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[0:05]
President
[0:09]
» present.
>> Council Rustin
[0:11]
» present.
>> Councelor Warrington
[0:13]
» present.
>> Councelor Le
[0:14]
» present.
>> Thank you. Now we're on to item number
[0:20]
four, agenda additions or corrections.
So I believe I had some minute
[0:25]
corrections. So, I would like to move
the minutes out of the consent agenda to
[0:31]
new business. Is that okay with
everyone?
[0:34]
» Yes. Okay. Are there any other changes
to the agenda that people would like to
[0:39]
make?
[0:43]
Hearing none, I'd be open to a motion.
>> Councelor Weber, I would make a motion
[0:49]
for the approval of the consent agenda.
[0:55]
It will just be the agenda since we
remove the consent agenda.
[1:00]
» Thank you. Could I get a second, please?
>> Second.
[1:03]
» Okay, we have Councelor Rustin has the
second. All those in favor?
[1:10]
» I.
>> Any opposed?
[1:14]
Motion carries.
>> Now, we're going to go to public
[1:17]
comment. I have the public comment
sheets here.
[1:21]
Uh, just a reminder, please come up and
state your name. Resident, rural
[1:26]
resident, non-resident.
Uh, you have three minutes. Let me get
[1:31]
my timer ready.
[1:35]
The first name is Lisa Ferrar.
[1:50]
Good evening, counselors. I am here
tonight as a Brinhill homeowner to share
[1:55]
a brief update about our community. Uh
last week, as you may know, the
[1:59]
developer LAR officially turned control
over of the Brinhill Homeowners
[2:04]
Association to the homeowners
themselves. We now have a homeowner
[2:08]
elected board of directors. We are also
retaining the current management company
[2:13]
Rolling Rock that has worked closely
with the developer to provide continuity
[2:17]
as we move forward. We also understand
that public restrooms are being
[2:21]
installed in the area and will be
managed by the city. We'd like to
[2:25]
establish a good line of communication
with the city so that any concerns
[2:29]
regarding safety, cleanliness, or
maintenance can be addressed together
[2:32]
and promptly. Brinhill has welcomed many
new families, young families to North
[2:38]
Plains, bringing energy experiences and
perspectives to our community. We know
[2:43]
we're still new here, but we hope to
become a welcomed and valued part of
[2:46]
North Plains, to be good neighbors, to
get involved, and to contribute to the
[2:50]
community we now call home. Thank you.
>> Thank you, sir.
[3:00]
» The next name is Meredith Buff.
[3:10]
I'm Meredith Bach. I live on 309th,
three blocks from here, and I learned
[3:15]
the Jesse Mays Community Center. In
June, I suggested we install a pictorial
[3:22]
tribute to Jesse with her photographs so
people would know that she was not a
[3:28]
man.
And I now have an exhibit that you could
[3:32]
send around me with a rough draft of how
that might work. And it is small. And as
[3:40]
I've talked to various people, we've
thought of everything from statuary to
[3:45]
magnificent
big pieces of art. But I spoke to
[3:50]
Jesse's son, Elmer, who is 100 years old
and counting,
[3:56]
and he agreed with me that Jesse would
be pleased if people could get a drink
[4:01]
of water at the playground.
And the size of that example, the
[4:06]
exhibit, is the size that we can afford,
$500. And I suggest, and Elmer agrees,
[4:13]
that it could easily be installed over
the drinking fountains and people would
[4:19]
be refreshed and informed.
And I hope that this suggestion right
[4:24]
now will arrive at the parks meeting
next Monday if in fact that occurs. I've
[4:31]
had trouble finding out when that group
gets together.
[4:36]
One suggestion was that you needed to
advise them to get together.
[4:40]
But in any case, my words will be
recorded, I hope, and be provided. Thank
[4:46]
you.
>> Thank you, Meredith. Next up, Russ Sh.
[5:05]
Russ Sheldon, resident.
[5:10]
I'm here tonight because I care deeply
about the future and the governance of
[5:14]
the city. I want to address something
bigger than any one counselor issue or
[5:20]
political disagreement.
Who is governing North Plains? and our
[5:26]
voters being given the opportunity to
make decision for themselves. [snorts]
[5:33]
Over the past several years, North
Plains has experienced significant
[5:37]
turnover in elected leadership
and senior administration, including
[5:43]
mayoral and council resignations,
city manager turnover, and changes in
[5:49]
department leadership.
At the same time, more council positions
[5:54]
have been filled by appointment rather
than direct election.
[5:59]
Appointments may be legally permitted,
but there is an important distinction
[6:03]
between temporarily filling a vacancy
and allowing appointments to become a
[6:09]
continuing substitute for the voters's
ability to choose their representatives.
[6:15]
That is why I believe the council should
be cautious about any action that
[6:19]
further separates public office from
direct voter accountability.
[6:25]
That brings me to the recall process.
Recall is an exercise of the voters's
[6:30]
power. It is not a determination of
guilt or a conviction, nor does it
[6:37]
require voters to remove an official. It
simply gives the people the opportunity
[6:43]
to decide whether an elected official
should continue serving.
[6:48]
Once citizens have lawfully completed
the recall process and submitted the
[6:53]
required signatures, the ultimate
decision should belong to the voters.
[6:59]
Whether councelor Mark DeForge should
remain in office should not be decided
[7:04]
by this council. It should be decided by
the people.
[7:10]
Regardless of where we stand on growth,
development, audits, city finances, or
[7:17]
individual counselors,
I believe we can agree that government
[7:22]
works best when it is transparent,
accountable, and answerable to the
[7:26]
people it serves.
That means following the city charter,
[7:31]
respecting counciling rules, maintaining
appropriate boundaries
[7:37]
between elected officials and city
staff, and conducting public business
[7:42]
openly when the law requires it. North
Plains is at an important crossroads. We
[7:49]
can continue on a path where residents
question whether their voices matter, or
[7:54]
we can restore trust by respecting the
voters.
[7:58]
and respecting their voice voices,
following the rules and putting
[8:02]
residents at the center of city
government.
[8:06]
Ultimately, the people, not the council,
activists, special interests, or
[8:11]
individual office should have the final
say about who represents them. Thank
[8:16]
you. Thank you, sir.
[8:23]
and start which kind.
[8:39]
Is it on
the green light? Did I touch something?
[8:44]
Oh,
[8:47]
how's that?
All right. don't work. So, it's okay. I
[8:52]
got a loud voice. Anyway, I'm here
tonight supporting uh
[9:19]
we try. Okay.
[9:35]
» Sorry. Okay. All right. Well, anyway,
but Kindle live [clears throat] on uh I
[9:41]
live on Lennox Street right here about a
block and a half from right here from
[9:45]
city hall. Been here for 51 years.
Anyway, I'm here to support Cindy Hurst
[9:49]
tonight for uh for mayor. Uh this is the
first time that I can remember in 44
[9:54]
years that we've had this appointment by
so many people sitting here on city
[10:00]
council. They should all be elected.
That's what we have a government for and
[10:05]
gives everybody a chance to hear for
themselves, not just a few people that
[10:10]
are concerned be sitting here tonight.
So all you city councilors are uh this
[10:15]
is a pivotal point for North Plains. I
feel uh we need somebody in here. I have
[10:20]
nothing against Mark is maybe running
the city, but I think he could move
[10:24]
over. Let's sit and sit down. Let's all
learn from experience. That's what
[10:29]
you're all missing that I can see. It
takes time. Usually, we get one or two
[10:34]
come in on a on a quorum of seven
counselors. So, nobody ever steps right
[10:40]
into a mayor position. And like I said,
I think you guys need that's what you're
[10:45]
lacking is the experience and you four
or five times you never took that stuff
[10:50]
in the point of this and uh why don't
you guys want I mean what you scared to
[10:54]
death of us or what I mean we're not
going to chew your head off. We want to
[10:57]
help you and that's what we're here for.
So that's my role. S can do that. I've
[11:02]
been with her her and her husband. We
were on city council almost 40 years.
[11:06]
Her husband her
>> sat right here and we had fun. and I
[11:11]
want you guys to have fun. So, take my
advice, please. Thank you so much.
[11:18]
» Thank you, sir. That concludes public
comment. Is there anyone that is uh
[11:24]
online that submitted a request?
>> Yeah,
[11:33]
» council. I submitted a request at 10:30
this morning. Linda Gallis Merton from
[11:37]
Strong Towns.
Go ahead, Linda. Thank you.
[11:42]
» So, um, good evening, councilors. Uh, my
name is Linda Gallas Merin representing
[11:46]
Strong Towns North Plains with members
throughout 97133.
[11:52]
Typically, cities pass specific
municipal codes that explicitly
[11:58]
adopt their logo or seal, prohibit
unauthorized commercial or political
[12:03]
use, and establish fines or legal
penalties for misuse.
[12:10]
We have not been able to find any
adoption of such a policy in North
[12:14]
Plains, nor can we find any council
approved policy governing the use of the
[12:19]
city's logo.
As a result, if you stop by the North
[12:24]
Plain Senior Center, a private
nonprofit, you will see this recently
[12:29]
installed sign on the front door.
[12:38]
» As you can see, it bears the distinct
logo for the city of North Plains.
[12:42]
Seeing a city logo on a building is
supposed to mean that the structure
[12:47]
belongs to or is operated by the local
uh municipal government. This is not the
[12:54]
case for the North Plain Senior Center.
So this raises a number of questions.
[13:00]
One, who among city staff authorized the
use of the logo for this purpose?
[13:07]
If no one, then who at the senior center
authorized its use? Did public works
[13:13]
install the sign as reported by
eyewitnesses?
[13:17]
If yes, who gave the work order to
public works?
[13:22]
And who paid for the sign? Since there
seems to be no codes that would forbid
[13:27]
this type of use, there may be nothing
to be done in this particular case other
[13:33]
than to ask nicely for the signs to be
taken down.
[13:37]
However, the council can adopt policy
around the use and abuse of the city's
[13:44]
logo, and we urge you to do so with some
urgency and to make the policy
[13:51]
retroactive.
Thank you very much for your
[13:53]
consideration.
[13:56]
» Thank you, Linda.
[14:01]
Is there anyone else online that
submitted public comment requests by 3
[14:06]
p.m.
[14:14]
Hearing none, I'm going to move on
[14:19]
public comment
on our agenda. Next is consent agenda
[14:25]
which we have moved to new business. So
now I will move to new business. A
[14:30]
[sighs and gasps]
awarding contract for new roof on a
[14:33]
Jesse Wings community center.
[14:38]
» Mayor and members of city council, you
have for you a report recommending a
[14:44]
contract to fix the roof here at the May
Center. Uh public works has received
[14:50]
three bids for the work. They've
evaluated them and we're recommending
[14:56]
that you adopt resolution 2349.
I'm sorry. You in 26 you adopted
[15:03]
resolution 2349
allocating $100,000 out of the general
[15:07]
fund contingency for the new roof. Our
recommendation is that uh SA roofing be
[15:13]
selected to replace the current uh roof
at the maze center with a metal roof in
[15:19]
an amount not to exceed $59,950
and authorize the city manager to enter
[15:25]
into a contract with the SA.
[clears throat]
[15:30]
» Thank you, sir.
So, I'll just add to that quick recap.
[15:34]
So there was a budget committee meeting
where this was discussed and the funds
[15:38]
were allocated in a resolution that
the funds. So now they've selected a
[15:46]
contractor and they're looking for
feedback or approval from us to proceed.
[15:50]
Now uh are you looking for a motion from
us or just a uh kind of
[15:57]
» you can move the recommendation.
>> Okay. So, first can we have some
[16:03]
discussion? What do you guys think about
the new roof and its vendor?
[16:11]
» Warrington. Um, I just wanted to call
out that the three um contract uh
[16:16]
proposals, one from Ideal Roofing, I did
some AI Google searching. I have no
[16:21]
conflict of interest. I didn't
communicate with these people. I just
[16:25]
researched them a little bit. Ideal
roofing has a 4.9 out of five stars. JT
[16:30]
has a 4.6 out of five stars and essay,
the one they're recommending, has a five
[16:35]
out of five stars. So, I just want to
say good job on picking the roofing
[16:40]
choices.
[16:45]
Councelor Rustin, I do have a question.
If we're being asked to
[16:49]
approve an amount of $59,950
not to exceed that uh says right here
[16:56]
that the cost all bids included a note
in the case of the need to replace wood
[17:00]
portions of the structures there will be
an additional cost. I watch a lot of
[17:05]
home shows there's always additional
cost.
[17:09]
» What happens then?
>> Um $100,000 is allocated in the budget
[17:14]
for this project. I like the concept but
do not exceed but the contract will
[17:21]
require them to come to to us and say
hey we're going to go beyond budget
[17:26]
we'll need this extra money
so that so that's what happen
[17:33]
structure around the roof
[17:40]
thank you
>> one more question councelor wariner is
[17:45]
there any scheduling constraints around
any of these?
[17:51]
» So, will the contractor be able to move
forward quickly as we approach the rainy
[17:55]
season?
>> That that is our hope. We understand
[17:58]
that the rainy season is coming and we
want to get this work in and done before
[18:01]
it gets heavy and rain.
>> Councelor Weber, do we have clarity?
[18:07]
Does this building get shut down
throughout the entire process?
[18:13]
We think it might have limited use.
It'll depend on the status of the
[18:19]
weather as well as the work in progress.
[18:24]
» Good.
[18:27]
And so uh thank you for compiling this
report. I did want to just reiterate um
[18:35]
if we can align that all of the bids
that we receive we do because we are
[18:40]
using taxpayer funds need to select the
lowest bid. Correct.
[18:45]
» Right.
>> Okay. Um the other part I wanted to
[18:49]
touch on is what the timeline looks
like. And it sounds like there's still
[18:52]
some question marks there. Um, but I
think as we all know, this space is is
[18:57]
slated to be used uh for some community
events that are really near and dear to
[19:02]
our heart. So I would I would just be
curious if later on you could provide an
[19:06]
update of a timeline and any disruptions
to the space.
[19:09]
» Yeah, we'll be meetings next week with
the contractor to work all those details
[19:13]
out. We'll also have a copy of the
schedule of potential uses and see how
[19:18]
we can adjust work schedules so some of
those events can take place.
[19:23]
» Okay. Thank you.
[19:29]
» So, I prepped ahead of time in case you
wanted a motion. I'll just toss this
[19:35]
motion out for your guys's
consideration.
[19:38]
The council authorizes the interim city
manager to award a contract to SA
[19:42]
roofing with authority to spend up to
$59,950.
[19:47]
Does that sound like an acceptable
motion to you?
[19:50]
» Yes, it does.
>> Okay. Is there any more discussion that
[19:53]
you guys would like to have? I got to
say I really appreciate I believe it was
[19:58]
Cody who who moved this forward. We we
asked for this work I think it was maybe
[20:03]
in the May June time frame and I really
appreciate him stepping up and moving
[20:08]
this forward.
So at this point are you guys
[20:13]
comfortable with moving forward on a
motion?
[20:16]
» Yes.
>> Okay. So the motion again was that
[20:20]
council authorizes the interim city
manager to award a contract to SA
[20:24]
roofing with authority to spend up to
59,
[20:27]
950.
>> I get a
[20:30]
» councelor Weber so moved.
>> Okay. Thank you, sir.
[20:34]
» I uh I'm looking for a second at this
point. Councelor Warrington with a
[20:39]
second. So we have an active motion. Is
there any discussion you guys would like
[20:43]
to have before we vote on this?
[20:48]
Okay. All in favor of this motion say I.
I.
[20:52]
» I. Any opposed.
Motion carries.
[21:01]
Now we're going to move to agenda 7B,
which is authorization to seek bids to
[21:07]
contract for city manager search.
Mayor and members of city council. Uh,
[21:13]
as you know from my contract, I will be
here through February of 27. Uh, I think
[21:19]
high on your priority list would be the
selection process for a permanent city
[21:24]
manager. I'm recommending that you
authorize me to seek proposals
[21:30]
uh from search firms that bring those
recommendations to council on October
[21:35]
26. I included in my report a rough
schedule. Uh the marketplace for finding
[21:41]
permanent city managers is really tough.
Takes more time than you would think. Uh
[21:47]
but October for us to contract with the
firm. Uh review and update the manager
[21:53]
job description, which would be your
job. In November, begin recruitment and
[21:57]
seeking applicants. in December, review
the applicants, selecting five or six
[22:03]
finalists, conduct the interviews in
town, select the final candidate, and
[22:08]
hopefully in January or early February,
start the new manager. Now, that
[22:13]
schedule will firm up once we get a
firm. But I'm I'm recommending that you
[22:18]
authorize me to seek proposals from
search firms and bring that
[22:23]
recommendation back to you in October
this year.
[22:27]
» Okay. Okay. So, you're looking for an
authorization to begin the search.
[22:30]
You're not going to make choices or
spend money or brings us so the council
[22:35]
still has the ability to shape the
process.
[22:38]
» Good, good question, mayor. No, this is
something you have to do.
[22:42]
» Yeah.
>> Okay. Is there any discussion you guys
[22:44]
would like to have?
>> Excellent idea. Do we need a resolution
[22:50]
or just a consensus support?
>> Paul, would you like a motion from us on
[22:54]
this? I'd like a motion adopting the
recommendation.
[22:57]
» Okay. So, uh if I were to I saw
councelor Ugarte, would you like to?
[23:03]
» Sure. Uh council, I move to authorize
the interim city manager to seek
[23:08]
proposals from search firms and bring a
recommendation to council in October
[23:12]
2026.
>> I have a second.
[23:15]
» Second.
>> Second from councelor Warrington. Any
[23:18]
further discussion before you guys vote
on this?
[23:23]
Okay. All those in favor of the motion
say I.
[23:27]
» I.
>> I. I.
[23:28]
» I.
>> Any oppose?
[23:31]
Thank you. Motion carries.
[23:38]
» Moving to agenda item 7C, resolution
number 2370,
[23:44]
authorization to proceed with state
grant from Blankolder.
[23:50]
Mayor and members of the city council,
as you well know, the city's been
[23:53]
working for several years to clean up
the Glen Cole property. We've been
[23:57]
working with um Palpac as well as Tom
Holt put together an application for a
[24:05]
state grant to assist in that process.
Uh there are fe several sources that
[24:11]
have offered to assist the city in the
cleanup. uh and we want to take
[24:15]
advantage of that. And the schedule for
the grant applications is later around
[24:21]
this month, so we need to move it fairly
quickly. Uh there is no known budget
[24:25]
impact to you at this time. Uh but I
would ask you to adopt a resolution
[24:30]
authorizing the application for a state
grant.
[24:35]
» Okay. Thank you, sir. Is there any
discussion?
[24:40]
What is uh if we receive the grant, how
long before we would actually have the
[24:44]
funds?
>> According to Tom and Calac on this,
[24:49]
their schedule of anticipation is
shortly after the first of next year to
[24:56]
get moving on cleaning up that property.
[25:02]
Councelor Warrington, again just for
transparency, uh because people have
[25:06]
been asking me what the status is on
what's happening. Uh so from what I
[25:11]
understand, uh this grant is
supplemental funding for the structure
[25:15]
removal. At the same time, a soil
amendment paperwork is going to be
[25:19]
worked on. Uh bids for soil removal will
be happening. The soil is then removed.
[25:25]
Uh clean soil is added and then it the
developmental steps occur from there.
[25:30]
Just a recap.
>> That That is correct, Councilwoman.
[25:34]
» Thank you.
>> I'll chime in. I really appreciate the
[25:38]
staff for moving this forward. I think
this is a big opportunity for the city.
[25:43]
Uh love to clean up that property and I
love their willingness to get the
[25:48]
grants. Is this um is this Bailey and
Eric and who else was participating on
[25:55]
that?
>> Uh Tom Holt.
[25:57]
» Tom Holt. Yes. I appreciate
[clears throat]
[26:00]
appreciate the initiative. This is a
sounds like a good idea.
[26:04]
» I I should point out mayor and councel
that uh lots of the work that I do is
[26:09]
driven by the priorities. The fact that
we have a pretty commitment from the
[26:14]
state for the money that this is a high
priority for the council to get done
[26:19]
means that we've got to throw stuff
together to get it this far. what Tom's
[26:24]
waiting for is the signed resolution.
And then that's sort of the state will
[26:29]
want to know too. What's where's the
resolution from the city. I should also
[26:33]
mention that a gentleman contacted me
the other day. He claims he has a
[26:38]
contract to take down the barn on that
property. I haven't found the contract
[26:44]
yet. I need to find that, research it,
uh, and double check with the attorneys
[26:49]
to make sure that can be done.
I know there's been uh concern about
[26:57]
salvaging yes kind of the nice material.
I think uh Ross's feedback to us was
[27:04]
» he felt that structure was safe unsafe
and so I would just whatever we can do
[27:09]
to keep employees safe and contractors
safe as we demo it but try and preserve
[27:14]
as much of it as possible. There any
other comments from council?
[27:20]
I would hope if there was a contract the
that person could also produce the
[27:25]
contract if there is one.
>> I'm hoping that [clears throat] yes.
[27:35]
» Okay.
If there's no further discussion, are
[27:40]
you guys okay proceeding with the
resolution?
[27:43]
So, uh, Colleen, I've used roll call
votes on resolutions. Do you have a list
[27:50]
of counselors?
>> Yes.
[27:52]
» Okay. Are you guys okay with the roll
call vote?
[27:59]
» Thank you.
>> Councelor Ugarte, I move to approve
[28:03]
resolution number 2370 authorizing the
city manager to apply for a state grant
[28:08]
in support of the Glendville project.
>> Thank you. Councilman second. Councilman
[28:15]
second. Thank you.
Council President DeForge.
[28:20]
» Hi,
>> Councelor Yugarte.
[28:23]
» Hi,
>> Councelor Lambert.
[28:26]
» Hi,
>> Councelor Leon.
[28:28]
» Hi,
>> Councelor Warren.
[28:30]
» Hi.
[clears throat]
[28:32]
» Thank you, Mayor Castle.
>> Okay. So, that concludes item number C.
[28:39]
Now, we're going to go to item number,
which is action to select mayor for the
[28:44]
city. There are two applicants, myself
and city purse. And since I have recused
[28:51]
myself, I'm going to now turn it over to
our presiding officer for this action,
[28:57]
councelor.
[29:02]
» Thank you, Mark. Um just as a quick
overview of this process, um this
[29:08]
process is defined in our charter
section 33 and the North Plains
[29:12]
Municipal Code 3337.
Uh in that m municipal code 3337.
[29:19]
Uh we may hold interviews, but it's not
required. However, we've all decided, of
[29:24]
course, to interview uh both applicants.
Um the vacancy has to be posted in a
[29:30]
newspaper, which it was. Uh the vacancy
uh is posted for two weeks which it was.
[29:37]
There is not a tiebreaker vote. Um and
we all have a set of questions.
[29:44]
Okay. Um as a presiding officer, is
there anyone here uh that on the council
[29:51]
that wants to recluse themselves from
this process? And Mark walked away. He's
[29:56]
holding his hand up over there. So um I
need to ask the council for a consensus
[30:01]
vote for him to recluse himself from
this process. So uh just consensus say
[30:08]
um I if you approve
>> I nay.
[30:14]
» Okay. Uh that means there are now four
counselors and four votes. So if a tie
[30:20]
occurs we need to go into deliberations
because there is no tiebreaker vote.
[30:27]
Um, again the questions from the
counselors. Uh, I'm sorry. Any questions
[30:31]
from the counselors before we begin the
interviews?
[30:34]
» Um, yeah, councelor Russ and I I've got
uh a couple concerns on this actually.
[30:40]
Um, given the information that was
submitted today, uh, with the recall,
[30:45]
there still seems to be some questions.
Uh, I question whether or not that this
[30:49]
is something that we should uh decide on
today or whether or not we should
[30:53]
postpone this pending written legal
analysis from the city attorney on the
[30:57]
recall petition status under the Oregon
statute 249.
[31:03]
865 of the North Plains charter.
[31:10]
» Any other comments? Anybody have a
comment around that?
[31:19]
I I don't see a reason not to proceed.
Councelor Weber.
[31:27]
» Thank you, Councelor Yugerte. That was
also a concern of mine. Um just given
[31:32]
again the emails that we've received
today mentioning the recall. I also
[31:38]
would be curious um if Emily is online
if we could potentially discuss um you
[31:45]
know any negative outcomes if we
postpone this appointment process until
[31:52]
the recall petition has been confirmed
and and gone from there.
[31:59]
» Is Emily on the call?
[32:06]
Emily or if there's anyone from from BEH
to represent legal counsel on this call,
[32:12]
that would be great.
>> Mayor and members of the council, I did
[32:17]
talk to the attorneys late this
afternoon
[32:21]
and included in my quick note to you
what Emily's opinion is. Um I if if the
[32:30]
the current
[32:33]
mark if he were to be selected as mayor
that would render the recall
[32:41]
uh move it it takes it away because he's
being recalled as a councilman and not
[32:47]
as a mayor. So that would be the impact.
It is uh and Emily
[32:54]
mentioned this too. This is a policy
choice that you all have to grapple with
[33:00]
and make you either want to move forward
with this or you want to postpone action
[33:05]
until the recall is done or some other
action that you may choose to do.
[33:15]
Council Weber, my understanding from the
attorney, she did not tell us that she
[33:20]
recommended that we should not take
action.
[33:22]
» No, she did not. Okay.
Uh, councelor Rustin, but the email that
[33:27]
you sent out, I think the words you used
was the city attorney suggests. Um, I
[33:34]
would like to see a written legal
opinion, okay, from her.
[33:37]
» Uh, I would also like to, you know, I
know that we received u the signatures.
[33:43]
Uh, I think that that needs to be
validated before we, you know, to know
[33:47]
that whether or not we even have a a
ballot recall.
[33:52]
Councelor
[33:59]
Warrington. Um, so were the signatures
submitted to the county or to whomever
[34:06]
needs to uh validate the signatures at
10:00 this morning?
[34:12]
» To be honest with you, Councilwoman, I I
do not know the status of the
[34:16]
signatures. I only received the letter.
It would take some research for us to uh
[34:22]
get the signatures and spend the time to
have it validated. Uh I talked to Bailey
[34:28]
about this and suggested we work closely
with the county to make sure that it's
[34:33]
done above board and open.
>> Okay. So, at this point, we don't know
[34:38]
how many signatures are collected. They
we don't know if they've been submitted
[34:42]
to the county. Uh we don't know if
they're all valid. Um but we we do have
[34:48]
the attorney's advice that um there's no
risk for us to uh complete this process.
[35:00]
Is that correct?
>> That would be my my interpretation
[35:03]
[clears throat]
of what she is saying.
[35:06]
» Okay. Then it is my opinion that we do
what the city attorney is suggesting and
[35:12]
proceed with uh with this.
selection process.
[35:20]
» Council Weber, I would agree.
Um, councelor Ugarth.
[35:26]
» Thank you, Councelor Yuggart. And I do
want to remind this body um to please
[35:31]
raise your hand, wait for the chair to
call on us um as part of our council
[35:35]
rules. Um I will add in my own um
opinion that I think that we should
[35:43]
postpone tonight's process. um given
that you know we as a council represent
[35:50]
everyone in this community not one side
or the other and while we don't know all
[35:57]
of the details and these signatures have
not been verified I think it's important
[36:01]
that we pause to let that process move
forward and to gain more information
[36:06]
before moving forward in tonight's
process um again we've heard time and
[36:10]
time again from our community
transparency honesty Y those are all key
[36:16]
things and I cannot in my in my own
approach I cannot feel that this is the
[36:23]
right move to potentially consider
someone that's that's potentially being
[36:28]
recalled um into a mayoral position. Um,
that just is not that's not part of the
[36:33]
integrity that I I see. And I would I
would be in support of postponing
[36:40]
tonight's
mayoral selection.
[36:51]
» Council Rustin.
>> Yeah, Council Rustin. Um, yeah, I agree.
[36:55]
just based on everything that came in
today. Um,
[37:01]
like I said, I would like to see a
written opinion from the attorney, not
[37:04]
just something that you know what they
you know suggests in the conversation.
[37:08]
Um, I've explained my thoughts on just
the recall and I think that that needs
[37:13]
to be uh, you know, validated before we
move forward and, um, I do think that,
[37:20]
you know, I I I agree that um,
you know, we do need to take our time on
[37:26]
this. you know, it's uh this is a
significant um decision that we're going
[37:34]
to go ahead and make and I don't think
that it hurts for us to go ahead and
[37:39]
make sure that we have gone through the
process. You know, there I think some
[37:44]
valid concerns were raised today with
public comment. Uh I think if we go
[37:48]
through and give get the legal opinion
in writing if we validate the recall we
[37:54]
then have a firmer foundation to go
ahead and move forward whether that is
[37:58]
to uh select a merit before the recall
or uh wait till the recall happens. I
[38:05]
just don't feel comfortable at this
point making a decision.
[38:10]
» Okay. Uh councelor warrant here. Um so
it sounds like we have a stone
[38:15]
stalemate. uh two to two here to
proceed. So, um when that happens, I
[38:20]
think we uh take a um 10-minute recess
um reboot for a minute or two and um
[38:28]
maybe we can get PH on the call uh see
what they if they can talk to us about
[38:32]
this real time so we can get uh their
opinion. Uh Mr. Weber, council,
[38:38]
» a question. My understanding is we have
on the agenda to select the mayor. If a
[38:45]
majority of us decided to not select the
mayor, then we would not. My
[38:50]
understanding is if we had a two to two,
uh that means we would proceed because
[38:54]
there was not a majority to change
what's on the agenda.
[38:58]
» Oh,
>> but I don't know. You could
[39:00]
» I would Is that correct, Mr. City
Manager?
[39:05]
My recommendation was if it's two and
two that you not proceed.
[39:10]
» That's correct.
>> Yes. All right. So, um all in favor of
[39:16]
taking a uh 10-minute deliberation break
to see if we can get um BH on the line.
[39:23]
Um
all those in favor?
[39:27]
» Oh, I'm sorry.
>> Any discussion? Do we have discussion
[39:30]
first?
>> Yes. Uh, councelor Ugarte, I appreciate
[39:34]
um you suggesting the idea of a
10-minute break. However, again, I want
[39:40]
to be transparent to the community, and
I don't think that we need to have a
[39:45]
10-minute break to discuss this, right?
Because we should be discussing it right
[39:49]
here on the DAS in front of everyone.
Um, I do see Paul is looks like he's
[39:53]
probably uh trying to get someone from
BEH on online right now, but I think
[39:58]
overall this is the question at hand is
do we feel that this is the right
[40:04]
decision to move forward without knowing
all of the information on the recall and
[40:09]
knowing that we're dismissing part of
the public recall process. Um, and so I
[40:17]
think that's the really the question
here of do we want to just dismiss that
[40:21]
and move forward and and hope for the
best or do we want to do our due
[40:25]
diligence and pause, reconvene in two
weeks and move from there?
[40:31]
» Um, thank you councelor. Um, I did not
mean we were all going to have a secret
[40:36]
meeting um, and discuss of course
because that's colluding. uh but what I
[40:40]
am uh trying to establish here is to get
clarity on the issue through BEH. So
[40:46]
taking a maybe five minute break trying
to get BEH on the call so we can get
[40:52]
clarity today so we don't have to push
this further.
[40:56]
» Yes, thank you. I I would question what
is the question we're looking for DEH to
[41:02]
answer specifically? Uh, councelor
Rustin has uh requested uh more clarity
[41:08]
on the process um uh and wants a
definitive decision from the attorney on
[41:15]
whether um we can proceed or it's just
suggested we proceed if I'm not
[41:21]
mistaken.
>> Um councelor Rustin that is one concern.
[41:25]
The other concern is I do think that we
need to know I think we need to have the
[41:30]
status of the recall. I do think that,
you know, from a process standpoint, we
[41:34]
do need to know if it's a valid recall
before we move forward on it.
[41:38]
» Yes, there are two things. So, I don't
know that there's anything that BEH is
[41:41]
going to say today that, you know, is
going to change my mind. We've been
[41:46]
[clears throat] short staff since I
joined a couple months ago. I'll see how
[41:50]
putting this off for two weeks. Uh,
really is going to hurt anything.
[42:00]
We need order. There's no clapping from
the office. We're the voters. I know
[42:05]
you're the voters, but this is a city
council meeting and you don't get to
[42:09]
clap and and do that. So, thank you.
>> So, um I I understand uh what you're
[42:16]
saying. Um,
so I think that um
[42:22]
where it's still made again. Um,
city
[42:27]
um manager, are you aligned with um
are you trying to get a hold of this
[42:34]
city attorney?
>> I will. And I would suggest you probably
[42:37]
have to take the five minute break that
connection.
[42:41]
» Okay. Okay. So five minute break uh
starting now it's 7:43. So it's 7:48
[42:48]
we'll reconvene. Thank you.
[42:57]
No one can stop.
[43:07]
» Well,
understand this.
[50:19]
Can you hear me now?
>> Can you hear me now? Okay. I wanted to
[50:25]
let you know we did get Emily on the
call. She will be joining. When she
[50:29]
joins our Zoom call, we'll reconvene.
So, we might need a minute or two while
[50:33]
she joins the call.
[53:04]
Um, we're just going to continue the
meeting and when Emily joins then we'll
[53:08]
go back to Oh, look. I just had to say
that she joined.
[53:13]
Good. Uh, Emily, are you on call? Can
you unmute?
[53:18]
» Yes, I'm here. Awesome.
Thank you for joining the call abruptly.
[53:23]
I appreciate your timing. Um I am um
we're at a kind of a conundrum here. So
[53:30]
we're looking for some legal advice from
you. Um we are in the process of doing
[53:37]
the mayor selection process. Um, and
there's some questioning about should we
[53:44]
continue to do the mayor selection
process. Uh, while there is a pending
[53:50]
recall on one of the counselors. Um, so
we've read your emails um, etc. It says
[53:57]
you um
uh your opinion I think is maybe the
[54:03]
word uh is that we can proceed but um
councelor Rustin and others have a
[54:09]
couple of questions if you don't mind
answering for them.
[54:13]
» Okay.
>> Of course
[54:15]
» I'll hand it over to councelor Rustin
then.
[54:18]
» Um Council Rustin, first off I don't
recall actually seeing a letter from
[54:24]
Emily on this. I saw
Paul's summary of it and
[54:30]
um I have to find it.
>> Could you use the microphone please?
[54:34]
It's really hard to hear. Thank you.
>> Okay. So, what I was saying is I don't
[54:38]
recall actually seeing a letter from
Emily on this with a with a written
[54:42]
opinion on this. You know, I saw a
summary from a conversation that she had
[54:47]
with Paul that I'm not part of.
And what my request on that you know so
[54:53]
it's two things I'm looking one is a
stated written opinion on um you know
[55:00]
just sorry I have this written down on
here uh on whether or not you know
[55:07]
whether or not we should be moving
forward on this. The other thing is, and
[55:10]
I don't think we're going to settle this
here, you know, if the recall
[55:14]
documentation was submitted, I think
that, you know, we have an obligation
[55:18]
to, you know, at least have it validated
before we make a decision moving
[55:25]
forward. And I don't think that that's
something, Emily, that you can
[55:28]
definitively answer on that. You know,
if I'm wrong, please uh correct me. But
[55:33]
I think that uh you know we owe it to
our constituents to validate those two
[55:39]
things before we move forward. Whether
that's you know uh voting on and putting
[55:45]
uh council orange in that position or uh
Cindy Hurst or whoever else you know may
[55:51]
be more appropriate. So
does that make sense what I'm looking
[55:56]
for?
I think I understand and I think that I
[56:01]
have one answer essentially to respond
to both of your questions which is that
[56:06]
there is no legal need to stop the
appointment process at this point. the
[56:13]
council may proceed with appointing
someone to the mayoral vacancy
[56:20]
um even when one of those applicants is
someone counselor DeForge who has a
[56:28]
pending recall petition. The if the
council were to appoint councelor
[56:37]
DeForge to the mayoral vacancy, the
effect of that would be in order to
[56:42]
accept the mayoral appointment,
councelor DeForge would need to resign
[56:48]
his council position. And the effect of
that would be to moot the recall
[56:53]
petition which was for councelor
DeForge's position council position.
[56:59]
So that there is no legal reason to stop
at this point. That is a policy choice
[57:06]
for the council to make. It is up to you
whether you want to continue the
[57:13]
appointment
um and you know risk that effect.
[57:21]
Does that address both of your
questions?
[57:24]
» No, I understand that we can do it. Um I
think it's you know the second question
[57:29]
is that you know should we do it you
know this way I I personally think that
[57:33]
we need to take a little bit more time
think through you know for myself I I
[57:37]
need a little bit more time to think
through some of this stuff uh you know
[57:42]
just with the fact that we had the
documentation submitted that we did
[57:45]
today you know I just think that that's
it's responsible to take a little bit of
[57:48]
time I don't think it's going to hurt
anything for us to take two more weeks
[57:54]
» you know because you know at any time we
can move forward with this regardless of
[57:57]
where we are in any kind of recall
process, can't we?
[58:02]
» So essentially the risk in not
appointing to fill a vacancy is very
[58:09]
low. Um it is a duty within your charter
of the council to fill a vacancy. There
[58:16]
is no deadline.
Um, so you I mean I guess speaking
[58:23]
practically you have another vacancy
which I think will be up in 2 weeks as
[58:30]
well. Um, I know that council had talked
about keeping those processes separate
[58:35]
in order to avoid confusion, but um, it
seems like that could that's a
[58:42]
possibility.
[58:52]
» Councelor Weber, uh, a question, Emily.
So explain how the process works if in
[58:58]
fact there are enough valid signatures
on this recall. Explain the timeline
[59:05]
kind of costs involved everything that
happens to actually my understanding it
[59:09]
then would have to go to a general vote
a separate some kind of vote. Could you
[59:14]
so could you explain kind of the
timeline and all those steps before it
[59:18]
might come to a conclusion?
Let me uh I can explain the next step
[59:26]
and then let me look up so that I know
and can explain. So the next step is if
[59:32]
it appears to the city that there are
enough
[59:37]
um signatures then the county verifies
those signatures.
[59:44]
Um
and
[59:47]
that's up to the county. I think that
the if I recall the deadline for the
[59:53]
county is within I want to say 30 days.
I'm pulling it up right now um so I can
[59:59]
tell you more definitively.
[1:00:07]
» Emily, this is councelor Warrington. Do
you know if the signatures were even
[1:00:11]
submitted to the county?
>> You know,
[1:00:14]
» no, I uh I don't believe this. I believe
the city received the signatures today.
[1:00:19]
I don't believe they have been turned
over to the county yet. And the deadline
[1:00:23]
is the 30th day after submission or 120
days after the prospective recall
[1:00:29]
petition is filed, whichever is sooner.
And in this case, I'm almost positive
[1:00:33]
it's 30 days. So, the signature, the
county has 30 days to verify the
[1:00:37]
signatures
after the city uh provides them to the
[1:00:42]
county.
>> Thank you. So, what you're saying is
[1:00:47]
that this would in two weeks, if we
delay this for two weeks, we're going to
[1:00:51]
be in the same position,
um, we would still have to wait for the
[1:00:58]
signatures to be valid. Um, and then if
they are, we would still be in the same
[1:01:04]
position until the vote in November to
do the recall if all that works. Is that
[1:01:10]
correct?
So the um recall is extremely unlikely
[1:01:17]
to be on the November ballot. It is very
likely to be a special election
[1:01:22]
um based on the timelines of ballot
printing uh and everything. So it is uh
[1:01:29]
I I think
I don't I don't know the exact
[1:01:34]
timelines. I expect that county
elections is very busy right now with
[1:01:38]
the upcoming November election and so I
expect they would probably take most of
[1:01:42]
those 30 days and then um
the election the there's a resignation
[1:01:51]
period five five days and then there's a
election no later than the 35th day
[1:01:59]
after the last day for the public
officer to resign. So that is about 75
[1:02:05]
days from
did I do that math right? Uh 70 days
[1:02:11]
excuse me from when the city turns over
the
[1:02:17]
signatures for verification to the
county. And I think probably, like I
[1:02:21]
said, because of the timing of the of it
right now, it's likely that county
[1:02:26]
elections will take most of those most
of that time.
[1:02:34]
» Thank you. Any other questions for um
Emily?
[1:02:42]
» Okay. Uh
>> a practical question. If we're split, uh
[1:02:47]
you know, on the agenda is choosing the
mayor. If we're split two to two on
[1:02:50]
whether to proceed,
what does that mean?
[1:02:55]
» So, um, it depends on what the motion
was. What was the motion?
[1:03:00]
[clears throat]
[1:03:04]
» What was the question put to council?
>> We did. We This has come up during
[1:03:09]
discussion. We haven't made an official
motion [clears throat] yet.
[1:03:12]
We just were starting the mayor
selection process and came to kind of a
[1:03:17]
breaching halt because of discussions
before we even started it.
[1:03:22]
» So the the motion would be uh something
similar to um uh
[1:03:30]
um electing a or appointing a new mayor
to fill uh Aaron Dunrow's position.
[1:03:39]
» Point of order. My understanding is we
already have on the agenda to fill it.
[1:03:44]
The potential the potential motion would
be to delay it that delay that for two
[1:03:51]
weeks, right?
>> No, that's not that's not our original
[1:03:54]
motion. That's their that's another
motion. So the original one was for us
[1:04:00]
to appoint a mayor. The other one is to
take a two week break to delivery.
[1:04:09]
Does that make sense?
[1:04:14]
» Oh, I'm sorry.
[1:04:18]
» Hey, Emily, this is counselor. Um, I I
think the question we have here now that
[1:04:24]
we've learned a little bit more, we know
um that there's likely going to be that
[1:04:28]
full 30 days for the county elections
office to validate signatures for the
[1:04:33]
recall. I think my question um that I
specifically would ask is is there an
[1:04:39]
inherent risk of us postponing this
process for 30 days um until that
[1:04:46]
validation process has has gone through.
Um I think the other part you know is
[1:04:52]
that we are all concerned because
there's four of us on the dis right now
[1:04:58]
and likely could be a stalemate. So, I
think that's the part where we're trying
[1:05:02]
to figure out plan A, plan B, and plan C
of can we wait 30 days potentially if
[1:05:08]
that's the consensus of council. And if
tonight we do come to a stalemate,
[1:05:16]
do we just postpone until a further date
or what would that look like?
[1:05:22]
So I would say that um like I said
earlier the risk in postponing
[1:05:30]
temporarily is very low. Um it is a
duty of the council to fill vacancies
[1:05:39]
but there's no timeline. So the that's
pretty much all I can answer on the
[1:05:44]
risk. It's it's low but there's some
there. Um the it depends on as for a tie
[1:05:53]
it depends on the situation. I think
that the
[1:06:01]
um
what I understood there is no um have
[1:06:07]
have you interviewed the candidates? Are
you proceeding? No. So the question, it
[1:06:12]
appears to me that the question before
the council is whether you intend to
[1:06:18]
postpone the mayoral appointment process
till a to a future meeting. And I don't
[1:06:26]
um I don't know if you're talking about
two weeks if you want to talk about when
[1:06:30]
that is. The
>> councilor warranton I think you said 70
[1:06:36]
days until um the not 30 days but more
like 70 days before this might be
[1:06:42]
finalized. Is that is that what you were
saying?
[1:06:46]
» That's when the election would occur.
The actual recall election would occur
[1:06:51]
is around 70 days from now. The
signature verification process is the
[1:06:56]
next step. And once the city provides
the signatures to the county, then the
[1:07:02]
county has 30 days to verify the
signatures.
[1:07:06]
» So, council, go ahead. I was just going
to say, so we have a window of 30 to 70
[1:07:12]
days to get this complete for this to be
settled. 30 to 70 days. Councelor Yarte.
[1:07:20]
» Thank you. Uh, councelor Ugarte, I think
Emily, just the final question I have
[1:07:23]
for you is tonight, um, because it it
feels like we have kind of already taken
[1:07:29]
a stance before we've even deliberated
this full process. Um, so my question to
[1:07:33]
you is tonight, if we are a tie for
moving forward with this mural process,
[1:07:41]
how do we break that? How do we move
forward if we cannot agree to even move
[1:07:45]
forward to interview tonight?
So I understand that councelor DeForge
[1:07:51]
is there and he has been excused by the
council from participating in this vote.
[1:07:57]
So according to your code if this is
section 30.07
[1:08:03]
subb if any member declines to vote and
the result of such action would be to
[1:08:09]
create a tie that member's vote shall be
counted as an I.
[1:08:16]
And I councelor Ugarte, I just wanted to
clarify and if my memory serves me
[1:08:20]
correctly at our last council meeting,
we discussed this potential that
[1:08:26]
councelor DeForge would not be eligible
for a tiebreaker vote, nor would
[1:08:30]
counselor Warrington um as the acting
um council member leading the meeting.
[1:08:37]
So
that was my understanding and feel free
[1:08:41]
to chime in, but there there really
isn't a tiebreaker. Um, so that's what
[1:08:45]
I'm trying to figure out of how do we
move forward because it's very likely
[1:08:48]
there will be a tie tonight and I feel
like there's only the option to
[1:08:53]
postpone. But I wanted
>> Yeah, sorry to interrupt. Um that is
[1:09:01]
so the mayoral appointment is different
and that's where there's all these sort
[1:09:08]
of uncertainties where the in um the
code and charter it provides that the
[1:09:15]
mayor votes to break a tie but you have
a mayor vacancy so the mayor can't vote
[1:09:21]
to break a tie. This is this is separate
from that. This is not this is much more
[1:09:28]
simple
and this actually applies to this
[1:09:32]
situation because the we're not
appointing the mayor. So the members
[1:09:36]
vote the me excused members vote shall
be counted as an I. So if I understand
[1:09:42]
the question before the council to be
correct which is should we postpone the
[1:09:49]
appointment process the councelor
deforges
[1:09:54]
exc as an excused member his vote shall
be counted as an I. So that means yes
[1:09:59]
his vote would be to postpone the
mayoral process to a future meeting
[1:10:06]
Russ. Yeah, sorry, Council Ros, but uh
every other topic on the agenda, we've
[1:10:12]
made a motion on that. We have yet to
make a motion one way or the other on
[1:10:18]
this. So, would it be a question as to
how the motion would uh be framed? And
[1:10:24]
if we are absolutely how
>> uh we would need a majority to pass a
[1:10:28]
motion to do this anyways. And there
it's going to come out two to two on
[1:10:33]
this. you know, if we motion to table
it, two of us are going to vote yes, two
[1:10:37]
of us are going to vote no. And at that
point, at that point, it becomes it
[1:10:42]
becomes uh uh we get in one of these
sort of catch two. I don't think we're
[1:10:46]
going to have enough votes just to even
pass a motion one way or the other.
[1:10:52]
» A motion to vote or not to vote.
Councelor Warrington. Um,
[1:10:59]
should Mark DeForge be unreluced to be
the tiebreaker?
[1:11:06]
» There is. There is a tiebreaker in the
code. I
[1:11:10]
Your concern is
>> my concern is uh just what councelor
[1:11:16]
Rustin is saying. If we make a motion um
two, we're going to say we don't want to
[1:11:22]
postpone it and two we're going to say
we do want to postpone it. So we're
[1:11:26]
still stuck.
>> So who's going to be the time
[1:11:31]
» in that situation? The code provides
that the member who is excused, their
[1:11:37]
vote shall be counted as an I. So it
should be postponed.
[1:11:43]
» Okay. So again, how how you do the
motion?
[1:11:45]
» It should be postponed.
>> So
[1:11:50]
councelor Ugarte.
>> Councelor Yugarte. So, Emily, I really
[1:11:54]
appreciate you taking the time to join
us tonight for this last minute uh Zoom
[1:11:58]
call. I just want to make sure I'm
understanding correctly.
[1:12:03]
Um, hypothetically,
one of us could make a motion to
[1:12:08]
postpone the mayoral interview process
for 30 days, let's say. Um, and then it
[1:12:14]
would just require a second and then we
would also consider any other motions
[1:12:20]
and then we would be able to take a
vote, right? There's anything else we
[1:12:23]
need to consider to move forward in this
process?
[1:12:27]
» Not that I'm aware of. No.
>> So, oh, go ahead. Go ahead.
[1:12:32]
» Yep. It's councelor Wart's.
>> Okay. Uh, councelor Russ and I move to
[1:12:35]
postpone the vote on the mayor
appointment for 30 days.
[1:12:38]
» Councelor second
[1:12:43]
vote.
Hi.
[1:12:50]
» Nay.
>> I'm sorry. Wait. Wait. Sorry.
[1:12:55]
» Say hi.
>> I'm so sorry. Councelor Negarte.
[1:12:58]
» I was hilarious.
>> I to postpone the mayoral process.
[1:13:03]
Sorry.
>> Too late.
[1:13:05]
» Yeah. I'm initially now. [laughter]
[1:13:09]
» Um, okay. So, it sounds like we're just
going to postpone this for 30 days and
[1:13:15]
give the opportunity for the recall to
work its way through and we'll come back
[1:13:20]
after that and try this again.
Is that correct? Um, all those in favor
[1:13:27]
of that, I think we all in favor. Okay.
So, I think that's what we're doing. So,
[1:13:32]
uh, now Mr. Ford is coming back to his
seat. we will be under the rules because
[1:13:37]
there is no more um
mayor process selection process. So
[1:13:43]
welcome back to meetings.
>> Thank you.
[1:13:48]
» Thank you Emily.
>> Okay.
[1:13:51]
» Okay.
>> You don't need me for anything else.
[1:13:54]
» Uh thank you Emily. I think you can
though I appreciate you very much. Thank
[1:13:59]
you.
>> Thank you.
[1:14:00]
» Thank you.
>> All in favor. Now moving to agenda item
[1:14:06]
E which was minutes that was added out
of the consent agenda. So I had
[1:14:14]
previously emailed uh city manager to I
think I identified a couple mistakes
[1:14:20]
minutes that uh councelor Warrington was
listed as a name vote on page six.
[1:14:28]
Council Warrington, I got three or four
that I had called Colleen. I verified
[1:14:34]
her just before the meeting. She has the
email. She'll correct those including
[1:14:39]
the names and other items. So, she is
aware of the updates and we'll take care
[1:14:44]
of those.
>> Perfect.
[1:14:48]
Thank you. Council
[clears throat]
[1:14:50]
» Council, can you please clarify what the
corrections are to the minutes?
[1:14:57]
Um, yes. Let me get my phone. Thank you
for asking.
[1:15:09]
I can go first. Uh,
councelor war if that's okay.
[1:15:14]
» Uhhuh.
>> Okay. I'm looking at page six
[1:15:18]
and this first sentence which is a
continuation of from page five. city
[1:15:25]
manager separation agreement says
councelor Warrington voted nay. I don't
[1:15:30]
think that was correct. That was that's
what I'm asking to have changed.
[1:15:35]
» So I have a complete list if it's okay.
>> So page three the staff presence uh Bill
[1:15:41]
Reed should be added to that because
Bill Reed was in that uh meeting. Uh
[1:15:46]
page five and six, city manager
separation agreement remove councelor
[1:15:51]
Warrington voting nay and add counselor
Ugarte voting nay. Um appointment of
[1:15:56]
acting city manager remove counselor
warrington voting nay, add counselor's
[1:16:02]
voting nay. Page eight, the finance
department monthly report. Remove a
[1:16:08]
representative and add bill read. Those
are the the four that I have.
[1:16:15]
One meeting.
>> That is the July July 15 minutes.
[1:16:21]
» Great.
[1:16:26]
» Was it June 15th?
>> Yes. I'm sorry. June. Yeah.
[1:16:30]
» Sorry. I saw June and July. Thank you,
>> Councelor.
[1:16:34]
» Thank you, Councelor. And thank you,
Councelor Warrington, for clarifying. I
[1:16:38]
also had a few overlapping, so I wanted
to make sure. Um on
[1:16:43]
that June 15, 2026
meeting notes for number seven
[1:16:48]
presentation from Umpqua Valley
Financial. Are you mentioning that the
[1:16:53]
first sentence that says a
representative from Umpqua Valley
[1:16:56]
Financial be corrected to reflect Bill
Reed?
[1:16:59]
» Correct.
>> Yes.
[1:17:01]
» So Bill, how would how would that
sentence read? I just want to make sure
[1:17:04]
I remember in front of me, but instead
of a representative, that would be
[1:17:09]
removed and it would say Bill Reed
and then he uh represented Unplot.
[1:17:19]
So the sentence on number seven Aqua
Valley Financial would read instead of a
[1:17:26]
representative, it would read Bill Reed
from Uqua Valley Financial.
[1:17:30]
» No, he um No, I'm sorry. Uh
it would say Bill Reed represented
[1:17:38]
Home Enqua Financial and then from there
because he was the one speaking, not
[1:17:44]
anybody from HomeQua Financial.
>> Okay. And Gene Larson, we would redact
[1:17:50]
that part portion as well.
Uh I didn't see that. I know that Bill
[1:17:56]
was doing the reporting out. Maybe there
was a question in there, but I do know
[1:18:00]
that Bill was the one who started the
conversation and reported out that
[1:18:04]
financial um information.
>> Okay. And I and I appreciate you
[1:18:09]
clarifying. I I don't want to beat a
dead horse, but I want to make sure I'm
[1:18:12]
understanding correctly. So the sentence
as presented in the agenda or in the
[1:18:17]
minutes states a representative from
Elqua Valley Financial in parenthesis
[1:18:21]
Ash a partner appeared via Zoom
accompanied by Jean Larson who leads the
[1:18:26]
single audit area and so that's the the
exact sentence I want to clarify that
[1:18:32]
none of those those people listed should
be included in the minutes. Thank you
[1:18:37]
for the questions. Um, I carefully
watched this piece of the video several
[1:18:42]
times to see what happened. Um, and it
was Bill Reid who uh was a
[1:18:47]
representative for Umpqua and I don't
know who Ash is. I don't know what
[1:18:52]
that's all about. Um, and appeared via
Zoom is not correct. Um, because they
[1:18:58]
weren't on the Zoom call because Bill
Reed was the person um representing them
[1:19:04]
in our council meeting.
Okay.
[1:19:08]
» So, um I think we need to take a minute.
Um I'll have to So, this is different
[1:19:12]
than what I edited. It came back
different. So, I'm going to have to look
[1:19:18]
at it again and rewrite it.
>> Request a rewrite
[1:19:25]
» because it came to me, I reviewed it, I
edited it, this is what I had, and this
[1:19:30]
is how it came back different than what
I requested. So, okay.
[1:19:35]
» Thank you. Thank you for clarifying
that. So, um, what I'm hearing is
[1:19:38]
there's still some adjustments that
might need to be made given this new
[1:19:42]
information and and corrections. So, um,
Council President DeForge, I would be
[1:19:48]
curious if we could postpone approving
at least the June 15, 2026 minutes to a
[1:19:54]
future meeting.
>> Is everyone okay with getting ourselves
[1:19:59]
some extra review time?
>> Agree. Yes.
[1:20:03]
» Okay. Thank you, Council Gart. We move
to the approval of the June July 6, 2026
[1:20:13]
minutes.
Was there any feedback provided to
[1:20:16]
Colleen?
[1:20:20]
» I did not have any issues with uh the
July 6th
[1:20:26]
edits.
>> I did not either.
[1:20:31]
» Councelor Yugarte.
>> Councelor Yugarte. A couple things I did
[1:20:34]
connect with Colleen. Um, just
mentioning it marked I was marked as
[1:20:38]
absent. I have previously spoken to
interimm city manager Rob and Dodie
[1:20:42]
during that time letting her know that I
would be gone. Um, so I would like that
[1:20:46]
corrected to say excused versus absent.
And then there were just a couple small
[1:20:52]
spelling errors um, specifically under
public comment for the July 6, 2026
[1:20:58]
meeting minutes. Um it says public
comment section C talks about Butch
[1:21:03]
Kendall address the council. Um and
later in that that paragraph it says Mr.
[1:21:09]
Kendall and it it just has a um his name
spelled incorrectly. So it should say
[1:21:13]
Mr. Kendall also noted that since North
Plains Incorporation
[1:21:18]
etc etc. So just want to update that to
reflect the correct spelling in the
[1:21:22]
minutes. Um and with that I will pass it
back on.
[1:21:26]
» Okay. any additional corrections or any
feedback to councelor's corrections? If
[1:21:35]
not, I would recommend that be listing
for a motion to approve the July 6, 2026
[1:21:42]
minutes as amended.
[1:21:48]
» Councelor Weber so moved.
>> Second.
[1:21:52]
» Second.
>> Councelor Warrington. Second.
[1:21:55]
All those in favor of approving the July
6 minutes.
[1:22:00]
» I
>> I
[1:22:01]
» Any opposed?
Okay. Motion carries and we will um
[1:22:07]
continue the conversation on the June
15th, 2026 minutes to the next week.
[1:22:14]
We're going to move along to item eight,
which is old business. There is no item
[1:22:19]
there. So number nine, city manager
report. Thank you, mayor, members of
[1:22:25]
council. U my report is going to be
verbal this time because I didn't have
[1:22:29]
time to write one given everything else.
So, I hope you have patience with me. I
[1:22:34]
did send you all a copy of a uh
information sheet that I received about
[1:22:42]
city improvements. Uh so, you have that
information.
[1:22:46]
Uh I also sent you a copy of Ross's
final report and recommendations. You
[1:22:52]
may want to put that on a future agenda
and consider those. I'll be meeting with
[1:22:58]
uh the city recorder on Thursday to talk
about or phasing back in to the work and
[1:23:05]
that'll take a lot of pressure off some
folks.
[1:23:11]
Uh on Wednesday morning, um Brianna and
Bailey and I are meeting with Theres to
[1:23:20]
close out her contract, which will
include doing one final newsletter. That
[1:23:26]
will be the end of her work here.
I'll be calling you all, if I haven't
[1:23:32]
already, to schedule the interviews uh
with with you council members.
[1:23:40]
and we'll be interviewing three
finalists for the program and community
[1:23:45]
communication supervisor position. There
were five. They've been boiled down to
[1:23:50]
three and I'm setting those up for next
week so we can get that position moving
[1:23:55]
forward.
And I'm meeting Wednesday at 1 on the uh
[1:24:01]
clean water contract to get that moving.
That needs to come forward to you. Uh
[1:24:07]
and that concludes my report for today.
Thank you, sir. Are there any comments
[1:24:13]
for
from city manager?
[1:24:17]
» Councelor Weber, what will be the
process? The three applications for the
[1:24:21]
new position. Will you bring
three to us or one to us or what will be
[1:24:26]
the process?
>> We will bring one for recommended hire.
[1:24:31]
Okay.
>> Councelor Ugarte.
[1:24:35]
Thank you, councelor Yugarte. Um, I
wanted to ask a little bit more about
[1:24:40]
the city contract ending with PR for
theres and what does that look like
[1:24:46]
after that contract is ended or do we
have someone else lined up or what is
[1:24:51]
the plan going forward for PR?
>> Good question. And I think the plan is
[1:24:56]
that you're the new position
of of programs and communication
[1:25:02]
supervisor would pick up some of those
elements plus some recreation and some
[1:25:08]
other council directed activities.
[1:25:13]
» And so for the timeline of someone being
in that position versus the contract
[1:25:19]
ending with the Ling, what does that
look like? Is there going to be
[1:25:24]
continuity? Is there a gap?
>> My my hope is it will be positive and
[1:25:31]
the new person will pick up in early
October.
[1:25:37]
Theres has been notified by the city of
that her contract terminates on the 30th
[1:25:44]
of September.
So that we may see some void in there
[1:25:49]
for a while.
But I'm hoping that we don't have that.
[1:25:53]
But again, the reality is we could very
well have a week or two where there is
[1:25:58]
nobody covering that base.
>> Okay. And what's the contingency plan if
[1:26:04]
there is a gap?
>> Good question. I have none at this time.
[1:26:09]
And I and I just asked that because we
um unfortunately have made many
[1:26:14]
headlines across
the local news and I think it's really
[1:26:19]
important that we continue to be mindful
of the narrative that is is being
[1:26:25]
broadcast um from this this council's
actions and from our city as well. So um
[1:26:31]
I respect the process and and understand
that we need time to appoint someone for
[1:26:36]
that new position. However, I would be
curious if we
[1:26:41]
had something where we did a weekby-
week extension of a contract until we
[1:26:45]
have someone solidified into that
position. Again, um the narrative for
[1:26:49]
the this community is very important and
especially as we are trying to attract
[1:26:54]
talent to city staff. Um I want to be
mindful that we are not relying on um
[1:27:01]
people on Facebook controlling the
narrative for us, but instead have a
[1:27:05]
voice for the city. Good, good point.
Let me let me analyze that and study it
[1:27:10]
and get you a report back to let you
know what our options are. I see at
[1:27:16]
least a couple one would be a a couple
week void if we have the void what staff
[1:27:23]
members will cover those bases. If we
can extend the for a week or two if
[1:27:29]
she's even willing u that would be an
option but let me do that and get it to
[1:27:35]
you.
>> Okay. Thank you.
[1:27:37]
» Thank you.
>> Thank you, council. Any other comments?
[1:27:47]
Yes, sir. Mayor, if I may put one other
point out here, and I've done this in my
[1:27:53]
daily status reports. I I am just
absolutely amazed at the amount of work
[1:28:01]
that is being done by your staff. You
have about as short a staff city as I
[1:28:08]
have ever run into in my 110 years of
doing school.
[1:28:13]
But but it is amazing and I would
suggest that any time you get a chance
[1:28:18]
to compliment your staff do so because
they are really under pressure and some
[1:28:24]
of them are getting more pressure now
that I'm here uh throwing more
[1:28:29]
responsibilities on them and they're
just soaking it up and they're
[1:28:33]
delivering at a high level.
>> Very nice. Thank you, sir. We appreciate
[1:28:37]
our staff.
[1:28:42]
Anything else before I move on to the
next agenda item?
[1:28:48]
» Going to move to council comments 10,
which is council reports.
[1:28:54]
Um, councelor Rustin, do you mind if I
start with you? You come on down.
[1:28:58]
» Um, yeah, that's fine. U,
[clears throat] so I last meeting I've
[1:29:04]
not had any expio
uh obligations, but I will be attending
[1:29:08]
the library board meeting next week. Uh,
one thing that I am concerned about as
[1:29:14]
I've gone through the calendar is just
the number of boards and committees that
[1:29:17]
have uh, canceled meetings. Uh and what
I would like to get on the agenda is for
[1:29:24]
you the EDC uh library you know all of
them in front uh the council to give an
[1:29:30]
update on when their last meeting was
what their primary objectives are
[1:29:35]
roadblocks that they have
[clears throat] uh and assistance that
[1:29:39]
they need from the council to move
forward. Uh, I'm just concerned that,
[1:29:44]
you know, we're seeing stalls in, as far
as I can tell, every board committee
[1:29:49]
with the exception of the library and
maybe public works.
[1:29:53]
» Well, would you like to address that? I
know we've got the planning commission
[1:29:56]
is scheduled for tomorrow, right?
>> Yes. And I'm in discussions with Patty
[1:30:01]
for the uh Rick Parks board meeting
coming up in a couple of weeks. But I
[1:30:08]
think that's a good comment. just let
let me let us do some analysis and and
[1:30:14]
come up with a plan to properly
service those committees and get that
[1:30:20]
moving forward.
>> Yeah, I I appreciate that and it doesn't
[1:30:23]
necessarily need to all happen once at
once, but I would like to see us move
[1:30:27]
forward.
>> Okay. Thank you, sir. Does that address
[1:30:30]
your concern?
>> That is. Yeah. Thank you.
[1:30:33]
» Anything else you'd like to comment?
>> No, I think I've done it enough today.
[1:30:39]
Great. Thank you. Um I would like to add
an agenda item um a high priority one um
[1:30:47]
for the next meeting if possible. Uh we
all uh the whole city is behind a data
[1:30:56]
center ban. We have a ordinance number
501 that Emily Waldron uh wrote up for
[1:31:02]
us as a draft. Um, I think we would like
I would like to have a agenda item that
[1:31:08]
we can review that uh and see if there
are next steps or what we need to do to
[1:31:13]
um further the data center ban in our
city.
[1:31:18]
» Thank you, councelor.
>> Um, not done.
[1:31:21]
» I apologize. [laughter]
>> Um, also the Jesse Mays uh thing, I know
[1:31:26]
there are two sections around that. Uh,
I know that uh Mr. Paul Cook is working
[1:31:31]
on the pitcher itself. Um, and we need
to also have an agenda item around this
[1:31:38]
drinking fountain um plaque. So, I'd
like to add that to some agenda items
[1:31:43]
soon. Um, and the audit results for
2122. The last time we talked about
[1:31:49]
those um there was additional details or
more in depth that we wanted um provided
[1:31:56]
to us. Have we gotten those details um
from is it?
[1:32:04]
» I believe it was Marina that
>> Marina. Thank you. Get those additional
[1:32:07]
details that you asked for.
>> Uh yes, I believe that that was
[1:32:11]
complete. I can provide a copy.
>> That would be great. Thank you. That's
[1:32:15]
all I have.
>> Okay. So, let me just pause a second
[1:32:17]
here because you brought up some some
items I wanted to check with the team.
[1:32:21]
So, uh data center ban as a future
agenda item. Is there council consensus
[1:32:27]
that you would like to discuss this?
>> Yes.
[1:32:35]
» Okay. Councelor Weber, if it were
possible, it would also for me be
[1:32:40]
helpful to have Emily, legal counsel,
>> look over the document and see if there
[1:32:45]
are any legal issues that
>> Yeah, I think my suggestion for next
[1:32:50]
steps would be now that Paul has an
agenda item for us, he would think about
[1:32:56]
how to maybe bring us options and I can
share with you what a citizen prepared a
[1:33:01]
document and has a starting point and we
can have a conversation. so that when
[1:33:06]
the next council meeting happens, we can
address councelor Warrington's
[1:33:11]
suggestion. You also uh suggested Jesse
May's picture. I believe we have um
[1:33:18]
talked about that before and everyone's
on board with that. Um I think Ross left
[1:33:23]
it as public works department was going
to be responsible for hanging it and we
[1:33:29]
we just need to get that across the
finish line. Is that right?
[1:33:31]
» I believe that is correct. We need to
know where to hang it and then ask them
[1:33:35]
to hang it. So, just a quick agenda item
to discuss that and finalize.
[1:33:40]
» Is it is it an agenda item or is it
you're asking the the public works
[1:33:44]
department to hang the picture?
>> Where are we going to hang it? I mean,
[1:33:47]
it was under the TV. Is that where we
want to hang it?
[1:33:50]
» So, how about uh can you come back to
the council and tell us what public
[1:33:56]
works feedback is on how to hang that
picture? Is that would that address your
[1:34:01]
concern council or you want you want to
go ahead? Yeah, sir. When I discussed it
[1:34:07]
with Patty today at chamber lunchon, she
indicated that they felt it was the role
[1:34:12]
of the park committee to review the
situation and come forward to council
[1:34:18]
with recommendations about where to hang
it, how to do the plaque and all of
[1:34:23]
those pieces.
Councelor Warrington, there's two
[1:34:27]
separate things and uh the hanging the
picture is one. Yeah. And that was going
[1:34:33]
to be in the in this room, I thought.
And the other one is the plaque above
[1:34:38]
the um fountain.
>> And maybe that's the parks and wreck
[1:34:43]
thing, but the other one is the framed
picture that was just going to be home.
[1:34:48]
» So, well, can we break this into two
separate issues? So, the first one is
[1:34:54]
the picture. So Ross's feedback before
was public works own that if you would
[1:35:00]
like to take Paul a different position
and how about how about think about it
[1:35:05]
analyze it and come back to us with a
recommendation. I think everyone's
[1:35:09]
aligned that we want to honor Jesse Mays
and we would like
[1:35:13]
» we'd like somehow to to make that
happen. So, if you could think about a
[1:35:18]
way that would address councelor
Warrington's concern.
[1:35:22]
» I don't think there's any doubt that
public works will have to do the hang.
[1:35:25]
» Yeah.
>> Okay. Okay. Does that address your first
[1:35:29]
concern on the picture? Okay. Thank you.
Now, to the drinking fountain and this
[1:35:33]
is followup to the public comment that I
believe was Meredith made. So, it looks
[1:35:38]
like we would like to get a plaque. I
think Meredith said $500. And if we
[1:35:43]
could, since Elmer is 100 years old, if
we could we could make that happen, I
[1:35:50]
think that would be great. Is that
>> is that okay with you there, Paul?
[1:35:55]
» Yes.
>> Thank you, sir. Every is that okay with
[1:35:57]
everyone else?
>> Okay. And Okay, I'll take an action item
[1:36:02]
on audit results.
Okay.
[1:36:07]
Councelor Weber.
>> Councelor Weber. Uh I'm not sure the
[1:36:12]
best way to do this. I would ask for
some sort of council perhaps work
[1:36:16]
session would be the best way to do it
before the next meeting to discuss where
[1:36:20]
we are with the TGM uh the UGB process.
Uh that has not been doing much for
[1:36:27]
several months. Uh one suggestion would
be to see if we could invite I'm not
[1:36:31]
sure his full name but Glenn works with
ODOT who are the people that are uh
[1:36:37]
involved in that whole process. if
perhaps he would join us uh at a work
[1:36:43]
session to discuss what our options are
uh going forward.
[1:36:48]
» So Paul, did you get a briefing on our
TGM project? Are you familiar?
[1:36:51]
» I have that.
>> Okay, I can I can bring you up to speed
[1:36:54]
on that. But basically, we have a
planning process through ODOT and uh we
[1:37:00]
need to
continue on our next steps. So let me
[1:37:04]
just check around the room here. Is
adding the TGM
[1:37:09]
checkin or update or decision point to a
future agenda that be something you guys
[1:37:16]
are consistent with. I'll start over
here. Council West, you okay with that?
[1:37:21]
Warrington?
>> Yeah.
[1:37:23]
» Okay. Okay. Looks like there's consensus
that we would like to discuss TGM
[1:37:28]
project. Okay. Council Weber, go ahead.
>> A couple meetings uh I attended. I am
[1:37:34]
involved in the MAC Metropolitan Area
Communication Council and I will be
[1:37:40]
working uh with Paul. Uh we have a
10-year Comcast agreement that they
[1:37:46]
would like our resolution that we would
approve at the next meeting. I think
[1:37:51]
there's 15 different municipalities that
are part of this Comcast agreement. Uh
[1:37:56]
we don't get a huge financial
uh from that. I think it's around maybe
[1:38:02]
15 to 17,000 but it's something we are
all a part of have been a part of this
[1:38:06]
for a long time this Comcast agreement
and we need to do a resolution so I will
[1:38:12]
work with Paul to bring that before the
group and then the group can decide. Uh
[1:38:16]
I've also been working with MAC a bit
just uh trying to create a good
[1:38:21]
relationship with them. Uh unfortunately
when I first uh joined the MAC uh there
[1:38:28]
was a problem with a grant that they had
given us that was going to be used at
[1:38:31]
the Kindle Center and uh $30,000 of the
grant was never used. Uh so they uh
[1:38:38]
responded that the city would need to
repay the unused portion and uh I'm not
[1:38:42]
sure the whole reason but there was a
six-month delay when that money was not
[1:38:47]
refunded when they had requested to be
refunded. Uh fortunately um myself and
[1:38:54]
others were involved and that was worked
out. The money about a month ago was
[1:38:59]
given back to MAC which was good. Uh I
also met with the um talked to the new
[1:39:06]
director of MAC about one of the
priorities have been to get a better
[1:39:12]
sound system, TV, all that in this room.
and he corresponded to me that in 2025
[1:39:20]
he had come to this building met with
Bill Reid uh staff and brought an expert
[1:39:26]
on board and they are open the funding
at that time it was the $ 15 to $20,000
[1:39:32]
upgrade grant that they were open to uh
helping us with through MAC. Uh
[1:39:38]
unfortunately, I don't know the whole
reason for it, but he said they went
[1:39:42]
back and forth several times, but uh for
some reason in March uh March, April,
[1:39:48]
May, June, the city for some reason was
not responding back to requests from
[1:39:54]
MAC. And at that point, MAC uh the grant
process timeline ran out. So that money
[1:39:59]
went away. Uh but he is open to us
reapplying for uh future funds. So we
[1:40:06]
will be working on that.
I also attended a uh EPA and Brownfield
[1:40:12]
uh meeting on the 5acre uh Glenco
property cleanup. Uh Ross was at that
[1:40:20]
meeting. Also, Tom Bolt, our um lobbyist
was there. Uh it was a very impressive
[1:40:27]
meeting. The representative from the EPA
was there and we had an excellent
[1:40:31]
discussion on the brownfield uh cleanup.
Uh the part that was a little surprising
[1:40:37]
to me uh at one point she said, "I'm
just here to kind of clarify if you
[1:40:42]
still
uh are hoping to get the million dollars
[1:40:46]
because we have not received any of your
paperwork." The agreement uh the way the
[1:40:51]
grant works is you're given the grant,
but then there's a whole agreement
[1:40:53]
process that needs to take place. And
for some reason in this uh last 15-month
[1:40:59]
period uh the city had not completed
that documentation had not given it to
[1:41:05]
the EPA. Uh the EPA was very cordial
about it but was surprised that the city
[1:41:11]
had not responded with what was needed.
Uh they said that was very unusual uh
[1:41:18]
that a city would wait that long to
basically get the money. So, the good
[1:41:22]
news is that is moving at this point.
Ross has worked on it. Tom Bolt is
[1:41:28]
involved. I think they've come to you.
Bailey, I think, is working on some of
[1:41:32]
the paperwork. And um uh the good news
is I think that's uh the key is not so
[1:41:38]
much looking back, but the forward
motion now is working where we will be
[1:41:42]
able to uh secure those funds it looks
like and then hopefully additional money
[1:41:47]
for the house re house removals.
That is the end of the year. Thank you,
[1:41:52]
sir. Council,
[1:41:59]
» thank you, councelor Ugarte. Um, again,
no exeicio duties. Um, I want to echo
[1:42:07]
councelor Rustin's statement regarding
trying to establish our boards and
[1:42:12]
committees back into their regular
cadence and meetings. So, thank you to
[1:42:14]
Paul for already being proactive. Um, I
think my my question is for Paul. Is
[1:42:21]
there anything you need from council to
help support getting move meetings back
[1:42:26]
into the regular schedule
for other boards of commissions?
[1:42:30]
» Right. I'll let you let you know. Okay.
>> Okay. Um, the other um topic I wanted to
[1:42:38]
mention and I I would like everyone to
refrain their pitch works for just a
[1:42:42]
second, but I was going to say data
center. I know that's a hot topic. Um
[1:42:46]
but I while I support us exploring an
option for data center ban, I would say
[1:42:55]
that we have other topics that are of a
higher priority and more timesensitive
[1:43:00]
um than spending time on a data center
van. Right now we need to get our city
[1:43:05]
into a functional state with just staff
in general. um getting our boards and
[1:43:10]
commissions back into place and to spend
time on a data center van when we don't
[1:43:16]
even have enough buildable inventory for
anything in the city close to a data
[1:43:21]
center. Um it just feels like this is
this could be a waste of time at this
[1:43:26]
point. I do think it is important. I do
not personally want data centers of
[1:43:30]
North Plains, but I think that we have
other priorities, especially given some
[1:43:34]
of the feedback that we've received from
previous interimm city manager on some
[1:43:39]
data points and areas of opportunity. I
would really encourage this council to
[1:43:44]
consider postponing dis discussion for
data center and to really highlight a
[1:43:51]
work session andor agenda topic for some
of those points that Ross had previously
[1:43:57]
left for us as a council. And I know
Paul had also echoed that that that is
[1:44:01]
um a priority. I was just curious what
everyone's thoughts are. Are we I know
[1:44:07]
time is finite, but are we leaning
towards wanting to spend time with the
[1:44:12]
next meeting for data center ban or are
we wanting to potentially table that for
[1:44:18]
a future topic once the city is
stabilized
[1:44:22]
and we instead we can focus on really
the the task at hand of stabilizing our
[1:44:28]
city given the feedback we have.
>> Council Council Rustin, I don't think
[1:44:32]
that uh there's any reason to postpone
it. I think we can address the other
[1:44:36]
things and at least entertain a
conversation. You know, us having a
[1:44:40]
conversation does not prevent us from
doing anything else. Okay.
[1:44:45]
» Warrington.
>> Councelor Warrington. Um I think a a
[1:44:48]
discussion is in order. I don't think we
need to spend hours upon hours on
[1:44:53]
discussing it, but at least start uh the
conversation to see where it might lead
[1:44:58]
us is a good idea.
>> Thank you, Councelor Weber. I would also
[1:45:03]
move forward with the conversation.
I'll I'll also support
[1:45:09]
the effort to have the discussion.
>> Okay, no problem. Um, couple other
[1:45:14]
things I wanted to uh mention. Um, just
again, huge thanks to the community for
[1:45:20]
coming out. Um, just really giving your
support and and letting us know how you
[1:45:25]
feel and what you want. So, I just want
to say thank you um to everyone online,
[1:45:28]
to everyone here in person. um just
thank you. It's really important to show
[1:45:33]
up. So, thank you for that. Um I also
wanted to remind council um I've noticed
[1:45:39]
that there have been several emails
amongst the council that is replying all
[1:45:43]
and I want to remind everyone of the
serial communications law. We should not
[1:45:47]
be hitting reply all as counselors
to any communication amongst council.
[1:45:54]
So, I just want to remind everyone, the
other thing I wanted to remind this
[1:45:58]
council of are Robert's rules. Part of
our council rules is that we need to
[1:46:03]
make a gesture for the chair to call on
us and say, "Councelor Warrington,
[1:46:10]
counselor Rustin, um because there have
been several times tonight that I have
[1:46:15]
raised my hand and someone another
council member has spoken over me um
[1:46:20]
without following Robert's rules." So
again, I know we're all learning. Um
[1:46:24]
this is a new process for for most, but
I just want to really make sure that we
[1:46:29]
are following the agenda um and the
rules at hand with us. So um that being
[1:46:34]
said, I the last thing I wanted to cover
are just our exeicio duties and try to
[1:46:42]
get a clear picture of what meetings are
occurring within the city this this
[1:46:46]
month.
And that might be a question for Paul,
[1:46:50]
that might be
a question at the next meeting, but I'm
[1:46:54]
just curious what meetings we should
plan on holding for the month of
[1:46:58]
September for our boards and
commissions.
[1:47:05]
Thank you, counselor. Um, my quick
update is um I will be attending the
[1:47:11]
planning commission meeting as exopicio
tomorrow. Um, I've been attending Metro
[1:47:18]
Policy Advisory Committee. They didn't
have a meeting in August meeting in
[1:47:23]
July. Um,
and I think that is it for me.
[1:47:28]
Councelor,
>> thank you. So, back to my previous
[1:47:32]
question, what what meetings are
occurring this month? Can we trust
[1:47:35]
what's in the packet that the parks and
recck board will be occurring on
[1:47:39]
September 14th? Yes or no?
>> To the best of my knowledge, no date has
[1:47:45]
been set.
the chairperson for the committee will
[1:47:49]
be out of town till next week. We agreed
to get together and put together an
[1:47:54]
agenda and a meeting day or two.
>> Okay. So, the 914 parks and recck board
[1:47:59]
is still TBD.
Is that is that correct?
[1:48:04]
» Could happen. I I don't know how fast
that she's going to want to
[1:48:09]
council. Uh
>> council ran according to the North
[1:48:11]
Plains calendar, the four the meeting on
the 14th is listed as being cancelled
[1:48:15]
for parks and wreck.
which was part of my you know sorry
[1:48:20]
because I'm seeing a lot of those on the
calendar.
[1:48:23]
» Thank you sir. Council
>> thank you and I think that's the the
[1:48:26]
disconnect right now is as you know
staff is doing their very best and
[1:48:30]
there's a lot of moving pieces that have
to get updated and you know looking at
[1:48:35]
the the calendar said it's cancelled but
looking at our agenda packet that was
[1:48:40]
just recently provided it says that
they're all of the meetings are
[1:48:43]
occurring. So, I don't want to peacemeal
this and I know again staffing is is at
[1:48:50]
a critical level, but we need to have
direction and we need to know are these
[1:48:54]
meetings happening in the next 3 weeks.
I don't think that's too much to ask.
[1:48:58]
Um, so if if this is a decision of we're
going to cancel the parks and recck
[1:49:03]
meeting for 9:14 and try again in
October once we have a clear picture,
[1:49:08]
maybe that's more definitive. I feel
like we are running the city day by day
[1:49:13]
and we are getting notices of special
meetings that are out of cadence that
[1:49:20]
are not being properly communicated and
everything is is discombobulated for
[1:49:25]
lack of a better term.
>> I think those are good points. Let let
[1:49:28]
me get back with you with a
comprehensive report to bring all of
[1:49:32]
that up to.
>> Okay. So, thank you and I appreciate it.
[1:49:35]
And again, I know you're just walking in
and and again, everyone is doing the
[1:49:39]
best they can, but I think as a city
again, it's really important that we're
[1:49:43]
communicating and there's a big
disconnect right now. That's again why
[1:49:46]
I'm concerned about PR. The other
question I had, um, planning commission,
[1:49:50]
we are good to go for the library board
916 meeting. Is that planned in progress
[1:49:58]
or is that canled?
>> As far as I know, it is on.
[1:50:02]
» Okay, perfect. Thank you. And then um
just the only other thing I wanted to
[1:50:07]
touch on is for the Washington County
Coordinating Committee. I know that that
[1:50:12]
typically has been um just mayors that
are able to attend. Is that something
[1:50:19]
within your scope? I know you have a lot
on your plate, but do you have capacity
[1:50:23]
to attend that so that we still have
representation for North Plains?
[1:50:26]
» What's the date?
>> Uh it's the second Monday of every
[1:50:30]
month. So it looks like it'll be Monday
the 14th.
[1:50:34]
at noon.
And this is this is the very last page
[1:50:38]
in our packet if you need to reference
it later on.
[1:50:43]
» Let me take a look at at that function
and my calendar. See if I can do that.
[1:50:48]
» Okay. Thank you,
>> Council Rustin.
[1:50:51]
» Yeah, sorry. Council Russ, uh, one more
thing just I was looking at the, uh,
[1:50:56]
calendar. We don't have any URA meetings
scheduled for next. We're on discuss
[1:51:02]
that.
>> Okay. Get those back on the calendar.
[1:51:05]
Okay. Yeah. Good point.
[1:51:09]
» Okay. I think we we kind of transitioned
into uh 10B which is review September
[1:51:16]
2026 council calendar. So is there any
other comments on the calendar?
[1:51:25]
Okay.
So I am going to adjourn the meeting.
[1:51:30]
» Council Warington, I have one one last
comment. I'm sorry. During our meeting
[1:51:35]
today, I requested the audience not to
um clap or make noises. Okay. And I
[1:51:41]
think that we need to revisit the uh
rules of disruption to the council
[1:51:47]
meeting. Um I know that Hillsboro allows
people to snap um so it isn't as
[1:51:52]
disruptive. Uh, I know that, you know,
there's obviously emotions going on here
[1:51:57]
and we want to, uh, let people express
themselves, but we don't also want to
[1:52:03]
be, um, disrupted. So, maybe we can call
that up or um, the next comments or
[1:52:10]
something on how the audience can
participate in uh, their emotions
[1:52:16]
without disrupting the council.
>> Okay.
[1:52:22]
» Thank you.
[1:52:27]
There are any other comments before I
adjourn the meeting?
[1:52:32]
» Okay. So, the city council meeting is
going to be adjourned at only 53 p.m.
[1:52:38]
» Thank you. Thank you.
[1:52:46]
» Thank you.
[1:52:49]
for you for
me.