City Council - Regular Meeting

ready. Still logging in. Well, I can go into the pledge of allegiance and get that started. Yeah, we can go ahead and get started. So, good evening. Thank you for joining us today at Albony City Council work session, Monday, April 6, 2026. I call the meeting to order. Would you please all join me in the pledge of allegiance? Um, we have a roll call, please. Councelor McCloud,

present. Councelor Smith, here. Councelor McGee, present. Councelor Newton, hey there. Councelor Thompson here. Councelor Vanalin here. Mayor Johnson here. Thank you. Ready. Thank you. Next on tonight item three is your adoption of the consent calendar page 3 through six in your packet. Appointing Mark Stewart to the public safety commission council. I move to adopt the consent agenda as written.

Second. I have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed say no. Thank you, councel. Next on tonight agenda is public comment. Mark Stewart, give me a second. I read in my preamble might be in the front cover tonight. Mayor,

give me just a second. Okay, go ahead and sit down.

Um, there's nothing here. Did you check the front cover, Mayor? It might be behind the this one here. That should be for public comment. Yeah.

Okay. Wow. Next on the tonight's agenda is public comment. Is a time for Albony residents to speak and for council members to listen. The council won't discuss topics or make decision during public comment, but will take comments and requests under advisement. Speakers are limited three minutes and must follow the council's rules and observe the same standards of the quorum. If unable to do so, they'll be asked to step down and take the seat for the audience for the rest of the meeting. When arriving at the microphone, please give your name and state whether or not you live in the city of Albany. Good evening everyone. My name is Mark Stewart. I live in the city of Albany. Um, this could have been a lengthy written um, comment, but it's this is still kind of an evolving thing and trying to figure out where to even start with it is is a bit of a problem. Uh I just want to bring to everyone's attention that I don't know where this prevailing thought of the United States being insulated against the current energy crisis because we produce our own oil. Uh that is it is the case that we produce our own oil. It is not the case that we are going to be insulated from this. Uh, I would not be surprised if we have fuel shortages just like we saw in the 70s or worse just by now where we've gotten now. Um, the reason why I want to bring this up is I want to have it at least rattled around in your heads a little bit. uh what you might want to do or have happened if it gets bad enough that we start seeing food shortages as a result of this because it's not just gasoline that we're going to run short on. Uh it's

also why uh I was talking with uh transportation uh earlier about keeping our emergency vehicles going. Um the gasoline is going to be one thing, but it's it's not just the gas that's going to be the problem. uh we are going to be seeing a drastic increase in the cost of fertilizer that has already skyrocketed due to tariffs and our food supply is genuinely threatened right now. So I do not have any answers. I just want to have it be a point of thought that if anyone gets a really good idea can run with it. Um because I I thought November was going to be the scariest time of this year, but heck that it could be July at this point. So again, have that in mind and don't don't convince yourself that we are just going to walk through this unscathed. The global energy crisis includes the city of Albany. So, please treat that as though we are also in that energy crisis because we're we're not going to just come through this smelling like roses. Uh that's that's about all I had for it. Thank you. Next reading. Next on tonight's agenda is East Albony Town Center annexations with concurrent map amendment and planning files A01-25 CP- 0325 and ZZ ZC-03-21.

Second reading of ordinance withdrawing in territory from the Albony Rural Fire Protection District. The first reading was the ordinances was heard on March 11th. The vote received a second reading was not unanimous and it is coming back tonight for a second reading. Ordinance withdrawing from the property of from the oral roen fire district with the city attorney. Please read the ordinance withdrawing property from the oral fire district and title only. An ordinance withdrawing territory identified on Lynn County assessor's map number 1103 W9D. Tax lots 600700 70172 800 801 901 902 1402403 2500 2700 and 2800 from the Albany Rural Fire Protection District. Would a councelor like to make a motion to adopt the ordinance withdrawing the property from the Omni Fort Royal Fire District?

I'll move to adopt the ordinance. Second. I have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. I. Those opposed say no. No. No. We do a roll call, please. Councelor Mloud, no. Councelor Smith, yes. Councelor McGee, yes. Councelor Newton, I'm a no. Councelor Thompson, no. Councelor Van Dremelan, yes. Looks like we have a tie. I vote yes.

So, we got adoption in a second. And then with a recorder, do a roll call. We just did that. Within 5 days of the decision, the community development director will provide written notice of all the the decision written notice of the decision to the applicant and other parties entitled to the notice. A decision of the city council may be appealed to the land use board of appeals by filing a notice of intent to appeal no later than 21 days after the decision has been made. Thank you. Next on the item agenda under 5B, resolutions award of contract for runway 16-34 rehabilitation and REIL or byl installation of Albony Municipal Airport and the application for FAA grant funding and required local match. Uh Rob Romeo, airport manager.

Good evening counselors, Mayor Johnson. I'm Rob Romeo, city of Albany transportation manager. I'm here this evening to recommend you award a contract um for the upgrades to the Albany airport's runway and real lighting system. If no written protest or receive the real lighting acronym stands for the runway end identifi identifier lights used for positive identification for the approach end of the particular runways. So, we have these lights at um runway 16 and 34. They're a bright light that flashes. It's like a strobe light. So, if you've driven by at night and seen any of the lights on, you probably really notice the u real lights. So um these are the uh the upgrades will provide surface treatments that will add life and longevity to the runway that is starting to show wear and will add new equipment to replace the failing real equipment. Surface treatment upgrades and the new real lighting will provide safety to the landing aircraft using the runway. The low bidder um for this work is Wildest Construction Company of Eugene for $484,211 and is one was one of two biders received on this project. Total cost of the project will be approximately $700,000 which includes engineering and construction management services provided by airport engineering consultant which is precision approach engineering and will be funded primarily by the grant from the FAA. The process for the FAA funded project is different from the typical city grants. Um FAA requires a project to be put out for bid first so they have a firm idea of the construction costs and then they will send the city uh a grant agreement to sign and will fund the project. The FAA grant will pay 95% of the total project

cost for the city responsible for the remaining 5% of this project. of the 5% that's remaining, the Oregon Department of Aviation will provide a core grant, critical Oregon Airport Relief to pay 90% of the 5% match. So, it's basically the city will be responsible for just 1% um of this $700,000 which will just pay the $3,500 overall for the whole project. And the this money is available in the capital airport fund. And so tonight we're recommending you award the contract to Wildest Construction Company for the runway upgrades and the real lighting improvements. I'm happy to answer any questions. Council, I have a question.

Has a question. Councelor Smith, how certain are we that the FAA money will come through? It's guaranteed for sure. Yes. Okay. Any other council have any questions? Councelor Thompson? Yeah. You mentioned uh the life of the runway. Um, yeah. I I know you can't be specific, but like how many years does this add on to the life of the runway?

Uh, it's it's an added upgrade. We're starting to see where you walk out there and you can see some raveling starting to happen. So, the slurry sill will give more life to the runway to to fill those voids in and prolong the life. And it's, you know, becomes a safety thing. And over time, you just want to keep your pavements as high uh the CPI as possible. So, it just prevents wear and it adds longevity. So, I think the last upgrade we did was a a 3-in um hot mix asphalt was in 2010, I believe. Is the safety aspects why it's quoteunquote guaranteed from the FFA? I mean, are they saying

no, we we're part of the AIP program and we're NPIS airport. So, we're being part of that is the funds are guaranteed from that portion. What was that term you used? Nipius. What does that mean? Um, it's I have to look that up. I actually had it on my I don't have it off the top of my head, but it's a national um We can just get it to the council so we all understand we're on the same page with the Yeah, it's just part of being uh part of the airport from the FAA. So, and it's part of this. They give us funding through the AIP being part of the NPS program. I'm sorry, Council. Are you finished, Council? I just want to find out what that meant. You have anything else, Councelor Thompson? No, no, I'm done. I can look that up and get it to you. Sorry, I don't know it off the top of my head.

Thank you. Any other counselor? I have a motion. I move to adopt the resolution on page 22. I have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. I. Those opposed say no. Thank you. Thank you. Have a good evening. Next item C, adoption of a adoption by motion contract increase award monday.com software director deputy director Kayla Barber page 24 and 25 of your packet.

Good evening council. I'm very excited to be here tonight for this uh contract amendment. So if you'll remember um last year we started the implementation of monday.com um with an initial uh 100 licenses for our team. Uh that was following a really successful successful pilot program that we did um with a couple of our departments and now that our team has gone in there and been able to utilize that program um I am happy to say that we have a demand uh a waiting list for that program. Um so we are seeking an additional 100 licenses uh with 50 to be purchased now the other 50 to be phased in um over the next four years as the need arises. We want to be very careful not to spend before we have an actual need for it. Um, but since launching, monday.com has been extremely helpful in uh transparency, efficiency, um, and also, uh, supporting cross department coordination, uh, we've had over 200 processes moved into monday.com, ranging from very small individual, uh, work plans all the way up to major programs, um, such as special events management, um, our claims process, onboarding processes, benefits processes, so many to name. Um that has resulted in over $270,000 in hard savings for the city. Um as well as an equivalent of two FTEEs worth of time being redirected to higher priority projects. Um this is overall been an adoption that has far exceeded expectations and we have had our departments waiting patiently for us to bring this forward to you um in order to get this amendment. Um so as you'll note in the packet, it is a hund a max of $196,000 over the next four years. That assumes if we were to bring on all 100 today, which we are not going to be doing. Um, and the groups that will be most impacted are our public works department, community development, fire, and PD. Um, they have some really exciting projects on the horizon. For example, um, our public works department wants to take what is right now 11 separate uh, stagnant spreadsheets that are used to address our capital uh,

planning and project management and move that through in an automated coordinated process with all of their teams. Um, we also have some things coming down uh for grants as well as uh planning and development process and project administration. So, we're uh really looking for efficiencies where our admin staff works through requisitions, um putting in invoices, those sort of things. Um so, happy to answer any questions um related to monday.com, but yes, we're excited to have uh further adoption from the team. Council, any comments, questions? Have a motion? Okay, council.

This sounds great. I love Monday. Use it at work every day. Love the numbers on the hard savings. Um, as a user of the program, I can definitely believe it in a large organization such as this. Uh, I move to approve the contract increase award uh as specified in the packet. Second. I have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. I. Those opposed say no. Thank you, councel. Next on tonight's agenda is business from the council. I'll start with W three. Councelor Smith.

Oh dear. Um well um I wanted to mention that the um things have not stood still in the League of Oregon Cities since the legislative session is over. The policy committees are meeting now monthly through August um to talk about putting together a legislative package for the 27 session. The transportation policy committee will have its second meeting on Thursday of this week. I'm the vice chair of that committee this year. Um the housing land use and community development committee met for the first time last week. We'll have another meeting later in April. Um, two topics that keep coming up at both among the discussion among both committees are home rule, local slash local control and um changes to state law that affect lo local regulations with no money to back them. The old unfunded mandate discussion. Um also uh a third leg of that is um providing some relief from the state for infrastructure costs associated with affordable housing to actually make it more affordable. Um at the same time um I have been meeting with as I have been for the last three years the Lynn County Multi- Agency Coordinating Committee. there. That's the group that was pulled together to administer the um House Bill 5091 funds in 2023. After that session, they're still going strong and working on strategic planning for how to go forward with the money that has been guaranteed by the legislature for the next two years. Uh regarding uh Mr. Stuart's

comments about houser fooding food shortages. The community services uh consortium community action advisory council is meeting every other month. Now, I was appointed to that by the Lyn County Board of Commissioners um last month, and they manage um among many o food banks and food supplies and have developed a um an exhaustive list of food resources uh among the three counties that the consortium represents, including the growing number of baked goods stands in practically every neighbor. neighborhood. So that that's the organization that has its finger right on uh food banks and food sharing and food supplies and food delivery. Um wanted you to know that that that work is underway. Um the Lynn County Transportation Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday of this week also to discuss uh recommendations for federal transportation funding for public transit. And um on the lighter side of things on the let's see two weeks ago I attended the Albany Downtown Association walking tour of historic sites in Albany related to historic women including our our current um currently soon to be I mean eventually historic counselor McGee. It was fascinating. It was a very cold day, but it was fascinating. And we had had great turnout from the Menanite village or for one thing, there were two dozen people on that that walking tour. Very nice. Uh, also um we seem to be having a a truly Albany moment in my part of town. The it's nesting season for malards. And since the canal runs

right through my neighborhood and through my backyard, they are everywhere. I'm while I walk my dog in the morning, I see nesting pears looking around for places to nest. There's one on our street. There's one on the street over. There was one in the parking lot at Oak Elementary School this morning. It's very touching and people are very accommodating with them. And then I just want to one more time. I've got to say that I love what's happened to Deerfield Park now that the the uh soft surface trail is complete. My dog drags me for two blocks before we get to the start of the trail and we do the trail every other day. It's wonderful. She calls it Deerfield Park Bark. But anyway, it's we're really loving it and um that's that brings me up to date with what's been going on.

McGee, follow that. Um back from spring break, was out for a week. went to Paris and had an opportunity to spend some time with some former albinites in Paris. Um, one used to serve on our budget committee, Jared Taylor and Keith Koko. It was nice to see some Albanites in Paris. Fun. Okay, Councelor Newton,

hopping over to W one. Okay, cool. Um, Councelor Smith, I'm so glad you mentioned the community services consortium. I also had a uh constituent reach out to me and I just literally like an hour ago they gave me a call. Um they are currently working with community services consortium. They've been getting help with vouchers for rent and currently rent is late for them. Community services consortium has not paid it on time and thankfully their landlord isn't going to penalize them. But she's a single mom widow. um her husband recently passed away and so just want to follow up on that and see if that is just happening with one person or if this maybe if we're if we're seeing a pattern or why because I can imagine just how stressful that would be when you already have a lot of lot of things on your plate then worried hey am I going to have a late late fee on a on top of like getting help with my rent from cse um so I wanted to flag that um I had a quick request from my from me I It's been lovely, you know, being able to, you know, attend Passover saders and that we our new calendar is accommodating for um holidays of different faiths. And I was curious if council would be amendable to maybe switching some council dates in December. I noticed that we're meeting during Hanukkah, um December 7th and December 9th, and I'm wondering if you guys would all be okay with meeting December 14th and 16th instead of 7th and 9th. That was a question I had. And then um I'm not sure if I should make that as a motion.

I I would recommend asking staff to bring I already asked Peter and he said to bring it up here. Yeah, we we can we can make that happen. The council has approved the the uh schedule for the year. So it's your decision, but we can make it happen. You're everyone. Thumbs up or thumbs down or make a motion. Okay. I would like to make a motion that we move meeting dates on December 7th and December 9th to December 14th and December 16th. Second. I have a motion and a second. Any any other discussion before I call the vote? I I would like to say that that um that week actually works better for my schedule. So, thank you for bringing this up.

Okay. So, I usually take December 7th off and hang out with veterans forward veterans. So, works for me. So I'm just before we vote I was giving people an opportunity to comment. That okay. That's what we did last time. Yeah. Technically you should call for discussion after every correct. That's what I just did. Yes. Okay. Do you have anything? Okay. I have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. I. Those opposed say no. Excellent. Thank you.

And then I had one last thing not to be annoying. Um, I was thinking especially, you know, with gas prices going up. Um, and I know that we had originally talked about having the, you know, discussing if we're gonna have five cent or seven cent or 10 cent or, you know, gas gas tax and like when we or if it was be ter not term limited but limited to like a certain period of time and I know that originally uh when director Bailey was here uh we talked about having that on the ballot this upcoming November and just thinking about how things are going right now in the world. I think that it might be, and I believe I mentioned this during the discussion, um having that discussion sooner rather than later and also not having this on the ballot for November, instead having it on the ballot for um I believe it's May. The following May, not this May, the following.

That's too short. Yeah. Not not Oh my gosh. No, but the following May. So May 2027. Um and I wanted to see if I could get consensus from the council to do that or problem with it. I don't have a problem with that either. May I point out also that you have on your uh projected calendar a local fuel tax discussion for May 13th of next year? No, for this year to talk about that very subject which is So is that not I'm I'm missing something. Is this a city um street maintenance fee or this is the for the gas tax? Okay, gas tax. Okay.

To have it on the ballot. Thank you for if I may um contribute here. Will that discussion include the the uh street fee, the transportation utility fee? Yes, I suspect it will. However, the urgent thing is is to give staff alternate direction. You'll remember the last direction you gave was that we put it on the ballot for this November. I share the concerns that councelor Newton raised and I I would recommend that we delay it at least until next May, but we'll have that discussion on May 13th. Okay. I guess um cart before horse. Hello. Um at least the cart's out there.

Yeah, at least the cart's out there. Hey, and then my last thing was a question for staff on when are those flashing lights going to be um installed up in North Albany? They will, but I don't have a date for you. Okay. you know when you might have a date? I can I can certainly get a date for you and pass it on. Okay. Excellent. And um and I'll follow with you later if um on if you have an update on that preschool as well. Right. That Well, I'll just go ahead and give it all to you now that Well, can you wait to your time? Oh, of course. Yeah. Okay.

All right. And that's it. Thank you. So, council They counted the the lights. Notice there's some construction going on on the sides of both both of them. It looks like right at the beginning of the school zones on both sides. We got the transportation manager coming up. Okay, there we go.

Yeah, we went out uh a couple weeks ago and met them out on Clay Street. The same contractor is going to put in some RRFBs there. They're working out there. I think they're waiting on parts. So, my guess is within a month you might see that, but we can get back to you for for sure, but it's going to happen pretty quick. I think they're getting up there. And then Nipius is the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. So, it's it's part of all of the airports and public airports combined. So, it's part of the AIP program. Sorry about that. Oh, no worries. Thank you. You guys have a good evening. You too. Councelor Thompson, is that I'm sorry. You done? Councelor Thompson. No, I don't have anything tonight.

Thank you, Councelor McCloud.

Thank you. Um, I I do have a couple things. I wanted to let everyone know that tomorrow, uh, the LBCC Mobility Hub ribbon cutting is set for 3:30 p.m. at the Linbenton Community College. I'll be speaking at the ribbon cutting as both vice chair of the Lyn Benton Loop Board and as vice chair of the Albony Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board. I would love to see all of you there. I also had constituent contacts about crime at Talking Water Gardens and at Draper Park. Uh the park ranger, APD, and parks open space manager um were uh were notified by um appropriate department heads and um seemed to be taking care of the issues there. I also had constituent contacts about uh debris on a vacant lot near Queen and Ferry as well as another location with multiple violations involving a homebased auto repair business. Uh Mr. Trodson, you sent an email that Code Compliance would be looking into those items. Is there an update on those? They the code compliance officer did speak to the owner of the property and has put them on notice that it needs to be cleaned up.

Which which which one was it? Both of them. I'll have to go back and see which one I got the email on. Okay. If you could if you could just let us know at a later time. Great. Thank you. Also, is there an uh update, Mr. Trodson, on noxious weed removal at Tina Landing? It seems that there are a lot of um ivy plants covering the tree trunks and you had mentioned that there would be noxious weed cleanup. I'd like an update on that, please.

Right. Well, I'll have to talk to the parks director about that and I apologize for this mic. It sounds very loud to me, but um uh at the time you'll remember that they were waiting for weather to clean up a little clear up a little bit and it has cleared up. So, I'll find out if that's got a scheduled date yet. And I have noticed um over over the years that the ivy on those tree trunks uh just continues to grow. Is there any specific plan for ivy removal at Tequina Landing Park? I'll have I'll find that out as well.

Perfect. Thank you, sir. Um, also I uh requested a report on uh on the no kings rally um from the um Albany Police Department and uh happy to happy to hear that there were no reported injuries, no criminal behavior and no property damage associated with uh with that event. So kudos to APD for keeping everyone safe. That's all I have. Thank you.

Thank you, Councelor Van Gremlin. Uh, no specific business tonight other than to just say thank you to the Albany Fire Department one more time for their quick response to my house when our microwave decided to that it was done and that it was going to try and take the whole house with it.

Good. Oh, I've got a few things. Um, I missed the tiny art display um business. I was up till 1:00 in the morning that evening and I just missed it. So, I do apologize for the library about about that. It's the first time I've ever missed it. Second thing is um um Youth Art Gallery at First Friday was absolutely amazing. Um, I gave out 40 tokens to the young people, the young artists, and they showed me their paintings and explained to me why they did drew their art, what's motivated them, and the kids and the parents were amazing. First Friday, and it was something that I'd love to see that happen again. So, thank you, Director Leane, for having me come out for that. Uh, we are, those of us that are going to LLC and Pendleton this year is 23 and 24. We do have a city council meeting that evening. Uh but prior to that, ARRA is going to be at 4 p.m. C um uh commissioner or dire director chair Newton will be running that meeting. Um and then on the 9th, Valor Place Limbent Housing Authority, they're having their grand open grand opening for their uh 30 unit veterans low-income and disabled housing on Queen Avenue at um at 1300. I'll make sure I get the right numbers out to you. Or 1400. And then um on the 10th uh in Ward three uh Farm Workers Housing Development Corporation is having a grand opening of the Colonial Delva Prospero, a housing complex over on Goldfish Farm Road. Um so I'll be speaking there and also at the Valor Place and I'm happy to report that um if it were mayor winners for 2026 were selected. um they will be presenting to us um at the 22nd meeting. And I want to thank Matt Harrington for the leg work on the efforts of the program. And so Matt, you're once again a superstar in

my eyes and the kids are amazing and I can't I know the names I can't announce them, but they'll be here to present with their findings and their results. And with that, I'll turn it over to the city manager for his report.

Thanks, Mayor. And to answer councelor Newton's question, the peaceful gardens monastery school had applied for uh their change of occupancy permit last Thursday, April 2nd. That process normally takes two to three weeks, but we anticipate that it won't take as long as two weeks. Um, and the only other thing is to let you know that you do have one other meeting in the near future, and that's next Monday, April 13th, uh, which you'll have a a joint meeting with the planning commission, uh, starting at 5:30 in the evening. And I sent you an email about that earlier today. And that's all I have. Thank you.

Thank you. Um, Monday, next meetings are Monday the 13th, like the city manager just mentioned, joint meeting with the planning commission, and then Wednesday, April 22nd. Oh, excuse me. Wednesday, April 22nd at 4 PM for a ARRA meeting. Council Councelor Newton will be chairing that meeting and Wednesday, April 22nd, 26 at 6 p.m. for regular council meeting. And with that, have a good evening. I'll adjourn the meeting.