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City Council Meeting

The final meeting of 2024 focused on tying up year-end business: appointing volunteers, dedicating the new Public Works headquarters, funding ongoing legal and planning work, and setting the stage for January’s leadership transition.

Highlights

  • 🧑‍⚖️ Planning Commission seat filled. Resolution 2290 appointed Doug Namp to a four‑year Planning Commission term after he confirmed he was ready to serve via Zoom.
  • 🛠️ New Public Works HQ named. Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2294 dedicating the facility on West Union as the Robert “Butch” Kindle Public Service Building, honoring his 44 years on council, multiple mayoral terms, and decades of volunteer service.
  • 🎡 Garlic Festival assets consolidated. Resolution 2289 transferred the two active festival domain names and related rights to the North Plains Events Association so the operating nonprofit can manage the online presence directly.
  • đź’° Supplemental budgets approved. Resolution 2291 released $40k from the Vehicle & Equipment Reserve to furnish the new building, while Resolution 2292 updated the 2023‑25 budget to cover (a) major financial statement overhauls, (b) professional IT/cybersecurity services, and (c) the citywide radar speed signs that council previously earmarked with ARPA dollars.
  • ⚖️ Contingency funds deployed. Resolution 2293 authorized $100k of general‑fund contingency to cover referendum‑related legal bills, potential appeal work, the housing needs analysis defense, and the 3J ReLook engagement that voters asked for in May.
  • 🪑 Council vacancy filled. After Lisa Fry and Travis Robisch withdrew, council interviewed the remaining applicants and appointed Michelle McCall Wallace to complete Ricky Smith’s term through December 31, 2026.

Staff & Project Updates

  • Library: Director Robin Dodie reported that 2024 will end with the highest checkout total in library history, thanked council for continued support of early literacy and outreach, and noted that WCCLS funding discussions continue into 2025.
  • Planning & Development: Dustin Lillie briefed council on the Greenlight subdivision—access has been shifted to Main Street, an alley will remain bollarded for emergency use, and Phase 5’s park plan now includes a full futsal court plus a half‑court basketball area. The project’s pedestrian bulb‑out meets city standards, and the application should be approved in January. Lenar’s Phase 5 park review is underway, and Phase 5’s site development on North Avenue east of Main should resume as soon as Lumen removes its remaining utilities (Public Works Director Brian Frueh confirmed crews are mobilizing now).
  • Parks Foundation: Board secretary Cynthia Hurst previewed a January fundraising drive to finish the Jesse Mays kitchen build‑out, complementing the AV upgrades and MAC grant request staff are preparing.
  • Celebration of Life: Council reached consensus to waive Jesse Mays rental fees so the family of longtime resident Kenny Fields can hold a public celebration that weekend.

Financial & Administrative Actions

  • Resolution 2291 – released $40k from the Equipment Reserve so the new Public Works facility opens with the furniture, lockers, and workstations it needs.
  • Resolution 2292 – updated the 2023‑25 budget to reflect:
    • $225k for two years of financial-statement overhaul work and FY22/FY23 audit preparation
    • $65k for professionalized IT/cybersecurity services (replacing the former after‑hours contractor)
    • $98k so the ARPA-funded radar speed signs are properly recorded in the budget.
  • Resolution 2293 – deployed half of the $200k general‑fund contingency for 2023‑25 to cover referendum litigation already incurred, potential appeal costs, the HNA defense, and roughly $40k for the ReLook consulting scope. Aaron Nichols urged council to revisit the appeal before spending more, but the resolution passed unanimously; council will revisit strategy with the incoming body.

Public Comment & Communications

  • With no general public comment at the start of the meeting, most discussion came through agenda items. Later in the evening, Council President Sheldon read a statement rebutting allegations from a June campaign video; he noted the Oregon Secretary of State declined to investigate, no ethics complaints were ever filed, and he asked that the declination letter be added to City Manager Bill Reed’s personnel file to counter misinformation.
  • Aaron Nichols addressed Resolution 2293 during the hearing, urging council to conserve funds as the appeal decision shifts to the next council. City staff clarified that contingency spending doesn’t add to the total appropriation—it simply directs budgeted dollars to the specific referendum, HNA, and ReLook costs already underway.

Follow-Ups

  • Staff
    • Complete the furniture purchase for the Kindle Public Service Building and schedule the public open house already in motion.
    • Submit the MAC grant application for Jesse Mays AV improvements and coordinate with the Parks Foundation as it launches the kitchen fundraising campaign.
    • Continue tracking the Greenlight plat, Phase 5 park application, and Lumen’s North Avenue work so council receives a January status update.
    • Document the Secretary of State’s declination letter in the appropriate personnel files as requested by Councilor Sheldon.
  • Council
    • Swear in Michelle McCall Wallace at the January 6, 2025 meeting and integrate her into board/commission assignments.
    • Revisit the referendum appeal strategy early in 2025 before additional legal work is authorized.
    • Coordinate with North Plains Events Association on next steps now that Garlic Festival domains sit with the operator.