great. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Thanks, Lauren.
» Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, moving on to number five,
resolution now 2611, a resolution of the council of the city of Scapus
authorizing the city manager to make an application to the department of land
conservation and development transportation growth management PGM's
grant program to develop a downtown improvement plan. Community development
director Lori Joseph with the staff report on that as well.
» Thank you. Yes. Uh this continues to be a uh council priority to develop a
downtown improvement plan. We have identified a grant that would um fund
that plan. The grant is due this um this Friday and we did apply last year. We
scored well, but uh it is a very competitive process and our TSP was
funded but not the downtown plan. So, um, again, my my ask is that you would
approve resolution 2611, uh, which just gives, uh, city manager
Benjamin the ability to, uh, make application to DLCD for this grant.
» Thank you, >> uh, Mr. Mayor. Yes, couple.
» So, I know what this means, but just as a matter of putting it on the record for
clarity to you on uh one bait number 135 physical impact, it says none. It goes
on to say the grant request will be for 185,000 and there's no match require,
excuse me, there is a grant match requirement of 11.5 requested funds, but
we are matching that in in basically >> in
» labor and supplies. So, we're not actually going to be giving 21,275 in
cash. Correct. >> Thank you,
» Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you, Councelor Hogan.
» I move that council adopt resolution 26-07,
a resolution of the council of the city of Scapus authorizing the city manager
to make application to the department of land conservation development, TGM's
grant program to develop downtown improvement plan and sign all associated
documents, including the final grant agreement if awarded.
» Okay. Council, we we've it's 2611. Oh, I'm sorry. 2611. Correct.
» I have a motion by council having to move to adopt resolution 2611. Any
second? >> Second.
» Second by Miller. Any more discussion?
» Seeing none, all those in favor state by saying I.
» I. >> Okay.
» Opposed. Motion carried. Thank you. >> Thank you.
» So this be updated to this. >> Yes. resolution will be
number six. >> Did we put that on the record? The
correction. >> Yes. Um verbally.
» Yes, I'm put on the record. We did in the agenda. We've changed that.
Originally, it was resolution 2607, but it is correctly as 2611. So, on the
record, that's resolution 2611. Okay. Now, we're on to number six.
Ordinance 928, an ordinance amending Scapoo Municipal Code Chapter 13.22.
Uh we are at a public hearing and our first reading um storm water management.
So Chris, city manager Chris Nagelpa and we got
» you promoted.
[laughter] [snorts]
» No, not my book. Not my [laughter] notes. The engineer.
» So this [snorts] is just you. I see there's a big table, but this is city
engineer Chris Nagel with the staff report.
» Thank you, uh, mayor and council for, um, uh, allowing this to be on the
agenda for tonight. Um, this, um, council action is somewhat timely as
we're under a deadline to get this section of our stormwater code amended.
So, back in um just a little background, back in 2019,
um the DEEQ adopted a plan um that required agencies to um control mercury
um deposition uh in soil from running off into our
into local streams uh in the Wamut basin. And so, we're in that we're in
that basin. And um uh the the plan gave timelines for implementing certain
portions of the of the full requirement. And we're currently on item four on a
table of items that include six items. The first three we took care of with um
updates to our website, reporting on maintenance, things that we were already
doing. So those were fairly basic things that we were already doing. We just had
to document them. So we took care of that. Um this is this code amendment. Um
uh I'll just read from the staff report here. Um the report's called the final
revised Wamut Basin Mercury total maximum daily load plan. We call it the
TMDL. We'll call it the Mercury TMDL plan. And in our case, it's for cities
and populations under 10,000. There are different requirements for cities over
10,000 somewhat more stringent. They have a few
more things to to deal with. Um the pre the plan required phase implementation
of those requirements. The current phase requires establishment of an elicit
discharge detection and elimination prevention program by ordinance and that
we affectionately call the IDE prevention program. Um the exist
existing chapter 1322 um which we currently have establishes
the city storm water management utility and addresses administrative
administration charges billing collection appeals [clears throat]
account use um classification severability. However, the current
chapter contains limited language addressing water quality, listicid
connections and discharges, private storm water facilities, spill response,
inspections, remediation, monitoring, enforcement.
So to um there was a lot of things to incorporate in our code which were not
there. So to help streamline that process, we looked to other agencies
um that were similar in size. St. Helens is over 10,000. So they were required to
implement these things about a year ago. They've had some time to work through
the code. We looked at them. We seem to have some good model code for us. So we
use that as the as the base for the red line update to our chapter 1322.
And those things essentially added definitions
um some f additional findings and policy um public and private maintenance
responsibilities and then of course the water quality and
elicit um discharge prohibitions permit compliance bill remediation the other
things I mentioned earlier inspections and enforcement
um in order to meet those IDE requirements.
The amendment does not change any provisions regarding storm water rates.
Those are being kept the same. Um so our recommendation to council is
to approve the ordinance amending scapuse municipal code chapter 1322 as
presented. It's it's um attached in your packet says exhibit A. Everything that's
been changed is underlined and in red text so you can kind of page through and
see what things were added. Um it's um so
there any questions? >> Um yeah I what is um what is under
enforcement provisions? >> The enforcement provisions
» yeah what is that what do you define? >> Um will they're already have an
obligation to do like private property owners are already required to do
maintenance on their storm facilities. This would allow us uh an enforcement
tool um uh to that. Um it it it identifies
the a V amount which previously we didn't have for that was storm water
specific. Um it names the
um uh right now the enforcement will be through our nuisance code. So it
references that code essentially. So we'll be using other code. We may we
might provide more clarity um to this chapter in the future to have um
enforcement called out more specifically here but for now we're using our
existing code for that. Um the other thing is it identifies fines for elicit
discharge which we don't really have identified. Traditionally that would
have been handled through the DEEQ. We would have notified them and then they
would they would investigate and issue some enforcement action.
» Okay. Thank you. One question I have is um kind of modeling it after St. Helens.
You did say they're over 10,000. Um so are we using their old plan? I mean
is it more stringent? I mean are we we're still at the under 10,000 planning
phase? >> They're um they're essentially
I mean with regard to this it's essentially the same. will be meeting
the same standard as they are.
» Do we have resources to enforce this? Those those um those issues are in
discussion. We currently do not. Well, we do through
our code enforcement officer. And so that's that's how this that's how it
will um there's some additional updates that we'll be doing that are
required to be done over the next few years that will that will require um
more routine inspections similar to what the DQ requires for um construction
store 1200 C if you're familiar with that. We we don't necessarily have all
the resources in place for that but we've got some years to figure it out.
Uh Chris, what what's what's our history of testing for mercury in the community
uh storm water? >> We don't have any we don't have any
history of that >> any historical testing at all
» and and I don't believe the DQ actually tested in our reach of
» I noticed that on their on their chart. They just nothing close to us. But we we
have no testing of mercury in our >> we've done testing over the years on
channel and wastewater effluent. That's the
» Okay. So, we have gotten the test out of our upload to the channel. Yeah. Okay.
» I did I did make that suggestion that we do some, you know, analytics that go
along with this and the temperature because we have a temperature TML we're
having to write code for. Um that we would, you know, do some testing um at
South Scampoo Creek coming into the city and then as it leaves the city. Good.
» Because that would give us some really good baseline data to know if we're
making progress. Um and possibly to somewhat um you know
reduce the burden on the city if they're like you know you know making steps to
um make things better or if there's just no change essentially. But the DQ wants
all of these things implemented regardless of those levels.
» Good. >> But I I do agree that that some testing
would be good. >> Yeah. And we have been in discussions
with the Scapus Bay Watershed Council executive director to do some testing.
And so um we would probably do that um you know over the next few years just to
get some baseline data. I think that would be a great idea.
» Okay. >> And if we're found to be over the
limits, what are the mitigation steps that can be taken? Well, we're not
really we're not really over a limit. Although we don't know, right? Because
we could be there could be stuff coming to us that I don't think anything from
Scapus is causing an issue, but we could have waters coming to us that are
because it's that basin is in a heavily logged area. And so basically what
you're trying to do is control erosion and sediment
uh because that transports mercury. So in so much as we can control um you know
sediment loading in the creek then we'll then we should see you know we shouldn't
see a problem here. Um you know even during high storm events
we don't get a lot of erosion in the creek which is kind of good news. I
think we we try to obviously those sources
from within the city are he heavily regulated you know as as projects get
developed they have you know strict controls over runoff.
Um if we do find levels that are elevated um we would certainly discuss
that with the DEQ. So right now I think that they're
probably non-detectable because again it's all related to
sediment transport. >> Yeah, I I I would guess that they're
probably more likely in south north scapulas creek and south scapulas creek
because of the whole rail activities and development up the up the canyon and
» right with that.
» So um just so did you get your answer did he answer your question? Well, it
sounds like the city wouldn't be obligated to do a lot of extraordinary
mitigation efforts if we had higher levels.
» Yeah, we're already doing essentially we're already kind of doing all of these
things anyway. We're just not it's just not being um documented. I mean,
everything down to an acre is being managed ex, you know, how this code is
written. Um we're just regulating it now down to a half an acre.
» Okay. And so it's it's just more it's just a more stringent, you know, so now
it's getting regulated down to smaller developments which essentially are
already doing these these things anyway. So it's more of a documentation
exercise. >> So did you say we're not documented or
we will document? >> We would under this you're sort of
having to document and >> Okay. So Okay, good. That's okay. Great.
» Yeah. So, it's just more I mean, these things are happening, but they're more
they're just, you know, people are observing if activities
um might cause an issue and they're making contractors correct those issues,
» okay, >> in the field. They're not like writing
it in a log book. This this would essentially require that and then and
then reporting back to the DQ on failures and and you know, and reporting
on the remediation. Yeah, I guess I guess what when uh councelor Holmes
asked that question, I also thought like who who would be responsible who you
know obviously investigation who who pays for what if something happens if
something bad happens or we get the water gets contaminated you know
who's at fault and so we do have processes in place for those and that's
what this ordinance about right >> yes and the and the enforcement piece
would um there's a there's fines And then there's also whatever costs are
related to cleaning up those elicit discharges because it could be many
other things too, you know, >> and that would be your department,
Chris. >> We would have code enforcement handle
the enforcement and then it would go through the court system for the fines.
» Court system. Okay. >> Yeah.
» Thank you. >> We need to
» Yeah. Let me add uh first this is a public hearing. So if there's no more
questions, I will open up a public hearing.
Anybody has any comments or anything public
» and online? >> Nope. Okay, we will close the public
hearing. Uh my question then is kind of looking at this as being a first
reading, second reading. Is this like normal Ben where we will do a a motion
and a second and then stop and come back and read it, finish it at the next
meeting? >> Yeah.
um not an emergency type where you have the
30 days you're talking about time. >> Mr. Mayor,
» yes, Council President Miller, >> I move that council approve ordinance or
we are still making the first motion though, right? Yeah. Okay. I move that
council approve ordinance number 928 amending Scapus Municipal Code Chapter
13.22 storm water management.
» Have a motion by council president Miller to approve ordinance 928 amending
scapoo municipal code 13.22 22 storm water management as presented. Any
second? >> Second.
» Second, Marquee. Council Marquee. Okay, we'll leave it there as a first reading
and we'll come back to the next meeting and discuss further take a vote.
» Thank you very much, Chris. >> Thank you.
» Thank you, Mr. City Manager. [laughter] [clears throat]
» Besides uh asking about the bioolids, we're here for change order Keith Road.
Um we're joined today by public works director Kevin Turner and the contract
administrator Matia Malberg with the staff report on the change order.
» Good evening, mayor and council. Uh we're here to discuss the change order
tonight and Matia has been doing a great job with contracting and tracking and
development of those. So she's going to go over tonight's change order and then
I'll be available for any questions you have on those projects.
» Good evening. Um, so this project has been going on since 2024 and we are in
the final wrap-up stages. Um, there's a lot of detail within that staff report
and I can certainly dive into that. Um, but I figured I'd just give you guys
kind of an overview of what's happened. Um, so since the contract was signed uh,
August 24 21st of 2024, there's been six approved change orders. Those are listed
out within that staff uh report and they detail the amount of those um and what
they were for. Combined, the total for those six change orders is just
$12,889.92.
This proposed change order, which is number seven, includes the completion of
waterline work at depths greater than depicted on the contract drawings,
resulting in additional time, labor, equipment, materials, and fees. And the
proposed cost of this change order is $35,10014151.
Stop is requesting changing the total not to exceed amount to 8,897,889.92
to cover the currently requested changes from MEI and any unforeseen additional
changes that should arise during the completion of this project. While there
are no anticipated future change orders in these final stages, staff is also
requesting that city manager Bergner be authorized to execute any additional
change orders up to his limit to ensure the timely completion of the project.
The council approve approved a special works
fund loan on November 18th of 2024 with resolution 2417
for the amount of $2.95 million. Remaining funds currently sit at
$955,843.
The estimated remaining amount to be invoiced, which does include this change
order request from MEI, is $439,60.72.
So staff is recommending that council approve authorizing city manager Bergner
a not to exceed budget of 8,89789.92
for me an authorization to execute any additional change orders within his
limit for the purpose of completing the keys reservoir project.
» Is this within your limit now? I mean >> normally to 35,000.
» Yes, it would have normally. My my limit is 75, but because the prior agreement
had a limit of a a total $8 million flush project, it it really falls into
that approval. Um so yeah, it's typically I mean we talked about this at
the prior meeting um and the way we're looking at maybe adjusting the
procurement in the in the future would be to have that similar to where you
have the overall project but then on small ones we can you know on a on a $9
million project 50,75 is not really a whole lot um compared to the rest of the
project and it's very possible to hit those and change orders. We hope they
don't. This one has stayed pretty low relatively to the rest of the project
only at just over 40,000 uh for the total of the project thus far
and that's all we're anticipating at this point. But it does um yeah where
normally we could adjust or approve these because of the way we've
structured this in the past. We have to come back for a smaller approval.
» Does um is this about done? I mean we we are we using it yet?
» We're not using it yet but the reservoir is full. Uh we're waiting on telemetry
connections and a valve swap on the exterior new reservoir.
» So will it be used in September, October? I mean if
» Oh yeah, we're we're just a few weeks away from completion.
» Really drowning season. Um and no, we still have money available on the loan.
How it reads? >> That's correct.
event. And were these changes done uh requested by the city or were they all
changes uh done by the contractor requ that they needed to make these changes?
» The contractor is construction project. There's always changes to it. The
biggest one was the the depth of the pipe. The main cluster of valves was
additional 10 ft. They started getting into that around January. So there's a
lot of dewatering and just mud they had to deal with to get to that.
Did they anticipate or put it part of the proposal? Did or was that part
» it was labeled wrong. It was identified at a wrong depth in in the proposal. The
proposal the old plans from whenever that was built were not accurate.
» So So Kevin, so who was who was responsible for the inaccuracy?
The contractor. >> I guess it would be the original plans
and I don't know the date of that. 78 I believe. So th those plans didn't match
the depth when they did their calculations,
» right? So can we recover anything from that that contract for for for this
error? >> You know, I I don't know if there was
additional soil brought on after the fact that changed those depths. I I
don't have that information. And in these larger projects, it's very common
to not I mean, even the best engineers try to do their best they can while
they're creating these. But when you get on the project in person, there's always
on-site unknowns that weren't identified because it's under the ground. We just
have no clue what's there or it was maybe years of dirt that have
accumulated or there's so many different I you said 70 1970 something.
future reference. Can we build that into our contracts so that we that the
contractor eats this? >> It it all depends on if it's really a
fault of theirs or a fault of ours um or it's just an unknown and no party knew
about it typically. So, for example, we had a um a [clears throat] valve that
needed to be replaced that we were looking at a change over of 180
» $180,000 >> $180,000. As we went through that, we
found out there was an error on the um that there was a separate error that was
actually on the the contractor's side. And so we were able to recover that and
say, "Hey, this was your error." And so they went down and fixed and it was a
separate thing that actually caused the issue. It wasn't what we had originally
thought, but it it did um save the city an $180,000 change order because we were
able to identify that. So we do that quite often if it is clearly their
fault. um something that they did that they should have known or that it was
because of their own actions, we can usually recover those. It's just really
when it comes down to the unknown of plans from the city side or um a
contract from 1970 that's pretty hard to recover 40 years
later who really is at fault on that one. It's just unknown.
» So I I have a sorry something to clarify. So the the engineering plans
were done in the 70s. Is am I hearing that correctly? Okay, that portion of
the plant is 1978 I believe 7778. >> I add too that had had the contractor
known that there was the additional depth of the piping they just their
contract value originally would have been more anyway essentially what you're
seeing I mean what might have been slightly
less but they would have accounted for that.
» So is this below the new reservoir or this below the building? Is this below
the old reservoir? >> It's in between the building and the
reservoir. It's the main valve cluster that valves the processed water to the 3
million gallon reservoir or the 2 million gallon reservoir.
And these were part of the engineering plans for the new reservoir that were
done in the 70s. Yes, those original elevations were taken from those plans
and then those current project plans weren't made
in the 70s, but the information they got >> were from the plans that were left in
the 70s. >> The original plans and they don't dig
down to get those depths for the new plans. They go off the old plans and
sometimes >> those aren't updated. I mean, these days
we do a better job of making changes. if there was something they ran into back
then, they had to change the elevation in the field and that didn't get updated
to the plan. That happens occasionally. >> Okay.
» In terms of the reference to the authorizing the city manager um uh to
just prove the change orders up to the limit, could we make it I think this
could be read one of two ways. It could be read that in total the change orders
could sum up to 75,000 or for each request as long as it's under 75,000.
» I I would dictate totality would be within that. I mean that would be of the
project. I wouldn't be able to do individual for something like this.
That's how I'd recommend doing it since it is such a big project. It just be for
the small oneoffs or you know if we need to do something quick that at least
gives us that flexibility. But anything above and beyond that we'd have to or
after several that we have to bring it back to the council and obviously give
them an update and explain next route from there.
» Yeah. And I would be comfortable with that because if you look at all seven
change orders, they still don't up to 75,000. So I think that is a a good way
to proceed efficiently. But we'll just should make that clear.
» And there's no realistic way we get MEI to eat this.
Well, >> it's not really MEI's issue.
» Yeah. >> That it's just something they had to
deal with. >> Well, right. But they have they they bid
on a not to exceed mount and then you have the change orders which are are we
already passed. But then this is something new. I a company should
anticipate those kinds of things when they when they make a bid on a not to
exceed project. That that was that was my point is
» sure any way we can get them to eat that. Well, it does depend on what the
contract language says, too. I'm sure there's there is some caveats built into
that, but without knowing what that is, I you know,
» no, that that was my question. So, there is no way we can we can carve that out.
» No, not I mean there there's no identified their fault issue difference
in the plan. They have to put more money in than they anticipated. They didn't
have good information from us in the first place to bid appropriately.
» They made it based on the plans we gave them. They don't dig down and find out
where. So, we If we had told them 10 feet lower, they would have bid $35,000
higher. If >> it was a couple feet off, I'm sure that
would have happened. But okay, >> this is pretty significant.
» But then I mean maybe your question stems around what type of contingency
was originally built into the contract and have they run through their
contingency? >> I'm I'm not sure on that one. That would
be >> um to my knowledge, they haven't um run
through their contingency at all. Even to this day, we haven't even reached uh
reached the full amount that they have to bill yet. So, even with this change
order, we're still um well, minus the change order, we still haven't reached
that not to exceed. That makes sense. Sorry.
» So, there's still a possibility that it could be under
» Yeah, there's still a possibility we could be under that amount. Okay.
» But just not having them fully build us yet. You're asking for about a 50,000
increase to the not to exceed order. About what it is 7,000 52,000.
» Uh I believe it's about like Yeah, that's about right. A little bit under.
» Mr. Mayor, >> Council President Miller,
» I move that council authorize city manager Bergener to not to exceed budget
of 8,89 or excuse me 8,897,8892
cents for MEI and authorization to execute any additional change orders
within his limit for the purpose of completing the Keys
reservoir project. Do we need to add some clarification? That's a total of
75,000 for all the change orders. >> Okay. Thank you.
» I have a motion by council president Miller to approve authorize city manager
bringer to not to exceed budget of 8,897,889
to 92 cents for me and authorization to execute any additional change orders
within his limits for the purpose of completing the Keys
Reservoir project. >> Any second? Second.
» Second by councelor Hogan. Any more discussion?
Seeing none, all those in favor say by saying I. I.
» Opposed. Motion carries. Appreciate it. >> Thank you.
» Thank you. >> Okay. Um, now we're on to our 2026 to
2028 LOC legislative priorities. City manager Van Ber with the staff report.
» Awesome. Thank you. Um, and before I start that, Tia, Kevin, Chris, thank you
for your time. And Lori earlier for everything that you guys have done, put
a lot of time into everything that you you do and all these.
» And I should add really quick, too, it's the reservoir is looking really good. We
some of us drive by it, you know, several times daily, and it looks very
nice. Thank you. I've still just I'd love to have it wrapped with trees
paint, you know, paint re, you know, I'll show you several on the map that
we'll get a class up there painting it or some mural group or something with
wrap it with green trees.
» That's a great idea. >> Maybe an urban renewal project.
» Yeah, some trees up there. [laughter and clears throat]
» Thank you very much. Real quick.
» All right. Um so League of Oregon Cities uh priority list each every other year
the League of Oregon Cities sends out a member voting guide detailing 20 well
this year it's 27 different legislative uh policy priorities. These 27
priorities were created by seven legal Oregon city policy committees that
consist of city officials throughout the state of Oregon. Um we do have a
deadline to respond uh within by September 25th. So, we don't have to
have an answer today. We could um make final answers by the next council
meeting if we wanted to. However, I'll leave that with the council if there is
clear direction or if we want to do uh votes offline and bring it back with a
summary of the votes. Uh the the purpose of today's meeting or agenda item is
mostly to discuss or have the each council member have the opportunity to
discuss anything that they saw on there that they should want to note for each
council member to consider that they feel might be of importance. Um the goal
here in the end of today either today and next time or just today is to come
up with five top priorities that the council would like to send on to the
legal Oregon cities. They take these top five five priorities that you submit and
they assemble those with all the rest of the priorities from the other cities
that submit and they use that to uh create their own priority list when they
go to do lobbying at the state legislature of really where they want to
focus most their attention on. Um so yeah, just because we submit the five
doesn't mean those will be their top five, but it gives us a chance to be
part of that process and to help identify where we feel they should do.
Another thing I want to accomplish that we didn't do last time that would be
helpful is to go through each of the priorities or at least identify if
there's any priorities you don't feel we should have as um just for me. So if the
league organ cities reaches out and asks us to provide support for against
something I know where the council's opinion is on that so I could jump in
and provide that on behalf of the city. um even beyond the top five just so we
kind of know a yay or nay or for this or against this support this or not. Um
that way it gives me direction separate from this of how to work through the
legislative s session. Any questions?
» I mean >> they there is a lot of good stuff in
there. Um yeah some context in this I served on
two of the league's seven committees uh and uh and there was a lot of contention
you know among throughout Oregon so um u this is important you know so I my
suggestion at this point is to for us to each ruminate on the ones that are
articulated here and there were actually quite a few more beyond that that didn't
make the list um and then rank them you know for like like Ben suggested
Um and then maybe we each score our top five and then the next meeting we can
kind of coales and see where where we have agreement where we where we make
some have a consensus on. I think that's probably the one of the more efficient
ways after committ after hours and hours on these committees. Um it's uh you you
can't do that in you can't do this in in in 20 minutes or an hour.
» Absolutely. The reason that's what we did last year and the reason I brought
this ahead of time was I felt it it might be and maybe it's not necessary an
opportunity for you to be able to at least have a discussion before votes are
done. >> Yeah.
» Guess your own way to lobby for what you think is most important before people
vote for it. >> But yeah, that's my suggestion. We we
each go through this list and we send our our amalgamation to you, right?
» And then at the next meeting and we have sill time by the 25th,
» right? Um then then we come up as as a consensus of our five top five,
» right? >> Hey Ben, do you can you remind us what
we voted for last year and where we um where did LLC um
you know what did they uh actually achieve with those?
» I can get back to you on that. I don't have those present. Um
the accurate information >> that would be helpful.
» Yeah, I can send that out after the meeting. So if we had discussed a little
bit quickly about them and and and um and then maybe send you our top five
» and then you can kind of give numbers and if all of us said one of them then
we know we all are passionate about that but then at the next meeting we can kind
of fine and come up. How many do you want to submit to the LLC?
» We we can only do top five to them but I mean we can have as many.
» Yeah. If you submit top five and you see three of them were unanimous, then
you'll know if they've for letters of support or questions and you know how we
feel. >> Um, [clears throat]
I'll just kind of start. I mean, they're all good. The ones that I've heard a lot
of, you know, I'm on a on a um on a task force right now about e uh
energy transmission capacity. And you know, that's a big one for us is just
that the transmission itself. We got a lot of issues with power lines and stuff
and I know it's it's all around the state. Um so I to me that's an important
one I'd like to kind of look into more um that directly affecting me because
I'm having to do meetings and stuff with it.
What I had uh and you know we do public meeting law clarity seems to come up a
lot and and kind of changing in the importance of it. So, I'm always wanting
to make sure we're above board and and we're on we know any changes they make
or recommendations. Um, so that's kind of a a big one that I
hear a lot about. And then infrastructure funding, loving
to be able to like those direct funding we got on ARPA dollars or money that we
could just use for our own decisions. It's really good to be able to have some
money for our water and our storm water and our wastewater facility.
» Well, for me, it's almost on topics that that we're struggling with statewide,
which is and sometimes country, you know, the country, but uh I know
transportation we're struggling with, excuse me, dollars are being taken away
from like ODOT. So, um and then workforce workforce development. So to
me that's, you know, most of what I do and see it every day. So
» I know on the transportation, they almost passed that emergency tax bill
[clears throat] in the middle of the session. I mean, it's it's a big deal
out there. We may not see it dayto day on our own, but it's if you read about
it, it sounds like they're broke and need definite fixing.
» I think land use street lining will be not all the time, but it's total mess.
Yeah, we've always heard that Oregon's land use laws are really complex and
hard
» especially if she's trying to get us to build a lot of housing.
» Um, but they aren't giving you the tools to have it done.
» Yeah. AI too, >> the cyber security
complex. We have citizens, you know, are literally cutting down, destroying
uh it's reached the point where the company itself is actually backtracking
kind of damage public relation. So I think this would be a prime
to uh to implement some sort of consistent coherent idea
what they do how they do it how they it's getting
some sort of leadership
I guess I'll share my thoughts first of all I'm a bit disappoint appointed that
there's not more meaningful ideas around tax reform.
» That's my big [laughter] >> like where are the long-term meaningful
solutions? So, um but uh more positively the the things that really stood out to
me, the public meeting law clarity. Um, I remember going through the public uh
was it the Oregon Ethics Committee training that we're all required to and
to do and um, you know, some of the the newer reforms I think discourage people
from public service. There were people on like planning committees and
different jurisdictions who were like this isn't worth it to me to be
personally liable, right? So, I think that's a really important one. I think
the land availability and land use streamlining is also really important.
And then my other three really revolve around energy. The energy resilience
disaster planning support expedited local renewable energy generation and
support increased energy transmission. I think these are some of the biggest
constraints for uh economic development um and risk for communities.
» Some of these to me look like they're not real obtainable. So,
um, I would, you know, reading through these, it's, I mean, these all sound
great, but I think we also need to be realistic on I would rather see LOC put
their time into things that are likely to be obtainable than
um, picking things and trying to spearhead things that are a waste of
time, basically. >> Or they need to stand out right off the
bat. I think start >> um, I just kind of skimmed over.
It's kind of funny just listening to everybody because, you know, based on
their experience and what committees they're involved in, you know, the
that's kind of their wheelhouse and so they kind of,
» no pun intended, flock to those >> those topics. So, um, you know, like the
emergency communication system one stands out to me because of my
background and being on the 901 board and understanding, you know, the lack of
funding for, um, those systems that, you know, every
10 years they're basically outdated. So, um, I don't I would like to take a
strong a more in-depth look at these, but
» yeah, I would maybe vote on your top five in order of of employees and it is
funny. there isn't anything on policing or safety or really um specifically I
mean and then the taxation is the big one I I they've even kind of said it's
just too big for them to to but you got to start somewhere if there is an issue
and everyone says there is why can't you at least start a you don't have to solve
it in the one year but you can start getting people at the table and
» and it is the biggest issue that impacts us so I agree with too big for LOC to
tackle who's going to tackle it?
» But but that's the thing is, you know, these five are important because because
we're, you know, those those are going to be the focus of the lobbying effort
on on the legislature in the next legislative session. So, you know, if we
if we can have our input and it aligns with 75 or 80% of the other communities,
then we've got a much more forceful argument. Um, and so, you know, putting
some thought into those, you know, because I I I've got eight or 10 that
I'd really like to see there, but I know it has to be, you know, down to five.
And so, I think that's where we have to think about this and I I like this this
kind of Ben's suggestion of just having a spreadsheet and and list them, you
know, this one. Yes. You know, so, you know, that kind
of thumbs up approach. And I think when we we melt together just from market
listening the conversation I think there's three or four or at least two or
three we all we all are going to agree on.
» You look up last year's they went or two years ago they went and they fought for
five things and be interesting to see what they are. One of them was the tax
on hotels being able cities have more ability to do that. They kind of died in
committee and and one was a transportation one. So you kind of see
what they fought for and which ones didn't get out of committee and which
ones they got. They won some things. The recreation immunity one was a big one,
» right? And they don't just focus on the top five. That's just kind of gives them
their main priority, but they they do lobby for the rest of them as well as
they come up. You know, they did have some success and they and we had um
Patty do a presentation um or some from the organization show
what they had done and what they had accomplished out of those. A couple of
considerations for that staff. I haven't got it from all the directors yet, but
they had mentioned um as notable the maintaining the local control of a safe
and modern rideway. So that affects like our franchise agreements taking away our
ability to charge on those. Uh telecommunications has been a huge one
nationwide that has been trying to fight that. Um, but it is our right away, our
land, and the goal, I guess, is there's those who are trying to take away that
ability for us to have franchise agreements or the ability to um
control those as much take away some of that.
» I have a question. Uh, am I understanding correctly that you're
going to send something out and have us vote?
» Yep. I'm just giving considerations for thoughts and then we were gonna Yeah,
we're going to do the one through five. I'm going to tally them together and
then we'll have additional discussion next time. So would it be um realistic
with your time to also just put I don't know if you want to do like a graded
assessment on what you think the likelihood of I mean I want to spend I
want to make a recommendation for them to use their time wisely on something
that's going to return something that is actually
I want to I want to advocate for something that's achievable. So yeah, I
could I could maybe give a little bit of that input of if it's a near-term or
long term. You know, for example, you mentioned about the taxation um wanting
that in there some of the issues. So the legal organities is going through a
process for that. However, for the actual legislative session, they're very
limited because it's a charter amendment they have to go through. So it's a
voter, it has to go out to the voters. So when they actually are going to do
something, they want to send that out and knowing that the states voters are
going to approve it, not just try to get the legislation behind it because they
can't do a whole lot with it at maybe just that session. Then maybe they could
have some type of adjustments. I don't know the limits of that, but I do know
they are um bound. It's pretty difficult on that one
because it is in the state charter of how that is working with those taxes.
But yeah, I I could um a lot of them I may not know uh if it's
I mean some of these I don't deal with directly. So as you might have to make
your own decision on that. Um yeah, so and I can send out the rest with the the
staff as well just kind of showing where those are at. Oh, we'll go through that
next time. The other one that really stood out um well I'll just name them
the ones that they put down. So the rightway the cyber security proficiency
the public meeting laws. So a lot of what you guys had mentioned already um
there was a mention of the shelter and homeless response full funding and
streamlining for housing production and land availability. So all three of the
housing land use ones their support for several of the energy and environment
committee. Obviously we have a um transmission issue in our county and
that affects the businesses that come into town or the ability to give them
electricity. So that was mentioned. Emergency communication system resource
was mentioned. uh the autonomous vehicles cautious adoption and
infrastructure funding were the the ones that they had identified and and like
you said it is interesting because the response I got from them were within
their own wheelhouse as well. I mean, you have public works looking at public
works stuff, planning, look at planning stuff. Um, I think there's a lot of good
stuff in here. It's just ultimately what you want to submit.
» That's good. I wouldn't really thought much about modern right away, but then
when you see that it's also the revenue derived from the use of that and that's
good to hear that that does affect us directly.
» Right. Well, our biggest challenge is funding. Is that an accurate statement
for all the cities? Really, all the smaller cities basically
» usually um unfunded mandates which goes back to funding. We mentioned that with
the the storm water today, they make new regulations. Do we have the people who
can actually enforce it? Um yeah, infrastructure control. A lot of the
things that hit us are around funding or the ability to
um to get their >> other than the public meetings law is
not funding one >> and power for us
» transmission. It's funding for the PUB they need, but it is what gets in the
way of it because talking to the PUD, I mean, it's $20 million plus if they get
Bonavville to actually support systemwide, this will be a big hit for
our county that we'd have to um deal with. So,
» all these probably kind of go back to funding except public meetings, but
it's, you know, shelter and homeless and the funding for that, the revenue from
alcohol, that's revenue. the local, you know, the rightway. I mean, all these
kind of come back to a funding issue. >> Instead of addressing the tax,
how we tax, they want to do all these other little
» Okay. Any more? >> No. If there's any more discussion for
you, I just I just want to have the conversation. You guys had a chance to
just talk about them. Any questions you have about any of them, and then like
Yeah. So, if you just want to get me your top five, uh, just email them to me
in the next couple weeks. Read through those, ask me questions. Um, you could
go back and review the meeting or I can send out the results of their last time
with what five that we voted on last year. So, I'll send that out. Um, yeah.
» Has LC in their meetings. I have I haven't attended the last one. Um, have
they presented and said, "Well, it seems like these are the ones that we can
actually, you know, um,
advocate for." and then that they seemed like they were a possibility to pass
um or anything like that like >> no they haven't I mean all these went
through the policy committees of what cities are facing um so they already
have some type they already have some poor direction that these are important
and have a direction that they want to support to move towards some of them may
be longer than others as far as timeline to get something done
um >> I just like to you I forgot her name um
she's the one that uh was talks about all the legislation or the update.
» No, the um >> I think sometimes uh does that as well?
I >> think she has like red hair.
» Oh, >> anyways, I think it'd be good to get her
opinion. Is it not Jessica? Is it >> I have a whole lobbying team. So, it
just depends on who came to that meeting.
» Can we reach out to them? >> Yeah, you guys can reach out
» by all means. >> Good. Thank you.
Okay, thank you. Uh, moving on. Uh, looking at cancelling the right after
Labor Day, September 8th, city council meeting. Anything pressing that we need
to we will be missing. Are we still good on
that? >> Okay, good.
» Caught up on this year plan. Everything good?
All right. Um, I guess we've stuck to voting on
that. Does anybody have a motion to cancel September 8th meeting?
» That is right after Labor Day. >> And with that, I mean, that means staff,
everybody has to get their reports in. Yeah.
» And um and and it's harder for us to look at a lot of notes if we're out of
town on the three-day weekends, and if there's nothing pressing, it costs money
every time we have a meeting. So, we've been doing pretty good right now. Um
definitely willing to go to two meetings and get the business done especially if
it starts to pick up as the year progressive progressive.
» Mr. Mayor, I move the we council on September. [clears throat]
» Councelor Han makes a motion to council the September 8, 2026 city council
meeting. Second by councelor Rayuda. Any more discussion? Seeing none, all those
in favor state by saying I. I >> oppose.
Carries. Thank you. Um, we're on to the calendar. August
17th. Okay. For the rest of the month, we do have still movies in the park the
last two Fridays in August and the Scaven Farmers Market 9 to 2 every
Saturday in August and September. Uh, looks like right now the next council
work session at 6:00 p.m. followed by council meeting at 7 p.m. on September
21st. That's it for the calendar update. City
manager Ben Bergen, any updates? >> Yeah. Um, just first of all, it's it's
always exciting um to work with the staff that we do have. Um, Kevin Turner
is here, the new public works director. He's really had a lot on his plate. He's
come over uh taken over that position just to see how he's already thriving
and the different things that we've been able to do since he has come in. Uh,
it's been really great to see. I hope the community has had a chance to go out
and see the progress of the playground that is being built. It looks really
good. Um, people have utilized the pickle ball temporary courts that we
have in there as well as the disc golf course that is all new within the last
month and a half. So, a lot of uh areas on the parks, a lot of infrastructure
upgrades and improvements. Uh, we're excited with the basalt well, actually
getting down to the basalt well, which is further than we've been before. They
will be getting that secured. Um then you get down to they're at 85ish
feet and then you get down to 800 a little over 820 to actually secure uh
the um the casing
water. Yeah. >> Not not yet. No, they need to get the
casing in there and secure it actually in the basalt layer before they're going
to drill down and actually look for the water um beyond that. So they've gotten
further than we were able to get in the past. It was really good to see that
progress cuz we got past all the major obstacles that we've hit. From this
point on, it's it's really drilling down and they're contract to go down to,200
ft. So, we've got a good room to go with that. Um hopefully we hit something in
less than that. But, uh we are excited to see that progress and moving forwards
along with the the water and the wastewater plants getting right at the
end of those and the the benefit they'll have to the community.
Um yeah, as far as uh other part uh just
you know it's always good to follow up on the you know it's unfortunate uh that
sometimes there's well recently a lot of public comment that attacks our police
department and I I do want to express my disagreement with the characterization
of our staff as well as the chief. I do fully support the police chief and his
staff for all they do. They're not perfect where they have imperfections
they improve on, but they're really good staff and they're providing a really
good service to our community. Um that, you know, easily it's easy to hone
in on individual imperfections, but it ignores the totality of their
performance and the contribution to our community and the city, including the
training and growth process that all employees go through as they learn their
jobs and and look to get better. Uh once again, I fully support them and I I
support our decisions and the associate promotions. We have done the best we can
with the resources we have and look forward to continue to provide the best
service possible to our community.
» I have a question, Ben. Were you familiar with the incident that um in
public comment that was mentioned in the public comments?
» Which one? >> Um the incident that that uh she
addressed >> with the firearm, I believe. the firearm
and >> and no that was the first time I I had
heard of that one >> or the accusation related to a firearm
that way since there >> exactly I'm just wondering what how much
truth or because you know this is it's public comment it's in the public and
people are going to hear what they want to hear but I also want to hear like
there's two sides to a story >> well yeah what what I want to say and I
don't want to get into personnel issues um and um the can of worms that that
brings. But when we do receive any public comment about anything new that
we have maybe not heard or we may already know, we do look into all of
those and if there's any adjustments, we do make those or do proper training for
that. We take all comments, whether from public comment or written comments uh
seriously. We take a look at all of them and review them. Doesn't mean we always
agree with all of everything that's done. doesn't mean that we do everything
they ask us to do because sometimes people misuse that process or they just
don't understand the process, but we do review every single one and if there is
any opportunity for growth, we always take a look at that and and we own up to
those and and change those uh where we we can or where it's feasible to do so.
» And and I know you do that. It's just um I think it it would help just if we're
more transparent with okay, we followed up and this is what we done. Not you
have to explain everything, but you have addressed it. So then we know because
then they they come and then they say, "Well, they never they never got back to
us. It was kind of put to the side and it was we were ignored." We just want to
know we want I for me I want to know both sides of the story.
» Council Shini, um I was going to talk about that, but
» Okay. >> Can I hold off and see if you're going
to say something? Once again, I want to be very careful with personnel related
experiences, >> right? Um, while there's a lot of
information people would like to know and it's fun to know, when it comes to
personnel, what I can say is we do take those serious. We'll look into them and
we will make any training or corrections if there is anything substantiated in
that. But we do not follow up on those because that would be addressing whether
there was personnel performance issues done or not.
» Um, which is a protected record. Um, but we do look into those and we do follow
up on them internally. >> I want you to state that further also
for the record. Thank you. >> Is it is it accurate to say that um her
statement that the person that was the citizen that was involved in that did we
receive a complaint? Can is there just that you don't have to go any further
than that. Just was there a complaint? >> Yes, there was.
» Okay. Thank you.
since you have the cach um chief luella. >> All right. Good afternoon, Mayor. Also,
counselors also those online who are watching us later on. So, first I want
to say congratulation to officer Jacob Cunningham. Um just graduated academy.
He's out here doing his FTO process. He graduated with over 90% at the academy
auto reference. So, good to him. Um thank you was choing at the bit to talk
about this but I won't go into more additional details to the um the grand
center but just ref comment and I give there first I'll start about towing um I
know it's been a big thing especially you post up on social media the RV a lot
of people think just because there's a municipal violation of a tow um that we
can tow it instantly that day a lot of people don't know and realize too though
that there's a municipal code it's title 04 4 280 that says we as a police
department if a vehicle is in violation of that chapter for park. We cannot tow
it unless there's two unpaid tickets. So that requires us as a police department
to cite that and each ticket usually takes about 30 days to go through the
court system. So about 60 days. There are some different additional RS's where
um if a person's driving, we stop them for like my hammer shirts and stuff like
that. You can tow their vehicle, but usually don't apply in the situation. um
reference about this um complaint that was received even before it was done
that complaint was reviewed already and generally speaking for us in police
department. When we do see a complaint at a certain seriousness, we have
software that I purchase so that we can track it. It has time stamps for
everything like that. usually comes to a first life supervisor in the situation
it did who reviews body warn camera have here and also for validity of those
complaints and this situation rank adds another self um another um level it goes
up to me as a supervisor as a chief and this situation I personally went out
there and talked to individual looked at their footage to compare I won't go into
details but some things were self-esteem that was talked about and then from
there in this particular situation Even though um there was no major um
issue that I particularly saw in a general level transparent without being
prompted, I reached out to another police department just double check and
look and get their input. So this is something I did. I do believe in
transparity and also policing oursel as law enforcement. And just one thing I
want to say about Detective Johnson, he's a fellow veteran. He's very
competent firearm. Um and we do hours of training throughout the year at Skeptics
Police Department for Firearms to include this week we're doing some fire
extreme partners at the St. Holmes Police Department. So there was no
issues from removing it. That was a tactical decision made from there. So
this is documented those type of situations. Um any additional go into
too much more details. Is there any additional questions on that?
» No, thank you for the record. >> Yep. Oh no problem. I mean people have a
right to and thank you same man for your comments too. People have a right as a
veter myself I believe in the first amendment like act reformation but they
have a right to say what they want in this in this country that's why I love
America and uh that being said unless there's no question
» yeah go ahead >> kind of going on the the something
they're towed I mean there's also opportunity that it might have to go to
a court and the court the judge may push it off I mean things can take months
because of other things not us I mean >> yes it's not that simple and everything
too from my experience also working my previous employer with the wash state
patrol people also have a right to a hearing now what happens if we were to
lose that we didn't follow the law particularly then the city of scapoo
pays the bill for towing fees which can require thousands of thousands of
dollars so that's why I want to make sure our department is following the
letter of the law so if there was some change that want to be made that's
something I'd like yes council president Miller
» so chief I just to summarize this I I mean you guys have a procedure that you
use for taking these things with a timeline that's prescribed. Correct. And
so if somebody comes in and doesn't like the the timeline that was given or a
date that was written on say a uh the orange tag the impound notice that was
prescribed by either our MUN code. We're not arbitrarily making up these dates
and the amount of time that they have to respond to these things. Correct.
» We're as a police department, we don't operate that way. I personally don't
know who owns the boat. I do like boats, but I don't know who that person is. And
uh with that being said, going forward um we continue to just follow um what's
outlined in the law >> from the summary of all this basically
is is that the procedure the community code the amount of time that somebody
has to respond to do something related to their vehicle was followed and that's
» correct. I recommend people also look at the municipal code too regarding when we
can end under that. And I think last but not least too as well is that uh you
know for us we continue to always improve our processes things such of
that nature obviously um but thank you for the opportunity to let me just kind
of explain that and there's additional questions but we document those things
and we take complaints seriously they may not be found or not. as well.
» And I I do want to reiterate on code enforcement. It has been a we've had
several comments or questions about that recently that and and we are looking at
how ways to maybe help uh the public better understand the process of that.
But >> um just to reiterate the process uh you
know people usually put in a complaint and some some you know typically want
that taken care of right away. um the way that we operate and the way that
state statute and city code works, if there is an uncompliant um person, it
can take time. So, we we typically try to reach out to give somebody the
benefit of the doubt, let them know that there's a violation, give them a chance,
the the ability to rectify themselves before it goes into a citation or
something else. Um just because a lot of people don't know where the code is. And
so just to notify them, hey, just let you know, you're outside of our code.
It's a violation to get that fixed. They get the opportunity to do so. If they
don't, that's where they have to follow up with more strict measures. Um, they
get those citations, uh, which typically end up with a court date, which could be
a month out or or more, but typically about a month, depending what happens in
court, can spread that out further. And and every single one of these situations
is so unique depending on the person, depending on the situation. the the
police department and the code enforcement tries their best to follow
the the process, but it can be a different timeline for something that
seemingly seems like the same process just because depending on what happens
through that process, uh depending on outside, you know, circumstances such,
like you said, um Mayor back is that if a a judge prescribes something else, it
can throw that off or or if there's an appeal or there's something else. Um,
and so what I want to really put on the record for for those looking at code
enforcements, you know, they we have a good code enforcement officer, a good
process, we're we are improving it, but it does take time for those who are not
looking to um to comply with that. So, um, and if I can too, not to be a dead
horse, but I think the reason I wasn't here when the law was made for the two
tickets, but I think it's designed to help give people a chance to comply. I
mean there's a lot of people their vehicle is their livelihood and we can
technically tow a vehicle just because your license your registration expired.
There's a lot of people who use that to commute and to bring food on the table
for their family. So there's both sides of the coin and I think obviously it
gets that 60 days then they're not planning to comply. So um that's another
reason I think it's a little bit drawn out there but something that council can
possibly change they wanted to future. So, I was going to make a comment during
my comment time about code enforcement because I have my own frustrations to be
candid about the code enforcement program and I can get into more detail
about that, but I'm wondering if some of it if not a lot of it is based on
this how long it takes to accomplish
something. I'm wondering if there's a way to link something because this is
public record. So, I'm wondering if we can
» if we can put on a page on the city's website basically the address or
location of a code enforcement activity and just the very generic nature and
what stage it's in. And then we can start because I think a lot of it is
just communication and and um transparency is not the right word
because we're not hiding anything, but it's just putting it's putting out there
a place where people can go to get informed about where something's at. But
I mean, I've made a code enforcement complaint about a residence that has
multiple code enforcement violations over a year ago, and I don't know that
anything was if it was even looked at. Um, and I have other examples, too. But
I do have I do have frustrations with our code enforcement program, and I hope
that we continue to improve that. But I think a big part of it is potentially um
the way that we educate the public about our uh pending code enforcement
violations and where we're at with the status of those things.
» Okay. All right. My one my one recommendation around that would be to
consider the person being put on a map. Um if especially if they're not overtly
being belligerent or you know if they're out of town or can't get a hold and they
end up with a citation it could become a public flogging type thing like oh
you're out of compliance. What the heck is going on? And people who normally
wouldn't know now you you're on this record publicly that people could use to
publicly >> well maybe attack. then maybe we limit
it to things that are visual that people can see with the eye because those are
the things that people are generally complaining about the most. I see your
point and I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt you. This is actually what I
was going to comment about during my time but since we were talking about
Yeah. Thank you. >> Um but yeah, I mean I don't Let's leave
it with this. If we can think about this and see if there's any way to do
something like that >> um and maybe have further conversations
about it later, I think that'd be great, >> right? And and way this one way to solve
that is just when people are curious, they can always call in and ask about it
and they can submit their own complaint as well and then they say, "Hey, we're
already working on that or they can get information or do obviously a public
records request." But um which would then get the opportunity to redact
anything that is um not supposed to be out there. But yeah, yeah, we we can
look at that. We're always looking to improve that process and appreciate any
feedback or ideas like that. Um, and we'll we'll respond obviously with any
potential concerns we may have with that and then come with a process that is
just hopefully better than what we had before. So,
» thank you. >> One thing I'm looking at is I mean I
think our code enforcement has evolved and growing here. I mean, before we
didn't have anybody then kind of a part-time and now we're going to
full-time and I think it would be nice to understand what code enforcement
meant. What is our codes? What are they looking for? I mean, I I agree. I don't
want to go out and necessarily ticket everybody right on right away for
everything. I like education. I like us to communicate and maybe by putting out
in the newsletter things we're looking for, things that are popping up as code
enforcement violations that we see ahead of time. So maybe you guys can work on
them ahead of time. And then again too, if I leave a basketball hoop out, I
don't want to be on some website. They came to me first and just said
something. I fix it right away. Now, if I don't or if I don't for a while and
then I I get it. But >> and not Yeah, not to counter, but I
think a lot of people are our community members do. There are some those that
are a little bit more difficult, need more attention, I would say, um to kind
of make that happen. And particularly certain things like when it comes to
weeds or grass being tall, there's some people in our community that unless law
enforcement talks to them, that's going to keep developing. You have to do it
seasonally. They go out there over and over again. I experienced that
personally here when working here in my capacity. So,
» and I trust that if safety fac if there's some safety involved, you're
going to step in sooner and run away. I mean, if if it's a safety issue,
» correct?
Um, let's go. Uh, Mr. Turner, public works director, since you're still here,
we have your report in the back. Is there anything real special you wanted
to give us an update of your department? Anything happening? If you do, you need
to come speak to the microphone.
» Couple projects we didn't mention tonight. I think the comm layback is
underway [clears throat] and then the recent um pavement overlay just down the
street. Those are successful projects happening and we always uh measure those
successes and also look at opportunities for improvement on future ones by doing
those. And those uh overlays were done by gas taxes. So, Right. [laughter]
» Right. >> Those signs will be up, too, if they're
not already. >> I've been seeing a lot of people at the
park lately. Um I even saw the workers were down there a week ago, Sunday,
working building stuff, and people are asking about bridges and and everything.
And and um with the overlay, I mean, is that still in the works, the possible
bridge that we were focusing on earlier? >> That one's in planning as well. And then
the Veterans Park North um plans are being approved and you guys are picking
it looked like you selected an outfit to >> archaeologist.
Yes. >> So that's all in pro it's all working.
» Great. >> Appreciate it. Thank you.
[clears throat] Uh student rep Michael your first meeting here. If there's
anything I know it's the middle of summer, not much happening. School's
about to begin shortly. Is there anything that you'd like to report or
give us an update on? >> I do have a couple things. Um, one,
during throughout the summer, there's been summer workouts at the school for
athletes who want to get a couple reps in at the gym or want to get more
agility stuff done on the field. That's been a really good help for athletes.
I've gone there a couple times myself and there's always been a large group of
people. Um last week or the week before I went to the school board meeting and
the biggest thing was um OP and Warren Elementary had new two
new principles appointed and they talked about that and also the
bond which they proposed three options for it and a lot of people were still
kind of skeptical about it and with you know summer ending fall sports
is starting to begin so more practice ices happened at the high school. That's
really about it. >> Thank you. I did hear I mean they're
really iffy on this bond at this time to get it on the November ballot. I'm sure
they really want to do it right and they don't want to rush through. So I I don't
know if there's meetings still happening to really make a final decision or if
they've announced anything. >> I'll segue off of Michael's comments
then. Um, yeah, the school district, my understanding is going to be on pause on
the bond and and I think there's a genuine interest in involving the city
in discussion. So hopefully that comes to fruition
sooner than later. Uh, but I don't think there's any reasonable way that that can
bond can be on the November ballot. That's not that's not possible. So, you
know, may maybe May next year, but I think we're g the
city's going to see a lot of interaction here with the school district hopefully.
But just a little elaboration on that. >> And I like to add on to, you know, the
summer workouts, the early morning workouts. I do want to give a shout out
to, you know, Joe Non and the staff there. I think that's why the school has
done so well in a lot of their athletics is their ability to really put in the
time and energy out of season before and after. And I think it's really helped a
lot of our student athletes and uh I've seen it over the years.
» And then then I've got a couple other things. First I want to publicly uh note
that I have complete confidence in Chief Luella and city manager Bergner. Uh you
know in contrast to other statements that have been made recently. So I just
want to publicly state that. Um and then also as as a courtesy I'd like to
explain why I voted no for the 50-year plan.
Um and uh courtesy to the staff which did a remarkably good job. The
volunteers at Northwest did a good job. They very good work. But I I could not
come to terms with the fact that we did not do a a comprehensive watershed
study. They should have driven the whole planning process and that was never
done. It wasn't addressed. It wasn't wasn't even considered. And I I don't I
couldn't understand how you could do a 50-year plan without addressing those
kind of environmental issues. Um and then secondly, uh I basically have three
reasons for for voting no. Uh the second one, I don't see we have an adequate
water supply, um at the present moment to to serve uh anticipated growth. And
so that's another uh another rationale for not expanding the UGB at this
particular moment. And then third, um we have a surplus of industrial property uh
that uh has an infrastructure already in we don't have to pay for. It's already
done. And reszoning some of that for residential property uh was not even
looked at. And so I had I had three serious issues with that plan. I voted
for it to begin with to to support it to to start the process. It didn't it
didn't turn out the way what I was visualizing. So that was my rationale.
It it does not it's not an affront to anybody. I have the greatest admiration
for the for the Echo Northwest staff and the volunteers that put a lot of hours
into this. So, I just wanted to publicly note that uh you provide a rationale as
a courtesy for for my no vote on that. Um, and then, uh, lastly, um, there's a
mug that, uh, Brad Bremer, the local potter, uh, he, he made two prototypes.
And so I'm going to pass this down and then I'll hopefully end up with Ben and
maybe Ben will secure some bunch of these so we can give them to various
people in milestones and in in their uh in their time with the city, city
councilors, planning commissioners, anybody or people that come guests that
come in uh to uh look at the SC community for business, you know, pro
prospective businesses. So, take a look at this and if you if you if you like
the looks of this and it's got the Scapaloo logo on it in the font, correct
font and I thought I did a really nice job and and then Ben can use that to
drink coffee out of here for he can drink tea out of that. So,
» that's right. >> Well, thank you Joel. I I do appreciate
your comments on on your boat decision there and I'm hoping then um put in a
lot of time and energy this over the last several years. So hopefully we will
be able to listen to kind of your concerns and issues as we go forward and
and address them if needed. So because I think they're valuable.
Appreciate that. Um are you done? Is that your comments for the night?
Appreciate there. Um and is the high school gym open yet? Did they reopen the
gym from all the crack? Currently, they are still making some final um
adjustments to the support beam, but by the time school starts, it should be
completely fixed and the gym should be open before school starts.
» Perfect. Counselor Way. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh like to turn
this something a little more pleasant. Uh, I'd like to talk about trees and
watching some trees being planted along the
uh I noticed that they're putting in some of the same trees that I've seen in
some parts and the trees that are in for veteran uh they don't particularly help.
Part of the reason for that is sister really
would do well in this particular location. So I I just had a conversation
with Gloria Joseph reportedly. We were discussing about how trees are
surviving the tree and she said that there is a list of
approved trees and that it's just sort of been accumulated over the years added
to it but no one really and she said you'd be happy to share it
look at it and so that got me thinking one of the things as I walk around the
city I think to myself there is such a thing as the street tree program and
that's where the people in the community living there or visiting there can look
at a tree and say I wonder what sort of tree it was. I wonder when it was put
in. I wonder if it has any security and that we travel around Europe and come to
the United States. They have documentation look up a number or look
up QR code and the treat. And what I would like to do is I would like to
undertake this project myself. uh not beling on the city staff except
for the occasional request for information
and possibly leverage the citizen science of many of the local people in
the area through the naturalist program to see if we could put together at least
the beginnings of a street tree map. document what trees are here, what
species they are, where they are, maybe a little bit about what condition
they're in, and then if we can succeed in that, perhaps look at expanding that
out into what eventually we reach as a full tree inventory to the benefit of
the community so that people could become more engaged with the nature of
itself. We have a lovely it's very rich and I think that more
people might like more about it if they have the opportunity
No, I think that is good. According at least with me, I know when I first
started, we did have somebody come in. I don't know if it was from the watershed
or SCA tree inventory and they did a whole inventory of like a lot of our
trees and our coverage and our and our um and talked about how we are kind of
lower than we should be on our canopy and stuff. And so it would be
interesting. Also, are you able is there apps where you could take a picture of a
leaf and then it just show you what it is? Yes, that's that's the reason I
would like to leverage the citizen science app. The nonprofit organization
called I naturalist and it's loaded on people's phones. We simply take a
picture of plants or anything like that and we can geotag it to a location
whenever we use the collected database provide an identity as to what it is. So
in that way we could document where it is and what it is and because you can
use a program for research such as this. There's a local uh affair that has just
continued a very significant research program into the amphibians of county
and they've produced quite an impressive report completely volunteered and
completely based on citizen science. So I think this this may be something that
we could we could achieve. >> I think your expertise and passion for
it would be greatly appreciated.
» Right. Council Mars. I don't have much to add other than say
I done a tree map of white. So there's already some
that's all right. Councelor Holmes. >> Um yes. Uh I also want to uh show my
vote of support for city leadership. I look back at uh the position the city
was in four years ago when I joined city council and I think we are in a very
strong position um both in terms of uh where we are with city management
financially um our leveraging of grants for expansion um is is great and
certainly the the state of our police department is probably the best it's
been in anyone's recent memory. So, I don't think there's any question that
the city's in uh good hands with our current leadership.
» Um I will just give a quick update. Uh the C team, the community emergency
response team continues to meet. I did want to share pass along one piece of
information. We had the county's new emergency manager Jessica come and join
the meeting. Um she's working on helping to identify different training
opportunities for our newly growing team. Um we are also establishing uh the
minimum training requirements for volunteers uh kind of making two classes
of volunteers. Those who are just kind of interested in learning more about uh
emergency preparedness and maybe helping with community events and then those
that can actually be activated because they have the proper training. Um so
we're working on kind of defining all of that and also a participant agreement
just so we can ensure there's certain level of um performance and
professionalism uh that the volunteers have. So, the the group is taking shape
really nicely. Jessica did let us know um the county's natural hazard
mitigation plan expires on February 2nd. This is the plan that enables
communities, makes them eligible for receiving money from FEMA in the event
of a declared emergency. Um it takes about 18 months to renew the plan and so
ours will expire before that can be completed. So they'll be filing an
extraordinary circumstances extension so that the during the time that they're
working on updating the plan effectively people will remain eligible for
receiving funds if needed. Scapuse will need effectively like a chapter and so
they'll be reaching out in January uh to engage when they have bring their
contractor on board. So just kind of put a pin in that for a forecast that we'll
need to work and contribute to that to make sure that we are eligible and
covered under the update of that plan. Uh, and I would just say since we are
cancelling our next meeting, school will be in session. Kids will be walking to
school. Uh, everyone muting, please be mindful of all of our youth that will be
making their way as well. >> Appreciate it.
» Thanks. >> Thank you, Counc.
» Yeah, I was gonna not have much, but you guys all came up with something. Um, I
was thinking, uh, thank you, John, for offering that. I would be That's a great
idea. I'm thinking maybe we can incorporate something with what's going
on with the trail the the grant that Lori was talking about today. So that
came into mind. Um and of course I am I agree with all of you guys and
supporting the city supporting uh city manager chief. Uh I just think that we
should be addressing it for the for the public and just uh for the record and um
and I agree when I came on initially this it wasn't like what it is today. Um
so we are 100 times I would say 100 times better than we were when I came
into council. Um, and then also the planning. That's great because of I'm
great that I'm glad that we're going to have some type of plan. There's so many
things that are going on in the world, earthquakes and fires and things like
that. So, I think it it's very important and thank you for sharing that
information and for being part of that committee. Um, by the time we get back
to our next meeting, and this is just coincidence that I'm wearing this shirt,
but it um it's going to be Hispanic Heritage Month. uh September 15 to
August or October 15, excuse me. So um but yeah, so have um gosh already
summer's gone. So happy fall everyone. >> Quick. [laughter]
» Council President Millard, you want to add anything?
» Oh, just glad to be back in person. I miss you all. Um and uh Sean, do you
have I did you get what you needed from us and the city about proceeding with
that project or you feel like you >> this is just the first steps this
evening. been something floating around in my head that it's actually started to
work this evening with my conversation with Lori that gave me a place that all
right there's a current place that I can begin with this knowing what's been
approved and my my intention is to focus on let's start with the main thorough
affairs and main parks first because those are the most public and then once
we can document those we can see how the documentation works see what we need to
reply and then go out there. >> Yeah. Susan, do you recall when we had
that tree? We had somebody come in and talk to us. It was probably four or five
years ago now. And >> right after I started
» Okay. Yeah. And it I I have a feeling that's going to be really useful
information for >> you, but I just want to make sure that
city manager and I want to make sure that we're giving you what you need
because it sounds like an amazing awesome project. it will be a hit for
the community. So, um I just want to make sure we have some wheels on this
thing, I guess. >> Yeah, just reach out to uh Lori or
myself. We can find that report if it was done. I I haven't seen it myself,
but we could probably find that. >> It was an intern Portland State
University, right? Yeah. Canopy >> that's ringing a bell
» cover study. Yeah. >> Um All right. Well, I got one minute. Um
really bright anything say no I appreciate it again um just kind of for
the record you know Ben and Chief 100% support um you know we don't always
bring it up public meeting but we do I think we all talk to you guys on a
regular basis and and you you give us all the information that's important and
pertinent and um I think you guys are doing a great job and really appreciate
the team we have right now uh with public works director Turner now on
board. I think we've got a really good team. I really look uh forward to all of
our meetings. So, appreciate it and um thanks. Have a good night.