[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[1:13] In this long-use city council meeting to order,
[1:16] before I invocation, I'd like to start with a moment of silence for the victims, the families of victims, and the first responders who responded to the Nipon-Dino wave disaster this week. Would you please stand with me and join me in a moment of silence?
[2:19] Thank you. Please remain standing. We'll have Pastor Bob Giles from Faith and Family Fellowship. Please come forward.
[2:26] a
[2:31] father in heaven as we stand here in the center of the city this evening say
[2:38] that's grieving. We honor them with us moment of silence but we lift our voices
[2:45] asking for your grace, your mercy, your comfort, your compassion would be the
[2:52] portion for each and every one of the families of victims, the first responders,
[2:57] those working at and upon even now we just think that we can call up on you. I pray
[3:03] a lot as to this meeting takes place this evening. Thank you for those who serve
[3:09] our city, those elected and those who have been hired to service or I pray as you
[3:14] give them wisdom in this meeting and wisdom as they leave this city during this
[3:19] particular time and we thank you for all of these things in Jesus name. Amen.
[3:24] Please join me in the flag salute.
[3:29] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for
[3:35] which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all.
[3:46] Thank you, clerk, Oström, are you please call it a little?
[3:50] Mayor Halverson.
[3:51] Here.
[3:51] Mayor Pro Temyeon.
[3:53] Here.
[3:53] Council Member Bryant.
[3:55] Present.
[3:55] Council Member Clarkson.
[3:56] Here.
[3:57] Councilmember Kendan, here. Councilmember Babe, here.
[4:01] Councilmember Nichols, City Manager Will's,
[4:03] Reset, and in-term City Attorney Archery.
[4:07] Reset.
[4:09] Thank you.
[4:10] There are no words tonight.
[4:11] Well, I'm sorry.
[4:13] Under changes to the agenda, I'd like to make a motion to strike.
[4:17] Hope Village Report, under the City Manager's report,
[4:20] lodging tax advisory committee fund distribution policy,
[4:24] The City of Longview Randolph uplift and proposed economic development committee agenda.
[4:31] Thank you.
[4:31] I move and seconded.
[4:34] Any discussion?
[4:36] All those in favor?
[4:37] Please raise your hand.
[4:39] Those items are stricken.
[4:41] Any other items that we remove from the agenda council?
[4:45] Seeing none.
[4:47] We will now move on to constituent comments for non-agenda items.
[4:51] We're
[4:57] now opening the first of three public comment opportunities for tonight's meeting.
[5:02] Top everyone, Plano.
[5:03] Relax.
[5:03] Here's a load map for the evening.
[5:05] First, we'll have a non-agenda items time, that's 30 minutes for topics, not on tonight's
[5:11] formal agenda.
[5:13] Next, we'll have a public hearing on the Cal So Along You Home Consortium, 2026 Annual Action
[5:18] Plan.
[5:19] And then last, we'll have an agenda items period, that's a 30-minute window for comments
[5:24] on any other item scheduled for Council Action tonight.
[5:28] You're allowed at three minutes to speak in each period.
[5:31] If you're representing a group, the total time remains three minutes.
[5:34] Please address your comments to the mayor.
[5:36] If you have handouts, provide them to the staff member to the right of the podium.
[5:40] Please note that live virtual comments are only permitted during public hearing portion of the meeting.
[5:45] So if you pre-registered the clerk's office, please use the raise hand feature when the hearing begins.
[5:50] Our vote tonight is to listen to your feedback so we will not engage in dialogue or debate.
[5:55] Please help us maintain a welcoming environment by remaining respectful and refrain from applause or campaign style remarks.
[6:01] Thank you for being here. Now we'll start with non agenda items. If anyone wishes to make a comment tonight, please come forward.
[6:25] I was hoping to discuss that a bit.
[6:33] I
[6:38] would like to arrange a tour of Hope Village.
[6:41] I met with
[6:47] Daniel.
[6:54] He has agreed.
[6:57] He likes the idea.
[6:58] It's a very on-board for a board of operation to reopen Hope Village and I will find those
[7:09] 50 homeless people.
[7:11] I already have quite a few lined up and I would like to move forward with that.
[7:21] I have many ideas.
[7:22] I
[7:25] had questions about pets because many of these people have pets there are very, very
[7:32] We attach to, they are their protectors, and they could probably protect Hope Village
[7:39] as well.
[7:40] We have runs going around the outskirts of the property,
[7:48] like to just start off with gardens,
[7:51] recycling bins, picnic tables, and work benches.
[7:57] I was thinking we could think about the different types of restaurants if all the Chinese food
[8:03] could be picked up by the same groups of volunteers.
[8:08] Then we could have a Chinese meal at the Broadway House
[8:14] on Broadway.
[8:15] We could have different events for these people, art
[8:22] and that they can sell.
[8:24] I have a friend who owns a gallery in Calama.
[8:29] He has a grade, but I have any talented young artists that are homeless that I in my program.
[8:36] He would be thrilled if their work is of quality.
[8:40] He sees fit.
[8:40] He would show them in his gallery, as long as they volunteered there twice a week.
[8:45] I have talked to Trevor Fitt, the owner there.
[8:50] He understands that exercise is very important for people who are overcoming addiction.
[8:56] He has agreed to give my clients free memberships, and there are many such things as this that
[9:06] I would like to discuss, so if we could schedule a meeting at some point, I would appreciate.
[9:11] Thank you.
[9:13] Thank you.
[9:14] You're
[9:24] my KC.
[9:26] I'm bringing up a concern about the utility tax for the outside sea limits.
[9:33] I want to thank you for your time to start with.
[9:37] I'm here today because Longview hasn't began applying a 2.1.5% utility tax to customers to live outside the elements.
[9:45] This action is unlawful under Washington State Statues and Washington Supreme Court President.
[9:51] There is no statue in Washington Law that authorized a city to impose a city utility tax on outside city water or sewer customers.
[9:58] Downloading makes this tax on lawful, but Washington Supreme Court has addressed this
[10:06] you twice, and both rulings independently, or hit what Longview is doing.
[10:13] First, Barbara versus Vancouver, and Barbara versus Vancouver, non-residents water, and
[10:18] Syracuse-Murts Challenge Vancouver's gross receipts utility tax.
[10:21] The court held the tax, but only because the tax was imposed on the utility, not the customer.
[10:29] The utility was treated as an internal operating expense and the tax was not passed onto the customer in any form.
[10:38] Vancouver denied the tax directly on outside city customers.
[10:44] Vancouver did not list the taxes or line item.
[10:49] and Vancouver did not treat the tax as a customer charge.
[10:53] Longview is doing the exact opposite of Vancouver.
[10:57] Second, District 75 versus Seattle.
[11:00] The Supreme Court held collection of such taxes must be executed
[11:05] from the beneficiaries thereof.
[11:07] That is, the citizens of the city of Seattle.
[11:15] This is a binding rule.
[11:16] a city may not pass a city tax to customers outside the limits.
[11:21] Only city residents may bear the cost of a city tax.
[11:24] Outside city customers cannot be charged for a city tax even indirectly.
[11:31] Longview is violating this rule as well.
[11:34] Now the key connection between Barba does not override District 75.
[11:39] 5. Barbara only applies when the tax is lawful, the tax is imposed on the utility company,
[11:48] and the tax is recovered internally through lawful rates. Barbara does not authorize rising
[11:55] rates to recover in illegal tax, passing the city tax to outside city customers, and by
[12:02] advising district 75 or converting attacks into a rate increase. District 75
[12:08] controls the boundary rule, the barber control, the internal accounting rule,
[12:14] long Vivo H-POP.
[12:18] For as long as any of us can remember, the city five has just
[12:22] fired. All right. Thank you. Anyone else who seems to be today?
[12:46] All right. Dear
[12:47] Mr. Mayor, as a resident of Longview, I come before you today to express my public concern
[12:52] about one of your board members and how this individual represents himself and subsequently
[12:57] Longview City Council out in public.
[12:59] The incident was recorded on May 11, 2026 at the Longview School Board meeting.
[13:04] If you fast forward to 48 minutes and 11 seconds, a school board member makes an unnecessary
[13:09] comment, undeniably mocking the three-minute rule set out for public comment.
[13:15] asking, do I need a three-minute time limit? To which Wayne Nichols interjects from the gallery,
[13:20] you have two minutes. The board member goes on to make her statement, then circles back around at
[13:25] the end, asking Wayne if he kept track. Wayne responds with, I did. You just went over a little,
[13:33] or went a little over. That could have been the end of this incident, but it wasn't. As everyone's
[13:40] jaw hit the floor and disbelief, Wayne Nichols could have apologized for his role in the
[13:44] comment that clearly offended the people who have so much to say but try really hard to
[13:49] keep it within the three minute time limit. As one individual from the community addressed
[13:54] the mocking of the three minute time limit, Wayne shows not to back pedal but instead dug his
[14:01] heels down and decided to try and intimidate a parent speaking on the unnecessary comment.
[14:06] When the parent was done speaking, the parent sent a wane, I will be going to your meeting
[14:11] next, to which the camera view got the city councilman visibly laughing at the parent.
[14:16] At one hour, 31 minutes, 37 seconds, the camera view also gets wane moving his chair,
[14:22] position it to face the parent, and staring the parent down from 36 seconds to 51 seconds
[14:28] of the next minute. That's 15 seconds of intimidation to a citizen of Longview.
[14:35] But what I'm learning about the city councilman is that he just can't let something be. He wants
[14:39] to push more. Wayne then circled the parking lot according to a witness and gunned it taking
[14:44] off down the street as this parent who spoke out was in the parking lot himself. Mr. Mayor,
[14:50] I come before you and the city of Longview tonight to make you aware of the unprofessional
[14:54] behavior of Wayne Nichols. Thank you.
[15:00] Anyone else wishing to speak tonight?
[15:06] All right, we will close the non-agenda item portion of our city council meeting. Next we'll move on to our 2026 annual action plan, public hearing.
[15:20] Let me open the public hearing.
[15:35] They may cancel constituents. I need to present the 2026 annual action plan. We're going to hold the public hearing for public comment, and so let's get started.
[15:47] So what is the annual action plan?
[15:50] So the annual action plan is our report to HUD basically telling them what we're going
[15:55] to spend our home and CDBG funding on, which we allocated at the last meeting.
[16:02] And HUD requires a two, HUD requires submission of two types of plans in the five-year cycle.
[16:10] The consolidated plan is submitted once every five years and outlines the goals of HUD programs
[16:17] in the city over a five year period. So there's the, we just did the 20, 25, 20, 29 consolidated
[16:24] plan last year. And then the annual action plan is submitted to HUD the other 40 years and
[16:31] outlines our goals for that single year.
[16:35] And so as you can see, we just did 2026.
[16:38] So we have 2026 through 2029 to go.
[16:42] So we'll be submitting annual action plans for the next four years.
[16:48] And just an overview of the annual action plan.
[16:51] There are a lot of sections in it.
[16:54] An executive summary, consultation, expected resources,
[16:58] businesses, annual goals and objectives, projects, homeless and other special needs activities
[17:05] and those sections.
[17:09] The overview of the annual action plan that we're going to be presenting tonight for public
[17:15] comment are the consultation, our expected resources, annual goals and objectives, and then
[17:21] the projects that we selected with the brief summary of each.
[17:25] So this consultation this year was done through email, through a questionnaire, sent out a email to everybody that we sent out to RAP2, our community partners.
[17:37] And then I also entered some information from other public meetings such as the downtown summit.
[17:44] And then the goal of the questionnaire was to identify housing needs, housing need priorities, community needs, and other service needs.
[17:52] And here's an example of five questions over under community services.
[17:58] I received three replies of the 37 emails that I've sent out, so just to give you an idea.
[18:10] I've expected resources from this year.
[18:12] The entitlement funding for CDBG is $310,730, and for the home consortium,
[18:20] with, that we spoke with Kelso, is $286,000 for $31.
[18:27] So any goals are established by the five-year consolidated plan.
[18:32] The plan consists of the four goals that have been increasing
[18:34] for browsing supply, preserving improved existing housing supply,
[18:38] provide services to improve housing and economic outcomes,
[18:42] and provide public facilities and improvements.
[18:46] So for our projects, so here's our four goals.
[18:49] and so to increase the affordable housing supply, we did $100,000, you allocated $100,000 to FFC
[18:57] for the development of housing for individuals with disabilities.
[19:04] And then to preserve and improve the existing housing supply, we gave $90,000 to campus towers
[19:10] for a water heater replacement to preserve 99 units of senior housing.
[19:18] Services to provide housing and economic outcomes, $20,000 for the Super Summage program
[19:24] with Longview Parks and Rec, and 26,000 for POS was a retinal program.
[19:32] And then our last set of projects to provide public facilities and improvements.
[19:38] The installation of the Fire Learning System is Station 81.
[19:41] One, I'm interested in self-contained breathing apparatus for one of these hours as well, and then the lighting study for improvement of downtown lighting.
[19:52] So that, any questions?
[19:57] Any questions?
[19:58] I did have one.
[19:59] You mentioned how many emails sent out, and how many responses you have?
[20:02] I said, I sent out one to 37 different addresses, and I've gotten through that.
[20:07] What is the address list of people that you're soliciting?
[20:10] Well, so there's time, you know, for example, there's one on the school district website there's we got a reply from emergency support shelter
[20:21] the hospital is going to send in a response, I have not received anything from the community house.
[20:26] I received a response from the COG and I also received a response response from the Salvation Army.
[20:33] So those are a few of the groups that I sent me to.
[20:38] Questions, council?
[20:39] No? All right. We will open the public comment period for this public hearing. Any members
[20:46] from the public? Were she to speak out of the item?
[20:55] I was thinking of during this, maybe because you didn't touch on it this time. I do this
[21:02] is going to be something in the following years or something but that which the homeless
[21:07] is, and because this is a consolidated plan, I guess, with Kelso, I'm wondering what the future
[21:18] years have for working with Kelso regarding our homeless situation, especially given that
[21:25] we've already heard tonight, continued, and probably going to hear in future meetings, interests
[21:33] First in need for some sort of shelter, I don't mean personally, I don't think there
[21:41] should be.
[21:44] The public providing shelter like they did with the whole village in Camp Alabama, just
[21:52] because of all the problems that were there, but emergency situations, I guess, have different
[21:59] outcomes.
[22:02] So I think that hopefully that comes up, that's just something I was wondering about,
[22:08] that between Longview and Kelsal, because as far as the homeless are concerned,
[22:14] the Longview and Kelsal is pretty much one city, and that's pretty much how we operate.
[22:18] I mean, granted, there are boundaries and there's different municipalities in charge of things,
[22:24] and running things, and we do get along pretty good together.
[22:27] But it seems that this could be maybe highlighted better or talked a little bit more just to give a better understanding so that everybody knows that we're not just backing off because we saw it happen when we ignored the problem.
[22:48] And we don't want that to come on by us again.
[22:52] Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak on this topic today?
[23:00] No, ma'am, dinner. I'm just questioning. You got three responses out of 38.
[23:05] If your job had been on the line, what could you have done to get more?
[23:10] What if I'm saying, if I don't get at least 15 back, they don't need me.
[23:15] Would you have done something different?
[23:19] Keep your comments to the mayor, please.
[23:22] I just think that if we're trying to communicate with the community,
[23:26] We're going to act like they don't really want to hear from us, but we want to make sure
[23:31] they at least read it, tell them they need to respond and tell me, I don't have any comments,
[23:37] I do have this comment.
[23:39] I'm disappointed here three only, and I'm disappointed here relatively a mediocre way to get
[23:46] it.
[23:47] Thanks.
[23:48] Do anyone else wishing to speak tonight?
[23:53] All right.
[23:54] I will close the public hearing.
[23:56] There's no action meeting on this item, correct?
[24:02] Appreciate it.
[24:05] But now move on to the constituent comments for agenda items.
[24:09] So is there anyone in the public wishing to speak on any item that is on the agenda for tonight?
[24:19] Seeing no one approach, we will move on to the consent calendar.
[24:25] Councillor, are there any items you'd like to remove from the consent calendar for separate consideration?
[24:32] Seeing none, I'm seeking a motion for the consent calendar.
[24:35] Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to approve their consent calendar.
[24:40] Second.
[24:41] That's been moved and seconded.
[24:42] The panel is in favor.
[24:43] Please raise your hand.
[24:45] That passes.
[24:46] Thank you.
[24:48] Next, we'll move on to the mayor's report.
[24:52] And I don't
[24:57] have the words to speak tonight.
[25:01] And I have nothing to offer to the families who are dealing with not
[25:08] having their family
[25:09] member come home, and the only thing I can offer is my prayers, so my prayers are with
[25:17] you.
[25:21] Council member reports.
[25:22] Is there any member in the council who will give the report today?
[25:29] Go ahead.
[25:32] Hi, I have a couple of minor things to report on when you're not bypassed that and address
[25:37] the offer to the room, which is the NIP on situation.
[25:41] I can't imagine a more horrific situation for the victims or families or loved ones, our
[25:49] responders and us as a community and for me this hits home personally I worked in that
[25:58] facility for more than 40 years and at least 10 or 20 of those years I was a maintenance
[26:05] man that walked around and around and around that tank that burst probably 10 or 20 times
[26:11] a day. So I'm intimately familiar with that whole part of the plant. And for what happened
[26:20] at 7.15 in the morning was the worst possible moment for that situation to develop. That's
[26:27] when all those maintenance people are call us in their shops, their lunchroom, their
[26:31] locker rooms, getting their marching orders for the day, what they're going to work on today,
[26:36] they're getting their tools and their bags, and they're just sitting around their drinking
[26:40] and coffee, joking with each other, planning the rest of the day and then all of a sudden
[26:46] that horrific event happened.
[26:50] It's hard for me to imagine anything worse than what occurred there.
[26:55] I hope that as a community we can come together, this shouldn't be politicized in any way.
[27:03] We need to embrace our neighbors.
[27:06] We need to take care of each other and try to heal through this event.
[27:12] So go home, hug your loved ones, hug your neighbors, hug your friends, hug people you
[27:18] don't even know.
[27:20] Because tell you what, oftentimes life turns on a dime,
[27:27] that's all yeah.
[27:33] Any other council members?
[27:35] Yeah, go ahead.
[27:38] Thank you, Mayor.
[27:39] In addition to what councilman Nichols has said, you know, my heart is, and thoughts
[27:44] go on to everybody.
[27:45] Of course, the victims first as well as our families, but I do want to thank you, Mayor.
[27:51] and their program for representing this council.
[27:55] As you have, I know it's been very difficult for you guys as well,
[27:59] but you have spoke very well and professionally on behalf of our council,
[28:03] and I appreciate that, and it's okay to show that vulnerability too.
[28:07] I definitely want to thank our city manager,
[28:10] assistant city manager, Angela, able on all of your communications
[28:14] as well as Chief Henning and all the staff that has been there
[28:18] And those were difficult, difficult roles,
[28:21] and it's been a very difficult month
[28:23] for the city of Longview.
[28:25] And I hope that it can lighten up a little bit for you,
[28:28] but I did want to recognize all of you
[28:30] for really representing the city of Longview
[28:33] and helping us through it too,
[28:34] because it's been hard for all of us.
[28:36] But yes, the victims and the family, the coroners,
[28:41] I think this community has really stepped up
[28:44] with the fundraising opportunities,
[28:46] for the meals for the families, but we are long too strong, and I just wanted to let you know
[28:54] that you're a part of that too, and thank you for helping the council get through this as well.
[29:01] Thank you. I need to council members have a report tonight.
[29:07] All right. Seeing none, maybe we do have one item from the Council Appointments Committee.
[29:12] This committee met and is recommending we appoint Steve Taylor to the PDA Board
[29:17] for a term that will begin immediately in December 31st, 2029. With that, I'd like to make
[29:24] that motion of appointing Steve Taylor to the PVA Board. That's been moved and seconded.
[29:30] Any comments to the motion? Seeing none, all those in favor, please raise your hand.
[29:35] That passes. Thank you, Steve, for volunteering in that position. Next,
[29:47] we'll move on to the
[29:54] it when we shouldn't have to be and that's it's beautiful but also really
[30:01] And so, I think about the families of the things that they are dealing with, the grief that hasn't yet to come, and the time and energy and support that they are going to need. And the pride in our co-workers and the work that they have done. They have held up to the city as the city has gone through this time, but also our first responders and the people that have been out at the site all week.
[30:30] They've seen things that we'll never have to see and they'll carry, things we'll never
[30:34] have to carry.
[30:36] And I'm forever grateful for that and I'm sorry, they have to do that too.
[30:41] So love on your people, love on our first responders because they're going to have that same
[30:46] grief.
[30:47] They carry every time they go for a call, every time someone is having their worst day, they're
[30:52] there.
[30:53] And so it's an honor to work alongside all of you and work with you guys.
[31:07] Thank you.