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City Council Meeting

Council split the evening between a deep dive on water resiliency investments and a comparatively brisk business meeting that touched on volunteer recruitment, Family Justice Center outcomes, and the path toward adopting its new strategic pillars before budget season.

Highlights

  • đź’§ Summit Water Resources confirmed an aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) well near Water Station 2 could bank 50–100 million gallons each winter—enough to cover 90–140 summer days if the Joint Water Commission feed fails—and pegged the planning-level cost just under $4 million.
  • 🧑‍🔧 Public Works needs a dedicated water distribution operator and modern valve equipment now that TVWD is stepping away from its service-sharing agreement; Dustin Lillie will return with a funding resolution and, if needed, a spring supplemental budget.
  • 🙋 Volunteer recruiter Larry Gonzalez and Aaron Nichols (North Plains Neighbors) used public comment to push for better outreach and to reconsider the city’s LUBA appeal on the housing needs analysis; staff will circulate the litigation status and audit resolutions the public referenced.
  • 🛡️ The Family Justice Center credited utility-bill inserts, welcome packets, and police handoffs for a 71 percent jump in North Plains survivors served (12 residents received 30 services last year) and previewed its move to the new Family Peace Center.
  • 🧭 Council slated April 7 agenda time to align its soon-to-be-adopted vision pillars with the biennial budget, refresh the communications plan, and clarify expectations for liaisons and board communication loops.

Water Resilience Work Session

  • Summit’s Ryan Dux and Larry Dunham walked through ASR basics: inject surplus winter water into basalt formations beneath Water Station 2 (the east-side 2 million-gallon reservoir) and recover it during peak demand or emergencies.
  • The concept leverages existing generators, keeps stored water potable (treatment is monitored by OHA and OWRD), and would dramatically extend the city’s five-day reservoir cushion.
  • Recommended next steps include applying for an ASR limited license, converting a nearby private well into a monitoring point, finishing water-quality sampling around Station 2, and chasing construction grants before steel prices climb further.
  • Public Works also previewed an operations “to-do” list: carve out a facilities/landscaping fund for the 74 sites (47 acres) currently maintained, lock in contractor pricing (~$125k), modernize GIS/timekeeping tools, and source powered valve-turning gear for the 16″ transmission main.

Partner & Community Updates

  • Volunteer recruitment: Larry Gonzalez offered demographic data, urged the city to let boards “do the footwork,” and volunteered to staff a signup booth at major events like the Ice Cream Social; staff will add those touches to the comms plan refresh.
  • Housing needs litigation: Aaron Nichols asked the city to dismiss its LUBA appeal so council, not the state, keeps control over Urban Growth Boundary sizing under the new Oregon Housing Needs Analysis rules; the city attorney will email the case status and options.
  • Audit concerns: A Zoom commenter questioned statements made to state auditors. Bill Monahan reminded the crowd that findings from FY20 and FY21 already have adopted corrective-action resolutions (2225 and 2226) and that internal controls are in place while the FY22–23 audit package is finalized.
  • Family Justice Center: Executive Director Rachel Schutz and Board Chair Judy Willey highlighted the city’s $20k contribution since 2021, 800 weekly client visits countywide, and the importance of PD officers carrying referral cards; staff will keep sharing posters at every agenda-posting site plus the library kiosk.

Budget & Governance

  • Council wants April 7 to accomplish three things: adopt the new vision/pillar statement, translate it into budget priorities, and set expectations for board/commission communication loops (including how council feedback and liaison assignments cycle back to volunteers).
  • The Economic Development Commission will study teen employment pathways in May (paired with its business survey) while Parks Board refines nonprofit-fee waivers, code cleanup, and an “excused absence” definition before recommendations return to council.
  • Staff reiterated the need to keep council direction flowing through the city manager so workloads stay manageable; Dustin and Bill will package future work-session decks and supporting data earlier so council can digest them ahead of meetings.

Follow-Ups

  • Public Works & Summit
    • File the ASR limited-license application, identify funding sources, and scope the monitoring-well conversion near Station 2.
    • Bring a hiring/funding resolution for the additional water operator plus a supplemental-budget option if rebalancing falls short.
    • Price powered valve-turning equipment and finalize the landscaping contract estimates for FY25.
  • Administration & Legal
    • Email council the current LUBA case posture, options for withdrawal, and copies of resolutions 2225/2226 that addressed prior audit findings.
    • Slot the April 7 agenda items (pillar adoption, board communication expectations, comms plan review) and notify presenting departments.
  • Council & Partners
    • Work with the volunteer corps to pilot a sign-up booth at upcoming community events.
    • Keep amplifying Family Justice Center materials (utility bills, welcome packets, agenda kiosks) ahead of the Family Peace Center launch.