[0:03] Good morning everyone. The Hillsboro

[0:06] City Council meeting is called to order.

[0:08] This is a spe special city council

[0:10] meeting and city clerk, may we please

[0:11] have the roll call.

[0:14] >> Thank you. Mayor Cole Adams

[0:17] >> present. Jang

[0:19] >> present.

[0:19] >> Collic

[0:20] >> present.

[0:21] >> Ragdale

[0:22] >> present.

[0:23] >> Cole

[0:24] >> present.

[0:25] >> Thank you. Um for the record um Vice

[0:28] Mayor Ragdale is joining us by

[0:30] teleconference uh remotely

[0:33] and all the appropriate all the

[0:35] appropriate [clears throat] technical

[0:36] and legal steps have been addressed with

[0:38] regards to her joining us remotely. Um

[0:42] today we will be addressing um the

[0:44] consideration of an appointment of two

[0:47] city council members versus proceeding

[0:50] with uh an election for these council

[0:52] members. And may we um please could you

[0:56] please stand to join me in the pledge

[0:58] allegiance

[1:03] flag

[1:07] » to the

[1:10] one nation under God indivisible with

[1:13] liberty and justice for

[1:21] » me Rexdale I hope it's at least daytime

[1:23] where you are [laughter]

[1:25] >> it is it is a perfect time. It's 5

[1:27] o'clock. Thank you.

[1:31] >> All right. Um we will proceed to the

[1:33] public comments on items that are not on

[1:36] the agenda. Um do we have any public

[1:38] comments from for items not on the

[1:40] agenda?

[1:41] >> Thank you, Mayor Cole. No public

[1:43] comment.

[1:44] >> Okay. And um I will close public

[1:46] comment. And the next item, do any coun

[1:49] council members have a conflict of

[1:51] interest they may need to disclose

[1:52] related to item the one item that's on

[1:55] the agenda?

[1:57] Seeing none, um we will then proceed

[2:01] with the new business, which is the

[2:03] consideration of resolution appointing

[2:05] Jeff Baxter and Leslie Morgan Ragsdale

[2:08] to the town of Hillsboro City Council.

[2:11] And this will be presented by our city

[2:13] clerk, Lisa Natush.

[2:17] Thank you, Mayor Cole, Vice Mayor

[2:19] Ragsdale, and council members.

[2:22] Uh, so, uh, as you know, the city

[2:24] council adopted resolutions in June to

[2:27] call the election in November to fill

[2:29] two seats. Um those resolutions included

[2:32] um consolidating the election with the

[2:35] statewide general election, requesting

[2:37] the services of the county, uh and

[2:39] establishing regulations regarding the

[2:41] candidate statements.

[2:44] Administration of the election process

[2:46] is requires adherence to the noticing

[2:49] requirements and timelines in the

[2:51] California elections code and the

[2:54] election is budgeted in the uh 2627

[2:58] adopted budget and for the costs

[3:00] associated with the election which

[3:02] includes uh the county services,

[3:04] supplies, legal advertising and

[3:07] translation.

[3:10] The nomination period opened July 13th

[3:12] at 8 a.m. and closed on Friday, August

[3:15] 7th at 12 p.m. Uh because an incumbent

[3:19] didn't file by the end of the initial

[3:22] nomination period uh on Friday, August

[3:24] 7th at noon, the nomination period was

[3:27] extended to Wednesday the 12th at 5:00

[3:29] p.m.

[3:33] Uh just a note on the election noticing

[3:36] and outreach that was done. So we have

[3:38] some requirements per the election code.

[3:40] Um and so as you know the the council

[3:43] took action on June 8th and then there

[3:46] was a notice of election that was posted

[3:49] uh on town bulletin boards published in

[3:51] the daily journal and other required

[3:53] newspapers translated as well. And then

[3:56] we did additional outreach and noticing

[3:59] and there was anformational handout

[4:01] posted about uh for for potential

[4:04] candidates if they were interested in

[4:06] running for the election early this

[4:08] year. The notice of election was

[4:10] additionally posted on the town website.

[4:12] We had information in the uh city

[4:15] manager town update at the council

[4:17] meetings. We had articles in the weekly

[4:19] bulletin regarding the nomination period

[4:21] and the notice of the extended

[4:23] nomination period was posted on bulletin

[4:25] boards and on the town website.

[4:30] So, uh we're here today um because at

[4:32] the close of that nomination, the

[4:34] extended nomination period on August

[4:36] 12th at 5, we had two nominees for the

[4:39] two seats, Jeff Baxter and Leslie Martin

[4:42] Ragdale. So, at this time, the council

[4:45] has uh two options. To appoint the two

[4:49] individuals that were nominated uh or

[4:52] not appoint the nominees and just

[4:53] proceed with the election on November

[4:55] 3rd.

[4:59] So, this timeline outlines where we are.

[5:03] We had the extended nomination period on

[5:05] the 12th. Um, and at that time, um,

[5:08] because we ended up with the two, uh,

[5:10] candidates for the two seats, uh, one of

[5:12] the requirements of the election code is

[5:14] that I present a certificate of the

[5:16] facts that we had the two candidates for

[5:18] the two seats, provide that to the city

[5:20] council at the close of the nomination

[5:22] period, which was done just after 5:00

[5:25] p.m. on the 12th. [clears throat] I must

[5:27] prepare a notice of those facts as well,

[5:30] and publish that in a newspaper. And so

[5:33] I did that on Friday the 14th, the

[5:36] soonest we could get it in the paper

[5:37] following that close of the nomination

[5:40] period on the 12th. We additionally

[5:42] posted it on our bulletin boards and on

[5:45] the website immediately following the

[5:47] close of the nomination period on the

[5:48] 12th. We posted the notice of this

[5:51] meeting on um the Friday of uh August

[5:56] 14th as well. And then the requirements

[5:58] of the election code require that this

[6:01] meeting can only be held follow after

[6:03] the fifth day following the publication

[6:06] of um the notice of facts that we have

[6:09] the two candidates for the two seats. So

[6:11] that's why we're meeting today, August

[6:13] 20th, which is also the last day that

[6:16] the council can make a decision

[6:17] regarding uh whether or not they would

[6:20] like to uh appoint the two candidates or

[6:22] just proceed with the election.

[6:25] Um so if the um so following this

[6:28] meeting um I would need to um let the

[6:31] county know immediately whether or not

[6:34] um or what the council's decision is. Um

[6:36] and so that's why we've scheduled this

[6:38] meeting uh early in the morning so that

[6:40] we have plenty of time to let the county

[6:41] know what um how we're going to proceed.

[6:47] So, if the council decides to appoint

[6:49] the nominees,

[6:51] um Jeff Baxter and Leslie Martin Ragdale

[6:53] would take office December 14th. Um I

[6:58] would not be able to accept writing

[7:00] candidates during the write in uh

[7:02] candidate filing period. I'll talk more

[7:04] about that in a moment.

[7:06] Um, I would forward a certified copy of

[7:09] the resolution that's before you um to

[7:12] appoint the nominees um to the county

[7:13] immediately following this meeting. And

[7:16] then there would be a savings uh in the

[7:18] budget of approximately 43,000 to 51,000

[7:23] um for the cost of the county services

[7:26] to administer the election. So that

[7:28] includes um you know mailing of the

[7:30] ballots and everything required to

[7:32] administer the election with the county.

[7:34] And then that also includes the cost of

[7:37] the additional uh noticing translation

[7:41] uh that's required for uh the the ele

[7:44] the November 3rd election. To date,

[7:47] we've spent about 3,300 in supplies

[7:50] required noticing and translation.

[7:54] If the council proceeds to hold the

[7:56] election, uh Jeff Baxter and Leslie

[7:58] Martin Ragdale's names would appear on

[8:00] the November 3rd ballot uh with their

[8:02] ballot designations and their candidate

[8:04] statements in the voter information

[8:06] guide.

[8:08] Required noticing would be completed.

[8:11] Um write the writing candidates would uh

[8:14] be able to obtain nominate nomination

[8:16] documents from me um and file during

[8:19] that writing period which is September

[8:21] 7th through October 20th. Uh write in

[8:24] candidates need to obtain a nomination

[8:27] paper from MIME. Um they have to file a

[8:29] statement of write in candidacy. Um they

[8:32] have to file a form 700. Um so it's very

[8:35] similar to the process for a candidate

[8:37] who files during the regular nomination

[8:40] period. Um they have to get 20

[8:42] signatures. Um the difference is they

[8:45] don't get the option to have a ballot

[8:46] designation because they're not going to

[8:48] appear, you know, listed in the ballot.

[8:50] They don't get the option for a

[8:52] candidate statement.

[8:54] So, what happens with a qualified

[8:56] writing candidate, they turn in all of

[8:58] the documents back to me during that

[9:00] write-in period. Anyone who writes their

[9:03] name down uh in that blank line that

[9:05] you'd see underneath names on the uh

[9:08] underneath the the names that are listed

[9:09] on the ballot, their name would be

[9:11] counted. Um and it just has to be

[9:13] written um close enough to the spelling

[9:16] of the name. So, um, if their name is

[9:19] John Smith, as long as it's spelled very

[9:22] closely to John Smith, it will be

[9:24] counted. Uh, but they have to have been

[9:26] qualified as a candidate with that with

[9:28] the city clerk in order to be counted.

[9:31] Um, and so then of course, um, if the

[9:33] election is held, those election costs

[9:35] would be spent in the budget. Um, and

[9:38] I'll speak to the range really quick

[9:40] that that was listed. Um, when we get a quote from the county for

[9:44] the cost of the election, they give us a

[9:46] range. Obviously, it's challenging for

[9:48] them to to uh give us an a really close

[9:51] estimate. Um, the range is based on so

[9:53] many factors as you can imagine. Uh,

[9:56] there who's how many cities are

[9:58] participating in the election, how many

[10:00] candidates there are on the ballot. Um,

[10:02] a number of factors uh contribute. So,

[10:04] we really don't know exactly what that

[10:06] cost is going to be from the county

[10:07] until we get the invoice uh following

[10:09] the election, which is sometime usually

[10:11] January through March after the

[10:13] election.

[10:16] So, at this time, uh we're just asking

[10:19] council to consider the options to

[10:20] either adopt the resolution appointing

[10:22] the two candidates um or take no action

[10:25] to appoint and we and uh proceed with

[10:29] the election. So, happy to take your

[10:32] questions. Thank you, Lisa Natush. Um I

[10:36] will um ask the council for um any

[10:39] clarifying questions they have for city

[10:41] clerk and staff regarding the process.

[10:47] No questions from the Oh, I'm sorry. Um

[10:51] Vice Mayor Rex, I miss having you right

[10:53] sitting right next to me here. Um Vice

[10:56] Mayor Rexdale, please proceed. Yes.

[10:58] >> Thank you so much. And um please let me

[11:01] know if I'm being too loud or too soft

[11:03] because I did put on the air um AirPods

[11:06] with the noise cancelling. So I'm not

[11:08] sure which way I'm going here. Um I just

[11:11] uh two things. One, I just want to thank

[11:13] Lisa for all of her work uh thus far on

[11:16] the election. There's so many boxes to

[11:19] check and dates to keep track of. And um

[11:22] as a candidate, I've been just so so

[11:25] appreciative of um both Lisa and

[11:28] Margaret. Um, and then a question I had

[11:30] uh is for um Christopher Diaz. I just

[11:34] wanted to confirm that as a candidate I

[11:36] am allowed to participate in this

[11:39] deliberation and vote.

[11:42] >> Yeah, thank you for the question, Vice

[11:43] Mayor Regale. Um, yes, you are correct.

[11:45] There's no affirmative authority out

[11:46] there that concludes it's a conflict of

[11:48] interest for a candidate or incumbent uh

[11:51] to basically approve the resolution or

[11:53] adopt the resolution appointing them to

[11:54] the council. So, yes, you can proceed u

[11:57] by voting today.

[11:59] Thank you.

[12:01] >> Thank you. Um, any additional questions

[12:03] from the council? Um, council member

[12:05] Adams.

[12:06] >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. This is a

[12:09] question that Christopher you may not

[12:11] have an answer for. Uh, in the I'm

[12:15] pretty familiar with the history of

[12:16] Hillsboro and I don't recall a write-in

[12:19] candidate uh attaining a position on the

[12:23] council. How frequently is a write-in

[12:27] candidate elected

[12:30] without within the state of California?

[12:33] >> That's a great question and I would also

[12:34] ask Lisa if she has any thoughts on this

[12:36] one because she's probably seeing it um

[12:38] uh from this position and also her prior

[12:40] positions. Um in my recollection as a

[12:43] city attorney and I've been a city

[12:44] attorney now for uh 13 years and then

[12:46] obviously been an assistant city

[12:48] attorney before that for 10 years. Um

[12:50] none of the jurisdictions I've worked

[12:51] for have had a successful writing

[12:53] candidate. Um, but I know it's happened

[12:55] in certain circumstances, but I couldn't

[12:57] point out one for you just in my

[12:59] experience.

[13:02] >> And same answer for me. I' I've never

[13:03] heard of it happening. I did confirm

[13:05] with the county that they've never had a

[13:07] successful write in candidate for a city

[13:10] council seat.

[13:13] >> Thank you.

[13:14] >> Any additional questions for the um C

[13:17] for my council members? Um, I have a few

[13:19] clarifying questions before we go to

[13:21] public comment. Um the cost of the

[13:24] election, is that specific just to um

[13:27] our two candidates or is that for

[13:30] everything else that's on the ballot

[13:33] for November 3rd?

[13:34] >> Uh thank you. Yes. So the the estimate

[13:37] that I received from the county is

[13:40] specific to the town for two council

[13:42] seats. So they factor I'm not exactly

[13:45] sure how they do the calculation, but we we requested a quote for um two

[13:51] council seats. So, I'm not sure how what

[13:52] they're assuming in terms of how many

[13:54] candidates that's going to be, but

[13:56] they're taking into consideration a

[13:57] number of factors including um space on

[14:01] in the voter information guide. Um you

[14:04] know, how many people may be doing

[14:05] candidate statements, the mailing of

[14:07] that ballot, the translations, the vote,

[14:09] all of those all of those things.

[14:12] >> Okay. So, that that up to 51,000 will be

[14:15] specifically just to have the two

[14:16] candidates on the on the ballot,

[14:19] >> right? So, yeah. And I'm not sure what

[14:21] other assumptions they're making about

[14:23] how many potential, you know, candidates

[14:25] we may have for two seats.

[14:27] >> All right. Okay. And do we have the

[14:31] election will be held on November 3rd

[14:34] pertaining to other issues for the

[14:37] county or the greater area or the states

[14:40] even for that matter. Correct.

[14:42] >> Yes.

[14:42] >> States and federal. I I believe this is

[14:45] a midterm election. So there will be

[14:48] other many other items on the ballot.

[14:51] >> Yes. So Hillsboro residents would be

[14:53] receiving a ballot. Uh it it would just

[14:55] be a matter of whether or not there

[14:57] would be city council seats on their

[15:00] ballot.

[15:01] >> Okay. Um I I may have more questions as

[15:05] we proceed, but I think I'll ask the

[15:07] public to comment if they have any

[15:09] questions or comments at this point. Do

[15:11] we have any any comments or questions

[15:14] from the public?

[15:15] >> Thank you. I actually don't see any

[15:17] members of the public present.

[15:21] » Oh, actually we do have a member of the

[15:23] public. Mr. Baxter, would you like to

[15:25] speak?

[15:27] >> I'll just you on mute at this time.

[15:30] >> Jeff,

[15:32] not not at this time, but uh maybe a

[15:34] little bit later. Thank you.

[15:35] >> Okay. Thank you. Um in which case, no

[15:39] additional comments from the council or

[15:40] the public. Then we will proceed with a

[15:43] discussion and deliberation before we

[15:45] vote on the options in front of us. Do

[15:47] we um we'll start with council member

[15:49] Adams. Do you have any specific thoughts

[15:51] and comments on this issue?

[15:56] » Um I think this is an an interesting

[16:00] exercise in a lot of things that the

[16:02] council has to think about. um accurate

[16:06] uh

[16:07] representation and also making sure we

[16:11] are very mindful of every penny we pay

[16:15] we spend of the taxpayers's dollars. Uh

[16:19] I believe that there was more than

[16:22] adequate opportunity for candidates to

[16:26] uh join into this uh democratic election

[16:32] and uh the two candidates who took

[16:34] advantage of that were the only two who

[16:36] did take advantage. But uh I think

[16:40] democracy has been served and I think at

[16:43] this point I will be voting to support

[16:46] the resolution particularly because

[16:50] of the major budgetary issues that this

[16:55] council is facing uh that have befallen

[16:59] us and require that we be extremely

[17:03] diligent in our expenditures.

[17:07] >> Thank you. Um, Council Member Trunk,

[17:12] » I think my colleague spoke so well, so I

[17:15] have no comments. Council member

[17:17] Crowley,

[17:18] >> I agree with Council Member Adams and I

[17:20] also want to say that um that we're very

[17:24] lucky that that Vice Mayor Ragstale is

[17:28] uh is willing to serve another term and

[17:31] also that uh Jeff Baxter is willing to

[17:34] step up and I think we all know that he

[17:36] has big shoes to fill. My colleague to

[17:39] the right has been a dedicated and

[17:41] exemplary council person. I'm glad we

[17:44] get to serve with her for another few

[17:46] months. But um this town, Hillsboro is

[17:50] Hillsboro because of the dedication and

[17:54] hard work of not only our staff and our

[17:58] electeds and appointed, but our

[17:59] residents, our residents like Jeff

[18:01] Baxter and Leslie Ragdale who are

[18:03] willing to step up and do some hard work

[18:06] and um and lead the town. And I feel

[18:09] we're very fortunate. So, thank you very

[18:11] much.

[18:12] Thank you. Um, Vice Mayor Rexdale.

[18:16] >> Uh, yes. Um, okay. I have a number of

[18:20] things I will try to say quickly. Um,

[18:23] again, tell me if my volume is not

[18:25] adequate. Um, as you can imagine, I've

[18:28] been pondering this for weeks and in

[18:30] some ways for years because this did

[18:32] come up last time um that I ended up um

[18:36] with uh council member Schwang. we were

[18:38] appointed in lie um and some members of

[18:41] the public said that wouldn't serve

[18:43] democracy and I thought you know that's a tough vote um a true believer

[18:48] in democracy but um given um all of the

[18:53] facts that my fellow council members

[18:54] have named um especially the cost um but

[18:58] as um uh council member Adams pointed

[19:02] out democracy really has been served you can't look at the e-news or or any

[19:06] of our meetings without knowing there

[19:08] was an election. You can't read the

[19:09] Daily Journal without knowing there's an

[19:11] election. Um it is extremely unusual,

[19:15] although it sounds like now perhaps

[19:17] unheard of for a writing candidate to um

[19:20] to be successful. Um and nobody has

[19:24] stepped up as as far I as I've seen. Uh

[19:27] usually a potential candidate would, you

[19:30] know, contact current council members

[19:31] and say, "Hey, I'm thinking about

[19:33] running. What do you think?" Um and

[19:35] there hasn't been anyone out there.

[19:37] there's not a member of the public today

[19:39] to say, "Hey, I wanted to be a writing

[19:40] candidate. Shoot, I was out of town. I

[19:42] missed the ENUS." Um, so I do think that

[19:45] democracy and our budget would be served

[19:48] by um passing this resolution.

[19:51] Um, just a couple other things. um the

[19:54] tradition of the appointment in Lou a

[19:57] lot of our um amazing uh former mayors

[20:00] uh have actually never stood for

[20:02] election in the town of Hillsboro

[20:04] because we do have this tradition of um

[20:06] appointing inloo if there's an an

[20:09] uncontested election. Um our school

[20:12] board they were surprised that we even

[20:14] have this when they have an uncontested

[20:17] election they just don't have the

[20:19] election. They don't even vote to not

[20:20] have it. Um and um you'll be pleased to

[20:23] know that our uh school board members um

[20:26] will be uh automatically reappointed.

[20:28] They are having an uncontested election

[20:31] for um those three people. Um the town

[20:34] of Athetherton that we often um uh

[20:37] compare ourselves with favorably. Um

[20:39] we're very similar in a lot of ways. Um

[20:43] they just had a fiveminute meeting to

[20:45] appoint uh inl candidates. it was four

[20:49] because someone was filling a two-year

[20:50] term. Um so, uh and it was an

[20:53] uncontested election. Um the last thing

[20:57] is just really um uh our our time and

[21:02] resources. Um so I can go on and um do

[21:06] my work with um the town. Think about I

[21:09] already have notes going for potential

[21:11] February goals for our goal setting. Um,

[21:15] I'm here in Ireland having a fabulous

[21:18] time, but I'm also having Zooms on

[21:20] various things and and and emailing with

[21:23] staff and I could continue with that

[21:24] work, um, and, um, not have to, uh, put

[21:29] up a website, a bank account, a mailing,

[21:33] um, and all of the other things to for

[21:36] an election where it just where it's

[21:39] uncontested, so it doesn't make sense.

[21:41] Um and then um I did look into ways to

[21:46] environmentally have signs around town

[21:48] as sustainability

[21:50] commissioner. Um and you there are some

[21:55] Ridwell doesn't take them. Recology

[21:57] doesn't take them. They will take the stansions. Um but uh there are ways

[22:03] to do biodegradable signs if anyone's

[22:05] interested in the future. Um

[22:08] and um there are signs made out of

[22:10] seeds, but you can't put them out if

[22:13] it's going to rain. Um so not not a

[22:16] great idea. Um and then the last thing

[22:18] is I have gotten to know uh Jeff Baxter

[22:20] and the town will be very well served

[22:22] with the Jeff on council. So um anyone

[22:24] who happens to be watching this later

[22:27] can rest assured um we are very lucky.

[22:29] just retired from uh um very good uh

[22:35] very well um positioned accounting firm

[22:38] at Deote and Touch. Um he was mentored

[22:41] by our very own Al Royce and he's been

[22:43] on our financial advisory committee for

[22:45] a long time. He knows about the Brown

[22:47] Act which is the one thing we're always

[22:49] nervous about that people won't

[22:51] understand. He knows about our finances.

[22:53] Um and we will be very well served with

[22:56] Jeff and um thank you for listening. I I

[22:59] see the way this is going, but also it's

[23:01] important. I I don't I don't take this

[23:02] lightly and I am very appreciative.

[23:04] Thank you.

[23:06] >> Um thank you for all your comments and

[23:08] um thanks to my colleagues for their

[23:09] comments and I so respect this council

[23:12] and all of you great leaders I've been

[23:14] working with for the past many years. Um

[23:17] I I do

[23:21] completely disagree with not proceeding

[23:23] with an election for the following

[23:25] reason. I think many of you know me to

[23:26] be a pragmatist but I can also be an

[23:28] idealist and I would just for the record

[23:31] like to make notes of the significant

[23:35] ideals that I believe can be um an issue

[23:38] here. First, let me just say with

[23:40] regards to Vice Mayor Ragsdale as a

[23:44] candidate, I have had the privilege and

[23:46] the and just it's been just wonderful

[23:48] working with her and probably not

[23:50] supposed to endorse someone from the

[23:51] DES, but I have to say I I this my

[23:54] opinions is not a reflection of her. I

[23:57] endorse her. I did sign her petition to

[24:00] run again. And I have al I also have the

[24:02] utmost respect for Jeff Baxter.

[24:05] I have known Jeff and his family for

[24:07] many years. our kids grew up together.

[24:09] He's been a dedicated servant to this uh

[24:11] community. He and his wife and the rest

[24:13] of his family and I did endorse him and

[24:16] signed his petition as well. So, I will

[24:19] continue to endorse them with regards to

[24:21] their efforts to be on the council. So,

[24:23] my comments is not a reflection of any

[24:25] hesitations I have regarding these two

[24:28] candidates. I have the greatest respect

[24:30] for them. However, I believe I've had

[24:33] the utmost privilege to serve this town.

[24:37] And to me, this is the very definition

[24:40] of democracy.

[24:42] The Greek word democracy is defined as

[24:45] the power of the people and the rule by

[24:48] the people. I do think we have a

[24:51] privilege sitting on the council where

[24:53] we make very significant decisions with

[24:56] regards to taxes and zoning and other

[24:59] important decisions that impacts the

[25:01] well-being and welfare of our residents.

[25:04] I am concerned that um in especially

[25:08] with regards to just the opportunity to

[25:10] be on the council and we will be

[25:12] discussing some other issues later on as

[25:14] to how we um appoint our mayors and

[25:17] we'll probably have a discussion on that

[25:18] in the next few months but specifically

[25:21] with regards to accountability.

[25:26] Our legitimacy comes from the votes of

[25:28] the voters. There are times when we make

[25:31] a decision that some in the community

[25:34] don't agree with, but we have the power

[25:36] of the people behind us who voted for

[25:38] us. And each of us as independent

[25:41] thinkers make the best decision we can.

[25:44] It is not about an individual who may

[25:47] have connections or have friends on the

[25:49] council or feeling obligated to vote one

[25:53] way or the other because someone

[25:54] appointed you or did not appoint you. I

[25:57] do want to continue to think of those

[26:00] issues that may come up to remind me

[26:04] that I am beholding to the constituents

[26:06] of this community, not to any of my

[26:09] council members. This, you know, and as

[26:11] I stated earlier, I have the utmost

[26:13] respect. I really believe every council

[26:15] member here has continued to exercise

[26:18] their voting power with tremendous

[26:21] integrity and thoughtfulness.

[26:23] I also um believe representative

[26:26] government is about the people voting

[26:29] you, the residents voting for you and it

[26:32] creates diversity of views. If imagine a

[26:36] council 25 years from now that lobbies

[26:40] to get their friends or family members

[26:42] on the council, you will destroy the

[26:44] diversity and p different perspectives

[26:47] that a council will come to represent.

[26:51] The legitimacy of our decisions. As I

[26:54] mentioned earlier, the power of our

[26:56] decision comes from the people who vote

[26:58] for us. And we continue to exercise this

[27:03] independent voice versus loyalty. It is

[27:06] nothing I've said is a reflection of

[27:09] this current council or previous

[27:11] councils that I've studied. And it may

[27:13] never be an issue for as long as we able

[27:16] for many decades. But the practice of um

[27:21] having

[27:24] uh some appointed individuals which

[27:27] eventually you will have you could

[27:28] potentially have an entirely appointed

[27:30] council that then goes on to appoint

[27:33] other individuals who may not have whose

[27:36] loyalty may not be exclusively to the

[27:38] constituents. So, um I realize this I

[27:42] will um I will not get the votes for um

[27:45] my position, but that doesn't sway. I

[27:48] mean, I I still have tremendous respect

[27:50] for everyone's opinion on this. And um I

[27:53] just wanted for the record to know how I

[27:56] feel about this vote. Um and I will be

[27:58] dissenting for an appointment. Um the

[28:01] residents are going to be coming into

[28:03] the chambers to vote on many other

[28:05] issues. I couldn't think of a more

[28:07] powerful way to connect them to the two

[28:11] amazing council members who I know will

[28:14] be elected because of my um familiarity

[28:17] with the work they've done to be on that

[28:19] ballot and to give them that power to

[28:21] vote for them. I also do not like the

[28:24] idea that um an appointment will close

[28:27] off um writing candidates even though I

[28:31] don't expect we'll have any writing

[28:33] candidates. it is part of our process

[28:36] and it is part of democracy and if it

[28:38] exists it should stay so. Um so those

[28:41] are my thoughts and um with regards to

[28:45] the the cost I mean $51,000 is a lot of

[28:48] money clearly. However, this council is

[28:51] familiar with voting for hundreds of

[28:53] thousands of dollars on issues. Um while

[28:57] they're important to run the town,

[28:59] they're not as fundamental to our core

[29:01] principles. So I do think this is a drop

[29:02] in the bucket and it's minimal and it's

[29:05] um now more than ever preserving

[29:08] democracy at the grassroot level is is

[29:11] critical

[29:13] and um I will then proceed to see if we

[29:16] have any um we've deliberated and I

[29:19] believe do we go back to public comments

[29:20] on this? Um yes if there's anyone in the

[29:23] public who would like to comment

[29:24] further.

[29:28] Oh, actually before we go to public

[29:30] comments, I do have one council member

[29:31] um Crowley who would like to opine

[29:33] further.

[29:35] >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. And and I do

[29:37] appreciate especially now in the way our

[29:40] country is and we been a longtime

[29:42] democracy and there are aspects of our

[29:44] democracy that are under attack which we

[29:46] discussed in the same discussion four

[29:48] years ago. Um and and I do understand

[29:51] that the advantages of running in an

[29:53] election is you get a chance to listen

[29:56] and connect to the community and and I

[29:59] would suggest to our incoming members if

[30:02] they are appointed today that perhaps

[30:04] they consider having a series of

[30:05] introductory coffees or events around

[30:08] the community the same as you would do

[30:11] if you were running for election. But I feel that this is already a

[30:16] democratic exercise. I mean this even

[30:19] I'm in my fourth and I might add final

[30:21] term. I've been appointed twice and I've

[30:23] run twice and I felt no different on

[30:26] this council as far as how the support

[30:29] of the community or as as how I consider

[30:32] any issue. It it it just hasn't made a a

[30:35] difference one way or the other. And I

[30:37] feel like too if if you if you want to

[30:40] serve on this body, you should have the

[30:43] passion for the role and also the

[30:45] executive functioning skills to file on

[30:48] time. So um so to me I the cost is a

[30:52] factor because right now we do have some

[30:54] things we need to do and we have to look

[30:56] at every every dollar and how we're

[30:58] spending it. But the overriding factor

[31:00] is um how are we serving the town? So

[31:04] again, I I am comfortable with all due

[31:07] respect and I do understand your um your

[31:10] thoughts. Um I'm comfortable moving

[31:12] forward and that this is a bonafideed um

[31:17] exercise in democracy.

[31:20] >> Um thank you and um Council Member

[31:24] Adams.

[31:25] >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. I agree and I I

[31:28] believe my colleague u expressed my

[31:31] feelings extremely well. Thank you,

[31:34] Council Member Crowig. We really respect

[31:37] uh your position and we respect uh the

[31:41] process that we're about to go through.

[31:43] And I do think the suggestion that a

[31:47] familiarity familiarity with even the

[31:50] existing council member who might be

[31:53] appointed by this resolution, but also

[31:55] by the new council member is something

[31:58] that I think our community deserves. And

[32:02] uh I don't know how we can uh highlight

[32:06] the qualifications and the positions

[32:09] after the fact, but I do like the idea

[32:12] of outreach to the community uh for

[32:15] those who have not had the opportunity

[32:17] to meet either of the candidates. I

[32:20] think that's an important step and I

[32:22] don't know how the town could facilitate

[32:24] it. Uh but again in my heart I believe

[32:28] this is 100% a democratic process and

[32:33] ample opportunity is given for multiple

[32:36] candidates and I'm very pleased with the

[32:39] candidates that we have which is why I

[32:41] support the resolution.

[32:45] Any additional comments from the

[32:47] council? And and just for the record, I

[32:50] my position was similar four years ago

[32:52] and it remains the same based on those

[32:54] democratic ideals I outlined. Um in

[32:57] which case we will now proceed with

[32:59] council members. Um do we have a motion

[33:02] to um uh adopt the resolution adopt

[33:06] appointing Jeff Baxter and Leslie Martin

[33:10] Ragdale to the town of Hillsboro City

[33:12] Council.

[33:14] So move.

[33:16] >> Do we have a second?

[33:17] >> Second.

[33:19] >> Okay. Lisa, could you take the vote,

[33:20] please?

[33:21] >> Thank you. Adams,

[33:23] >> yes.

[33:25] Krillic,

[33:26] >> yes.

[33:27] >> Ragtail,

[33:28] >> yes.

[33:29] >> Cole,

[33:30] >> no.

[33:31] >> Thank you.

[33:33] >> Motion, the motion passes for one. We do

[33:36] not need to discuss option two because

[33:38] we already have that option. Correct.

[33:40] >> That's That is correct. Just a note for

[33:42] the council um uh the Brown Act does

[33:44] apply uh once you are essentially

[33:47] elected to the position. So if the

[33:48] election had happened in November, the

[33:50] Brown Act would start applying to you

[33:51] even though you're not seated in the

[33:53] seat. Because you've appointed today, I

[33:55] would take the position, the Brown Act

[33:56] starts applying to the new member as of

[33:58] today. So just be cautious in that

[33:59] regard. Um but outside of that, um

[34:02] that's the only word of caution. And and

[34:04] just for clarification, um which again

[34:07] continues to um apply specifically to

[34:11] Leslie Ragdale and Jeff Baxter regarding

[34:14] issues that are on the agenda and

[34:15] discussions with other council members.

[34:18] Correct. Okay. Thank you. All right. The

[34:22] motion passes and congratulations Jeff

[34:25] Baxter and Leslie Ragdale. And um Oh,

[34:28] I'm sorry. Jeff, would you um we we

[34:31] Yeah, I will give you the opportunity to

[34:32] make any comments and I'm delighted that

[34:35] you will be joining this council soon.

[34:39] >> First of all, thank you everybody for

[34:41] your uh your support. Um first and

[34:44] foremost, I I also want to acknowledge

[34:47] the comments um about reaching out to

[34:50] the community. A number of community

[34:52] leaders uh in the in the Bay Area have

[34:55] reached out to me as part of the

[34:58] election process. Regardless of what

[35:00] happened today, I've already set up um

[35:03] gettogethers with those who've reached

[35:05] out to me. And I'm going to find time

[35:07] with others to do exactly what the the

[35:10] couple of council members recommended. I

[35:12] think it's a great suggestion and it's a

[35:14] great part of visibility um from there

[35:17] regardless of of how this vote was. So

[35:20] that I just wanted to to reiterate that

[35:22] is my plan. I I will continue to do it

[35:24] and I will coordinate with others um to

[35:27] find out are there other people that I

[35:28] should be meeting. But most importantly,

[35:31] I want to just acknowledge and thank

[35:34] Marie um for everything she's done for

[35:37] our community. Um I've had the

[35:39] opportunity. I've known Marie for a long time. Both my wife Diane and I

[35:42] have. Um and and we've have a tremendous

[35:45] amount of respect for her. um she's been

[35:48] invaluable in this process, not only up

[35:50] to now, but you know, going forward, you

[35:53] know, being sensitive to the Brown Act,

[35:55] as I will continue in and follow, um I'm

[35:59] going to learn a lot from her, and I

[36:00] there's a lot for me to learn from her

[36:02] and the and the rest of the council. But

[36:05] I want to just recognize and thank her

[36:07] for the tremendous amount of effort

[36:08] she's done. Um from there, I also want

[36:10] to thank Lisa um for everything she's

[36:13] done in in the process. She's made the

[36:15] process extremely smooth, very helpful,

[36:17] very educational, and thank them. And lastly, I just it'll be an honor for me to be on the council and to serve

[36:24] the community. I've been part of this

[36:26] community for close to 35 years now.

[36:29] Both my wife and I, we've raised our

[36:30] kids here. I've been part of the finance

[36:32] committee. My wife, you know, [snorts]

[36:34] as I always say, is is probably the

[36:36] strongest candidate of anybody who'd to

[36:38] ever be on um for Diane. But it'll be a

[36:41] true honor and pleasure for me to to

[36:43] serve the community and and be part of

[36:45] this council. So, thank you.

[36:47] >> Um, thank you. And um I I echo your

[36:50] sentiments regarding our beloved and

[36:53] esteemed um leader um Marie Chuang and

[36:57] she will not be going very far. She's

[36:59] already been recruited to stay engaged

[37:01] on several projects going forward. So,

[37:03] thanks for your dedicated service on the

[37:06] council, but I know you will continue to

[37:08] serve the community and especially

[37:10] Hillsboro for the years to come. Thank

[37:12] you. Um, any additional comments?

[37:17] Seeing none, this meeting is now Oh, I'm

[37:20] sorry, Leslie. Did I miss?

[37:22] >> Oh, I I I was just going to um echo um

[37:27] what you both said and and uh Council

[37:29] Member Kick also said about Marie who uh

[37:32] got me in this in the first place um

[37:35] asking me to um consider being on the

[37:37] CCAC and um you know, I just love and

[37:41] respect Marie so so so much and am

[37:44] looking forward to having non Brown Act

[37:46] conversations with her in the future.

[37:49] Thank you.

[37:51] Yes. Um, Council Member Adams,

[37:54] >> uh, and despite the fact that, uh, you

[37:57] will be continuing to work with us, uh,

[38:00] we will also take advantage of other

[38:02] opportunities to sing your praises and

[38:06] acknowledge the amazing work that you

[38:08] have done for so long and with grace and

[38:13] intelligence and dignity at all times.

[38:16] So, we appreciate you and just get used

[38:19] to nice words coming your way.

[38:25] » Okay, seeing no additional comments,

[38:28] this meeting is now adjourned. Thank

[38:29] you, Lisa.

Special City Council Meeting - August 20, 2026

Transcript