City Council - Regular Meeting

It's okay. That's it. Oh, great. All right. Jesus. Thank you.

of yourself.

Yeah. Thank you. Come right. So, we're we're reconvening. I have 657. I'm going to go ahead and reconvene this meeting. Will the recorder please call the role?

Councelor Irvin here. Councelor Hank here. Councelor Lamman here. Councelor Merid. Councelor Settlemire here. Councelor Wilson here. Mayor Solsby here. I'll rise for the pledge of allegiance. under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. Items to be added to the agenda. We have an item that needs to be added by motion, unanimous vote, and it is for the 2026 state of the trees address, which will go in item 6C. Council may I move that the council uh approve the addition of the state of the trees address to item 6C. I second. We have a motion with the second. Will the recorder Oh, sorry. All those in favor signify by saying I.

I opposed. Motion carries unanimously. So we will be adding that to item 6 C. Special presentations. Cottage Grove Garbage Service. Tim Alverson.

Good evening.

My name is Tim Alverson. with Cottage Grove Garbage Service and here tonight to talk about what's new with recycling here in Cottage Grove. I guess to give a little context uh what's new, it's probably a good idea to talk about what's happened in the past. Um in 1983, the Oregon legislature passed the opportunity to recycle laws. Um those laws mandated any municipality of 4,000 or greater uh to provide recycling services to the community. Um in 1988, the franchise agreement between Cottage Grove Garbage Service um and the city of Cottage Grove was amended to add recycling to the franchisees responsibilities. um that language um says that the city council decides what materials are recyclable and at the time um it's seven items and it's really only five but um they got glass broken into three colors. Green glass, brown glass, clear glass. uh has to be source separated. Um cardboard, newspapers, tin cans, and aluminum cans. So those were the seven items at the time. Um and so when we collected those materials, we had seven different bins on the truck. So green glass went into a bin and brown glass went into a bin and so on and so forth. Everything was separated at the collection point. Um, in the mid 2000s, um, we went from material separation to comingling certain items. Um, glass

wasn't comingled, but all of those other items, tin cans, aluminum, cardboard, newspapers, um, were comingled together. Um, in 2020, the Oregon legislature passed a recycling modernization act. And so that went through several years of rulemaking. Um, and committees, uh, DEEQ committees pretty much decided what materials would be collected in the future. Um, and they developed what's called the uniform statewide collection list. Um, and we'll talk about that in a little bit here. Um and so really the one of the main components of that legislation was to make producers of certain materials responsible for their end life. So they have to pay into um where they actually there's an entity called the circular action alliance which is the pro the producer responsibility organization. made they were appointed by the div department of environmental quality um to fulfill that role. So they're responsible for collecting based on metric tonnage of material produced from the producers fees and those fees in turn are um being used for investment in new recycling. Um and we'll talk about that later as well. Um and so um that kind of will lead into what's new um in recycling here in Cottage Grove. So um beginning July 2025, a a new material list known as the uniform statewide collection list became the official recyclable co-mingled materials list for all generators.

Um to date here in Cottage Grove, all participating commercial, institutional, and multifamily recyclers have received a new blue 65gallon roll cart for coingle materials that are listed on the uniform statewide collection list. Um the distribution of the blue recycle carts to curbside recyclers, which are the residential recyclers, began in April of 26. um and we are slowly deploying those um in a strategic manner so we just don't overwhelm the current collection system. Um next, so along with that there's all of this new messaging. Um I think you folks all got a copy of the recycling guide and the oops tags and the recycle the stickers that can the container stickers. Um, so statewide, this is the same information that's being disseminated to everybody. Um, the blue recycle carts, that center image, um, that is the lid of the new cart. It has recycling stamped on the top. Um, it also has recycling in nine other languages. Um, the word recycling. Um, and obviously we don't want no trash or glass in in those blue bins. Um, I'm ready for the net. So, material collection before and after the uniform statewide collection list. So, prior to July 1, 2025, we were collecting newspapers, cataloges, flattened cardboard, paper egg cartons, paper bags, tin and aluminum cans, clean aluminum foil. at the curbside. All of that could be co-mingled. We also collected food and beverage grade glass that could not be co-mingled. That was either set outside

the bin or a customerprovided container in a customerp provided container. Um, beginning July 1, the uniform statewide collection list has all of the materials on the right hand side of the screen there. It's three times the number of items that we were collecting prior. And so we started collecting all of those materials um beginning July 1, but we were collecting them in a 14gallon recycle bin. Um we did not have the the recycle carts yet. A number of commercial, institutional, and multifamily did have recycled carts, but they were just an oddball mix of of different color carts. they didn't have recycling stamped on them um at all. So, so with the recycling modernization act um the you know we pretty much applied for funding um to expand the recycling system here in Cottage Grove. So, um, we're investing $665,000 in a new automated truck, 3,000 new blue recycle carts, a new smart truck platform, and we'll talk about that in a minute as well. Um, and then education and outreach um materials. The that's okay. Um, the bottom, so that that truck image is very similar to the truck that we have ordered. I don't know if you guys have seen the the front end loader, the green has a green body on it. So, that new truck will come with that new green body on it. Um, that truck is probably just a little bit larger than the one we're getting. Um, the bottom image is the blue recycle carts. Um, I flipped that one over for a

reason. There's a serial number on the back of that cart. So, um, just keep that in mind when we get further down here. And there's a reason for that. So um I'm ready. So so under the new recycling modernization act there is a number of new state statutes regarding contamination reduction. So all service providers if they were going to uh access the contamination reduction funding that's available to the community had to have had to have an approved an approve excuse me an approved plan. So, ours is three parts. Um, the smart truck platform, which is a three camera system paired with AI software that's on the on the new truck to detect contamination. So, that new truck you've seen will have the smart truck platform installed on it. Um, the use of oops tags, which you guys got a copy of all of those. We're actually using those right now for because we are still manually handling uh multifamily commercial and institutional um materials in the blue recycling recycling carts manually. It's not being picked up by an automated truck. So, so when we tip those and if there's contaminated, you know, contamination in those, we use that oops tag to let the customer know. We leave that oops tags with the container and usually with the material and they usually will clean it clean it up and then give us a call and then we return and tip that. Um and then the third compon component of our contamination reduction plan is a three strike policy which was really pushed by the state of Oregon. basically on the third infraction, right? Recycler will lose the opportunity to recycle and the recycle card is pulled. Um, under the new contamination reduction statutes, the the state of Oregon has a goal of of

no more than 10% contamination. We're over 30% right now statewide. So, um, that's the reason for the for the expected strong enforcement of the contamination reduction rules. Um, so how does the smart truck platform work? Um, what you're looking at is you're looking into the hopper of a garbage truck from the top down. So you see the blade that pushes the material back into the body. So you can see this camera system identifies in this case a plastic bag um with something in it um and textiles. It looks like clothing. So um so the smart truck platform um picks this up. Um next and then um when contamination is detected the AI software identifies the recycle cart with contaminants by serial number and so that's each one of those recycle carts has a serial number on the back. So when that cart is tipped, one of the cameras um is able to read that serial number um so they'll know who that cart belongs to because that cart is attached to a customer's account. Um and then first infractions receive a writ receive written communication and just kind of more encouragement encouragement letting them know um what they did and and that they can do better. And we'll we'll look at a sample of a of that here in a second. Then the second infraction receives escalated written communication and the third time um they receive a letter and lose the opportunity to recycle and the recycle card is pulled. Um so this the city of Tampa this is this is their first infraction notice. Tampa, Florida that is. So on the left is the front of the card. It just says are you confused about recycling? You know you're not alone dot dot dot dot

dot. and the QR code um can be scanned and that will link to the recycling guide that we have. Um and then obviously the the other side is when we emptied your recycle truck, our team noticed no items in your cart. Um this is a different cart, not the one we just looked at, but yard waste was in this one. So, and then obviously failure to comply with the city of Tampa curbside recycling program guidelines may result in removal of your recycle cart. And then a little encouragement, you know, to the you can do better. It's sad face right now. So, want to make that a smile. Anyway, um and then last, um we're planning to end glass collection and I know there's been some folks in the community that have expressed some concern about that. Um and there's reasons behind that. So to begin with our we have a very very low collection volume like our 25 20 25 tonnage could fit in a 20x 20 by 8 foot space and we're talking about um the amount of glass material we collected over a 52- week period. So I don't know 20 by 20 by 8 foot tall. So, it's not that much and it's and glass collection is is it it's expensive and it's a safety issue. Um, but if we were continuing to collect glass, um, a new dedicated glass collection route would need to be established obviously with with the current system transitioning over to automated. Um, glass would then have to be collected by a separate vehicle. Um, and the annual operating cost of that new route would be $120,000 and would and it would require an 8% inch increase in the incity roll cart and container rates to fund. Um, the opportunity to recycle glass is

available here in Cottage Grove still at the Sears Road Transfer Station. Um and once again, our plan is to phase glass collection out um and end it on May 31st as we're transitioning to the automated um collection rep. And then worker safety is a huge issue on we've been running um and I'm sure everybody has probably seen our collectors out there on a rear loader and we have an individual a laborer that rides on a riding platform. So, we've had too many injuries over the years with that application. Um, just besides getting cut by glass and or glass shards when you throw them in the bin, um, a piece of glass getting in your eye. We've we've had um an employee um break their ankle that and had have pins put in required surgery and severed their uh anterior cruciate ligament in their knee just stepping on and off that truck. And then, you know, the the the workers on that truck are really exposed to when they're on the back the back of that throwing material in there, they're exposed to traffic, oncoming traffic. Luckily, we haven't had an incident, but um anyway, that's that's our reasoning for ending the glass collection. So, and that's it.

Thank you, Tim. Anybody have any questions? Any questions? Councelor Meriday.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, we appreciate you coming to explain the program. Um contamination goes back a long ways and I I believe it is uh one of the reasons that u many uh supplier or custo potential customers for recyclables have rejected uh loads of recyclables is due to the contamination. Uh people often think they're doing a good thing by including the recyclable material, but leave food waste or um include other things that aren't recyclable. Maybe you could um uh back me up on that or or not.

Well, yeah, that's absolutely true. We call it wishful recycling. So obviously, you know, people, you know, feel certain things should be recyclable in spite of the fact they're not on the list. They throw them in the recycle bin or in the recycle cart. Um, obviously when you when you mix glass and their glass tends to break. And so if that gets tipped into a truck, we're contaminating the entire load with what we call sparkle. You know, the the broken glass because that just can't be removed um during the sorting process at all. So yeah,

anyone else seen it, but I heard that you incorporated that the team here incorporated glass into your service obligations under the franchise ordinance. Are you asking to have that amended? Well, that is dated that that the language, the materials obviously state statewide the uniform statewide collection is it's what's mandated now by the state. So that does need a refresh. It sounds I I mean it sounds to me like to get everyone on the same page this might be something to be brought back or for you to bring a proposal

continue the glass collection but it's expensive like I said the fund cost require 8% increase in current rates for gold card yeah anyway I just wanted to raise that so everybody's aware of what I heard and you know the the two conflicting things I heard it was implied Yeah. Thank you, Miss Conley. Anyone else? Councelor Sonomar.

I supply pizza to a club. A lot of pizza. This says dry pizza boxes, but no food residue. Does that include the grease from

So basically that's, you know, we're just going to have to leave that up to the generator to decide. Basically, it's saying clean and dry. I know that sounds somewhat ambiguous, but it can be interpreted in many ways, but they're asking for all the material to be clean and dry. That's one of the reasons we're providing the recycle part now. Also, it has a lid, so it will, you know, those materials can remain dry. So, they don't like the extra water weight when we tip that stuff. So, meaning currently with the bins, if it's rainy out, all that material gets wet, especially cardboard. Um, and so, councelor Urban,

thank you, Mayor. Following up on on the ramifications, so we've got a franchise agreement that requires the garbage hauler to also take glass as recycling. Is that not just not just in the the way the franchise agreement's currently written and I'll be happy to read it. I got a copy. So presum let's just for the sake of this discussion say that uh you would be in violation as of July f or yeah uh June 1st. Yeah.

Yes and no. But we would need the funding to to to fund the new a new dedicated glass collection route. So if you're going to say do it but we're not giving you the funding. I would say that we're in a in a conundrum, you know, because I'm not also the franchise agreement allows us to cover our cost and a reasonable rate of return. So there's kind of two pieces to that. So

So presumably to not have that situation come up, we would need to have a revision to that by June 1st. uh or acknowledgement or a decision one way or another, I would assume. So, I'm I'm in favor of having that come back as soon as possible. I agree. I'm not sure.

Yeah. So I'm willing obviously to continue until we make that transition to the we're expecting delivery of our new automated truck in July. It was ordered 14 months ago. So it's named a bit but it should be here in July. Um, I'm willing to continue the glass collection if you know until that new truck is put to service because the other truck will be taken out of service that has the ability to hold glass because we're no longer going to be manually collecting the material unless we do develop um and establish a dedicated glass fledge. Yeah, probably probably options. I mean, it would be good to be part of that discussion. Be good to have a refresher what the franchise agreement states. And um if you know, I don't think we're here for a a decision right now. But really, it seems like the the discussion is an 8% rate increase to maintain the status quo or um we're changing the agreement to allow the dropping of that requirement. Anyone else? No. Do we need a consensus?

Yes. So, what would the protocol to to request a I can do that. Well, good evening, your honor, members of the council. Uh the last time we did a rate increase was let me get the right date in front of me. April 1, 2025. April 1, 2025. And so if you would like to propose an additional another rate increase, uh just that same format was you sent a letter to the city.

Yeah. So, so what I was asking what the protocol would be to review the amendment that was done in 88 and and get the language up the shape of that. I'll be honest, I'm at a bit of a loss. I was operating off the uh 1983 franchise agreement and I did not realize that back when I was in college uh in 88 that a uh there was an amendment. So uh if you could provide us with a copy of that, I'd really appreciate it. Councelor Saltomire

and it would this really seems very advantageous to a lot of recycling and before this came along there were people and and organization organizational collection of recycling things. Is there any way that you could maybe add an option where once a month in a weekend, you know, somewhere in the city people could bring their glass recycling and

yeah just well that option is available. So now we're talking about a depot which needs to be licensed by the DEEQ. Uh so there's a lot of regulation associated with with doing something like that. So councelor Lamman. So just to understand this correct, thank you madam. Basically if you didn't have the rate increase you'd be looking at getting rid of glass recycling come June. Correct. Well yes.

Okay. the way it stands now, what our what our plan is, which I'm saying I'm very flexible. Um, our plan is to end that glass recycling just so we can continue to make the transition, meaning distributing out the 65gallon blue recycle carts, removing the 14gallon bins, and then um, you know, and then obviously be and we're doing that right now. So folks that were swapping out the 65gallon oil parts for the bin. So we're letting them know that we're ceasing glass collection. So we're taking their bin and giving them a cart that they they they don't they no longer have the opportunity to recycle at curbside. But that that option is available out there at the transfer station. So as of um May 31, we still have a we still have 2600 recycle carts to deploy. So, um, so that process is going to accelerate in June. Um, and that's why we want to end that glass recycling, um, as of May 31. So,

so I would I would just be in favor of having the city staff and the city attorney look at amending the current franchise agreement to remove any language of glass recycling and then just continue from there with an updated franchise agreement. Well, just a little background with the RMA. They were initially going to eliminate glass recycling statewide um except on route commercial in the tri county area which would have been Mcnolmouth, Washington and Clamus County and all that material was just going to be the all that collected material was just going to be crushed as road base. Um and then um the CIA was going to fund depots, but when they realized how expensive they were and the regulation involved in in establishing them, um they they kind of threw glass back in there. Um about mid25. So all of our planning um you know revolved around in early 2025 that glass collection was going to cease statewide.

Mr. Albertson, you have Mr. Burbach behind you.

Garland, can you walk up to the mic? Garland Burbback 461 South First Street. The one reason the biggest reason we wanted to do away with the glass collection is there's probably out of our customer base maybe 20% of the people collect the ga the glass and uh we pick up that we pick up and uh so it's just not economically practical for us to be charging customers that don't do it and uh don't uh set glass out. And usually the people that do set the glass out, they've got one little bottle or one little jar. And I have we have customers that I've talked to that uh will collect the well, Chris Hollowman's one of them. And u they'll collect the uh glass in a big box and maybe once a month or every other month they'll take it out to the transfer site and get rid of it. And and as far as he's concerned anyway, it isn't a big deal. And I know it's not a big deal to counselor Mary Day. And uh so

never spent a dime at Cottage Grove. Yeah. But you're you're you are full of you know what? Well, no, it's frugality. Frugality. Just wanted to bring that up that that such a small percentage of the people, our customer base does the glass thing. That's the main reason we're really trying to do away with some of this stuff. The only places that really do a lot is the brew station and and the other beer joint. So, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Burbach. Any other questions? Councelor Lamman.

Madam Mayor, so do we want to get a consensus at council to have city staff and the attorney work on that? Sure. I just I just have one more question. Yes. Yes. Can we get a Can we get a consensus? I I just They're kind of looking at us for Yes. And uh I had a question from a constituent. Sure. That um they thought the stipulation for the garbage service to get funding what for the new truck was to increase the amount of recyclables or is

so it is tripling. Um on the one slide we had on the left what we were doing. If you wish to do that there it is right there. So on the left is what we have been collecting um with the the new uniform statewide collection list. Even though we did start collecting that material on July 1, I'm finding most folks have no idea. Even though that the recycling guide is printed on the back of every bill, we usually put messaging on the bill referring to to that new recycling guide. Um, but where a lot of people have became curious is when they've gotten their blue 65gallon roll cart, you know, they're even coming out and go, "What's going on?" So, and obviously we're explaining, you know, that um we're providing this cart to to give you enough capacity to recycle all of these new items that are on the uniform statewide collection.

Perfect. Thank you. I hate I hate asking, but I see that food and beverage glass is on the new list. Well, it So, we're currently collecting it, so that's why it's there. So, as of July 1, 2025, you know, we're still collecting food and beverage glass. Yep. Okay. Yep. But no, it's not. Well, it's still there. So, Right. Well, thank you, gentlemen. We appreciate you taking the time to come out and explain all this to us tonight. Okay. Thanks.

Item B, human resources director. Introduction. City Manager, Mr. Sourine. Well, good evening, your honor, members of the council. Um, I just wanted to take an opportunity to introduce our new human resources director, uh, Laura English, and give Lori a chance to introduce herself and, uh, kind of tell you why she was crazy enough to take a job working with us. And,

hello, my name's Lauri English. I've been the HR director here at the city of Cottage Grove since April 15th. Prior to this, I was the HR director for a nonprofit that supports individuals with disabilities. I was there six years and we had about 200 employees but unfortunately with financial cuts and and changes that agency has closed down. I had um many opportunities to work at other companies but really really loved the people that I met with in the interview process and the people that worked here and I just felt a deep connection to the city and and everyone here and I live in Pleasant Hill and that's about it. Does anyone have any questions for Lori?

Welcome aboard. We're glad you're here, Lori. Thank you. Item C, state of the trees, Miss Cleur.

Well, I'm going to hand the mic over to the urban forestry committee chair, Justin Tid. Good evening, mayor and council. Um, I'm here today to present the state of the trees. So, currently there are six filled seats on the urban forestry committee. Um, myself, Justin Tedrick, uh, Richard Vasquez, Tammy Stark, Jimmy Schaffer, uh, Deborah Barla, and Paul Higgins. This group continues to be highly engaged in the committed to the strengthening cottage urban forest making it more resilient to weather events and be prepared for emerging event threats like the emerald ashbor. This year the city received its 32nd tree city USA designation. Uh this recognition awarded by the arborday foundation reflects our continued commitment to the urban forestry. Uh to qualify, the city meets several criteria, including adopting Arbor Day proclamation, hosting community celebration, maintaining an active urban forestry committee, and tracking volunteer hours, upholding a tree ordinance, and investing at least $2 per capita in the urban forestry programs. In addition, this the city earned its ninth grow growth award um from the Arbor Day foundation. This award recognizes committees that go beyond the baseline requirements of Tree City USA and continue to expand and improve the urban forestry efforts, essentially doing more than the bare minimum, which we always like to see. In early April, the urban forestry committee, city staff, and the community volunteers came together to plant a

beautiful cascara tree in Silk Creek Park as part of our annual Arbor Day month planting celebration. Later later in the month, the committee with the help of staff um hosted a free tree giveaway at Corner Park distributing 164 trees to 110 residents. It's encouraging to see the committee shares the same the community shares the same enthusiasm for rebuild rebuilding and maintaining the urban forest canopy. Um staff also partnered with LCG to develop a tree inventory app which will allow both staff and the committee to better track tree locations, conditions, and overall canopy coverage. This tool will help guide future planning efforts to ensure we're making informed decisions as we work towards our canopy goals. Um, looking ahead, uh, the commi the committee will once again host a booth in the annual, uh, emergency preparedness fair. This year's focus will include proper pruning tips, techniques, and education on the emerald ash bore a and practical steps residents can take to better prepare their trees for severe weather. The city also recently completed its 20th year partnership with the freshwater trust to restore the west bank of the Rorow River. Uh, sorry, the west bank of the Row River. This project has significantly improved riparian habitat within the Row River. Sorry guys, the Ralph River Nature Park, creating a healthier, more resilient environment and native vegetation. Upcoming efforts include maintaining tree health in the North Regional Park and partnering with the watershed council to organize a community IV

removal event. We look forward to sharing more details as those plans are finalized. Thank you. And I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you. Any questions? Councilor Urban.

Thank you, mayor. Thank you, Justin, for coming to present um and for the volunteer efforts of the urban forestry committee. Um, one of the I think the maybe the mandates on the urban forestry committee or one of their stated goals was to catalog uh the canopy catalog. Uh can you give an update on the progress of inputting the trees to know what we have? So I mean to be blunt we're basically I know if we're basically starting from scratch we've got some very little information that was kept held over but we're basically starting from scratch again and that is the purpose of partnering with the app developer that is creating app for uh tree inventory and so using that we will have a digital digital library of all of our trees we'll have the uh caliper of the trees. We'll have the size of the canopy of the trees and we'll actually, you know, know what we're working with and how we can how we're progressing or when, you know, terrible events like the ice storms come through, how we're digressing. So, once we have the uh once we have the digital library, we will know where we stand. Um, and with the help of staff and the committee, we're excited to get going on that. I think uh we're going to start as soon as this month. Yeah,

thank you for that. Anyone else? Well, thank you for all your volunteer hours. We really appreciate it. Yeah, thank you.

Appearance of interested citizens. This is a time for citizen comment. The council will first take comments addressing items not listed on the agenda for a maximum of 30 minutes. The council will then take comments addressing action items on the agenda for a maximum of 30 minutes. Individual speakers must be recognized by the presiding officer, provide their name, identify whether they are city resident, and if so, their ward. Please limit comments to three minutes or less with council approval. Comments regarding any matter scheduled for a public hearing may be provided only during that hearing. The council will not make any decisions based on public comment. However, staff and council may choose to ask questions or comment following the conclusion of citizen comments.

Daniel Leerson, counselors. Um, it's actually pronounced Libertson, but that was pretty close. So, I'm going to speak to an item that's not on the agenda, but is on a lot of people's minds, and that's the consideration of closing or curtailing the services severely of the library um because of the budget crisis, which is very real and very difficult that uh we find ourselves in. Um, my wife and I immigrated from San Francisco to Cottage Grove because we wanted a small peaceful place. San Francisco has gotten very hectic. Um, and we actually bought a house here seven years ago and lived here part of the time, mainly in the summer. Um but we've now moved here permanently and the thought of losing the library which we both use and which was one of the attractions that brought us here among many others the bookstores, antique shops and the storied history of Cottage Grove as well. The thought of uh losing that was quite disconcerting. Um, also the pool which we use, uh, was available to the public during the time we've been here and not having that would impact both of us because we're swimmers. So, I'm basically just want to urge the counselors and the budget committee to try to find uh, you know, turn over every stone, try to find some funding to keep the library going. Um

it I'm I'm concerned not only because as I wrote to you in an email uh it's important to seniors, people who can't afford to buy books which have gotten quite expensive, people who can't afford to have internet connection. Um it's important to uh families who can leave their kids in the library. it's important to kids because they get educated there uh in addition to in their classrooms. Um but I'm also concerned that Cottage Grove is a very distinguished little town. Uh it has a tremendous amount to offer. That's what brought us here. And I'm worried about the future uh if we lose what I consider to be critically important. uh elements of the the culture in the city. Uh you know uh I think it'll eventually affect our property values. Uh people like my wife and I might not come here, might not like to live here anymore, which is going to affect the tax base. Um in short, uh please do your best. I realize it's a tough situation um to preserve the library and its services and the pool as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Art Lancaster.

Miss Connley, I have this gentleman signed up twice on two different subjects. Sure it was on and just one. So we have three minutes for your full So both of your combined issues that you want to speak on have to be two different issues. I'm sorry.

They're two different issues. Okay, library closure. I keep hearing the library is going to close. There's signs all over the city saying the library is going to close. No one has ever said that the library is going to close. No one. Yes, there's going to be changes, but there has to be there's going to be changes all over the city. We have to make a difference. One place being cut a little bit doesn't hurt anything. The police department's been cut, the fire department's been cut, the city's been cut. Why is it the library can't be cut? Not all the way, but come on. We got to save something somehow. Okay. And I I I the library is not going to close. Period. Okay. Main Street. This is a question about Main Street. I've heard different people saying this. Since Main Street's been fixed, there's people going around telling everybody they have to walk their bikes down that new stretch of Main Street. But I'm looking at the street and I'm seeing arrows with bicycles. What? Where's the confusion here? You can you ride your bike down Main Street

or can't you? That's a simple question. Uh there's a lot of bicyclists around town and that would suff because somebody's saying I'm good. Thank you, Councelor Merid. I forget that thing.

Mr. Lancaster. Um the the the current ordinance for the city of Cottage Grove is the designated downtown stretch on the sidewalks. No wheeled vehicles are permitted. The the the main street is fully accessible to bicycles. Curiously enough, outside the downtown area, it is permissible to ride bicycles on the sidewalks. I find that in the in the ordinance. So, yeah, but that's the only area designated is Main Street.

Council, I could speak to that curiosity. Um, so I take full credit as much as possible for uh influencing the ability to ride on sidewalks. Um namely that there are zones where it's more dangerous certainly to the downtown corridor where you have much pedestrian traffic going in and out. But we have sidewalks in front of our house and certainly restricted my kids from riding on the sidewalks uh illegally until we uh were able to acknowledge that it was actually safer uh to be able to ride on the sidewalks than having them go out into the street. So in some area that was the compromise that the council at the time came up with um an exclusion zone downtown but permissible you know down in the other parts of town. There's a lot of not sidewalked blocks, too. But

all right. Thank you,

Tasha Lava. I hope I said that correctly. I am not doing well tonight with names. Okay. Greetings, city councelor, mayor, and whoever's here from the budget committee and fellow community members. I know the library is not closing. I have lived in and around this community for over 30 years. I live in ward 2 with my husband and daughter who is wise, educated, and part of our future. I come here today with information surrounding the library. I have been working with a number of groups with interest in the well-being of the library and we have gathered 341 hard copy and 32 online signatures as of this afternoon. Before coming here, we have well over 400 signatures from members of this community to urge adequate funding for the library. These signatures were gathered within one week and there are more to come. The signatures ask for adequate funding of the library, which means to maintain a quality service for all people, including the employees. Keeping hours that sustain the education, trust, and safe place for community now and in the future. Acknowledging Cottage Grove public has put in a lot of sweat e equity in the past, present, and honoring the future.

and past by listening to the creative ideas the public came up with and have shared with you. And I'm sure there are more ideas out there. I have printed copies of some of those ideas and petitions to share with each of you. Thank you for your time and service to the people. Thank you. And I'm sorry. I hope my tone was kind enough. I'm very nervous. Oh, you're fine.

Um, may I present these copies? So, I want this to go on public record and I also want whoever's at the press table to receive one. Okay. So, do I just want to

Okay, thank you. All right. April Bender. April Bender. My name is April Bender and I am with Vital Villages Oregon. Our community is currently facing a $121,000 deficit that threatens the heart of our town. Our pool, our library, and South Lane Mills, to name a few. I'm here to offer a budget bridge that solves this crisis tonight using money the city already has. We propose that the city uses its restricted housing fund to purchase the 2205 Highway 99 property, the former pallet shelter, and um purchase that property from the general fund for $220,000. This move immediately unlocks the cash needed to save our community programs, leaving the city with a surplus of 99,000. Following this swap, we request a community benefit transfer of the former pallet shelter to Vital Villages Oregon, ensuring it remains a permanent asset for the public good. The why from travesty to redemption. This isn't just a financial puzzle, it's a human one. In August of 2023, I was locked out of my apartment and left on the sidewalk by the sheriff with my special needs non-verbal autistic daughter. There was no help. It is a travesty that in our town there's no place for families or single disabled mothers to go. I'm speaking from the fire of that experience to tell you it is time for redemption. We at Vital Villages Oregon will transform the um property into a

permanent home for the South Valley Farmers Market and the service station providing stability for homeless families, foster youth aging out of the system and neurode divergent young adults. The multi-layered puzzle. This mission is a self-sustaining ecosystem designed to move our neighbors from crisis to career. The foundation. Our property at 77918 Highway 99 is being registered as an emergency shelter. We request the first 10,000 of the surplus to bring the site to full legal compliance, providing the safe sanitation and fire safety our neighbors deserve. The future. This safety allows us to launch our cottage cluster and workforce training program. We're creating a path where every resident gains the skills to build a stable life and a better future for our town. Waste to wealth by joining St. Paul's Cascade Alliance. We're using their proven blueprints to turn community waste into prosperity. We intend to acquire 55 Q Street, the Sunshine Nursery that's for sale as an agricultural hub, and grow um mushrooms there and 45 Thomas Lane for a resale center, a food truck hub, and auto repair center. Now, the reinvestment fund in partnership with the support of the Woodard Foundation, we invite their business coach, David, who's been mentoring our founder, Randy Ross, to help us manage the remaining 89,000 surplus as a community reinvestment fund. This fund will serve as a critical matching as critical matching capital to unlock major grants including potential partnerships with the University of Oregon and their new uh neurode divergent leadership program. This creates a mechanism where the city acts as an investor receiving ongoing passive profits from these businesses to permanently fund our pool library and other programs. We've established a partnership with St. Vincent Depal specifically to support families with children experiencing homelessness providing wraparound services and healing wellness. The possibilities for this village economy are endless and I invite the council and the budget committee to schedule a meeting with me

this week to collaborate on this master plan. Let's choose growth and choose redemption. Thank you. Thank you.

Andrew Gotautib.

Hello. My name is Andrew Gotaut. I've lived in our city for 33 years and I am now working with Vital Villages as well and hopefully soon to start my own if all the stars should align, let's just say, which will be directed towards helping house and serve primarily the homeless, needy, and disabled veterans of South Lane and North Douglas County at its very heart. Through this, I am also working with a diverse team of entrepreneurs who have each one of us already committed to solving the local homeless issue, which I know we can all agree needs to change. Dusk till dawn camps will never solve the problem the same as an artery bleeding out cannot be patched by a simple band-aid. Nor will a lack of in the trenches, on the site, social workers in their 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year management duties that must take place in order to bring this aspect of a much larger equation the long needed resolve it truly deserves. for everyone who is experiencing now and in the near future this our everyday all-American tragedy homelessness. To this date, no US city has completely eliminated homelessness permanently. But several cities, most notably Houston, Texas, and smaller cities like Rockford, Illinois, and Bakersfield, California, have reached a point of greatest percentage of reduction of homelessness in the country. These cities have achieved their success by using a coordinated housing first approach which rapidly moves people into permanent housing followed by supportive services. I believe that we have a golden opportunity to perhaps become the first

American city to 100% eliminate homelessness if we all pull together as a team. I don't know about everybody else here and on the council, but I personally would love to see us achieve a feat truly worthy of an all-American award and set a precedence for all the other cities in America because every city in America has the same problem. And I believe that where there's a will, there's a way. And right here, right now, there is most definitely a will, which means there's ultimately a way. Thank you for your time. And please remember it could happen to anyone at any time without any warning. Sudden homelessness. So try to remember homeless people are people too. They deserve dignity, respect, clean water, food, shelter, privacy, a warm bed to sleep in, light, electricity, the feeling of safety and hope, and being at home. I know that we can accomplish this what I believe is our most important and greatest present community task. Let's do what it takes to truly change this country by changing our own home first and become the all American city I know we can be again. Thank you.

Thank you. Linda Olsen. Good evening. My name is Linda Olsen. I'm W three. Um I just returned from vacation and was unpleasantly surprised to hear that the transient room tax has now been proposed by our governor to be a slush fund. So I'm curious as to how it's going to impact our city because that's that is our transient room tax that brings the tourists. It's promotional of our city. We don't have a dedicated industry to pull them in. Um, I think that that's going to be a challenge that we're facing fairly soon because Lane County is trying their best to spend it as best they can as a slush fund right now. So, bikes and scooters on the sidewalks, unfortunately, downtown Cottage Grove in our new main street section. I see a lot of motorized scooters and bicycles on our sidewalks and it's frustrating as a pedestrian to have that continue. Um, it does say walk your bikes. Um, they seem to be ignoring it unfortunately. Um, when it comes to the library, we have many, many little libraries around town where the people who own the property have placed these on their property to exchange books for free within our community. We encourage people to utilize those. We do know that it does take not take a full staff to operate our our um current library and we have a library director who refuses to accept volunteer opportunities for the community members. So, I think better leadership is needed and if she is not aware or um interested in doing that, I think that we need new leadership. Um it could be a lower level temporary or part-time person, but I think that our library can be saved. We're not going to close it. We're not trying to close the the pool either, but we need to rethink this because volunteerism is what is holding our

community together in so many aspects. So, thank you.

Thank you. Audrey Milan. I thank you all for your service to the community and I hope especially after our town hall that you guys are really looking to find a way to not debilitate the services at our library. And I was part of the group gathering signatures for the petition you have. Um, and I just want to convey to you guys what the library means in this community. It's not a partisan issue. It's not, you know, one person that owns a store said, "Bring me a petition because all the moms come here and all the moms love the library." So this is a heartfelt organization that we have built over 139 years just in 20 you know 2000 450 residents of Cottage Grove lined up in the book brigade to move the books from the old library to the new library and there was a sense of pride and jubilation. So, I encourage you to continue to look for ways of funding. At the town hall, we presented lots of alternatives and to keep our library fully funded. Thanks.

Thank you. And I would just like to quickly comment on that too. That is something I have been saying for a long time that the library and the pool should be it's not a political issue. This is Cottage Grove. Everything we do up here as a council, we look at each how it'll affect and then the trickle down effect. And as you know, we are in a very hard budget season. We were last year, too. And so, and rest assured, this council and our budget committee is working very hard along with staff to find solutions, and we don't take it lightly. Councelor Lamman.

Madame Mayor, uh, couple things I just want to touch on real quick in regards to the library is just the fact that we as a city who funds the library solely still have to be realistic about the numbers. though over the last few years has had a very sharp decline in participation in 2020 and 2021 with 139 programs for children 3,268 attended those programs. But then you look at within the last year 164 children programs only 336 participants. It's about the same number that signed the petitions. If you think about it, there was roughly 300 at our town hall. It's the same people using the same service out of a town of 12,000. It's a very small number, Isabelle.

And Isabelle, I see that you are signed up twice as well. I confirmed with the Yes, thank you. It's three minutes.

My name's Isabelle and I am uh I live in College Grove. I pay property taxes. Um when I was young, um me and my husband were and we would go to the library a lot. I went to the library a a lot. I have we would get bags, books and videos and um and it would open our minds. There was just there was just too much. It was just there's nothing like having your mind blown up open by new ideas. And uh to have that available to all of our people that live here when they need it um when when they're open to going can change the world. We grew up and we became my husband is um a mental health worker and he helps change people's lives and um and I am a educational assistant and I and I help change people's lives. Um and I think that we need to have um uh let's see um open open minds um to wait like a a positive positive on positive you know opportunity in our city rather than I know that they get training in the police I think it's three month on the job training and overall in general nationwide they have gotten more robust and they have gotten more authoritative and maybe they don't need that training. Maybe they were better before that training also. Um there is there is an effort. So, we we know we most of us have been

here several times and we know that um we're not you're planning on diminishing the library a little bit. And also the tra the volunteer I have never heard of a library not taking volunteers. If you get a ticket, you can go get volunteer you can get volunteer work in a library and that's in most most towns. Um, and if this is an exception, um, I don't know. I I would I would consider the 4-year to 8-year training that that's in the library for each individual that's there is is important. I think that's that's that's part of the opportunity that the library offers. There is an effort nationwide to close libraries, and I think that we need to stand up against that. Also, I would like to see in the budget I would like to see the budget include alternative energy. I'm putting in an $8,000 mason heater in my house that is going that is half half of that of a of an HVAC system and it will heat the house and it will put out hardly any soot into the air because it's got so many tunnels within it that hardly any um smoke makes it out the chimney and you can do four pieces of wood to heat the whole house for 24 hours. Um there there's so many different alternatives right now and that will last for for years and years that Mason heater will la it could last two 300 years. Thank you. Thank you Johanna Z. So much to think about. I think we've exceeded our 30 minutes for public comment at this point. So, um, geez,

Johanna Z, I live within city limits. Thank you, Madame Mayor and counselors. So, it appears that for a long time, municipalities and districts have enjoyed a sense of comfort with their financial state. Certainly not across the board, but not what we're experiencing right now with budgets in cities and school districts. Just look at our local school district who by the way laid off three librarians um at the school district among other 17 positions. I heard about 20 positions total there. So everyone is experiencing it because the systems are not sustainable. And I'm not going to be saying anything you guys don't know. I'm just hoping others um listening. We need to plan now. And as Chair Irvin had asked us at that first meeting to note the policies of the budget committee with regard to our debt, our contingency, and our unappropriated fund balance. Are we doing everything we can to move in the direction of a healthy future for our community and to decrease the financial burden on our residents? On Thursday, we meet again. The invitation is to carefully comb through each department in the general fund and see if there are unanswered questions and ask can we do better without compromising the needs of that department. And after spending many hours this past week again combing through I think we can. We value the staff and the services that are provided. Staff has put in an extensive amount of work into getting the proposed budget well ahead of time and with transparency. So, thank you, of course, for everything. This was um we the council asked and you guys delivered. Um so, at the same time, you know, we're asking the maximum tax rate allowable by law and the water rates are going to be increasing again this year. So, there are details missing in some of these line items that we don't have that are in other um budgets that you see in

other um cities. It is our duty as citizens to carefully scrutinize, ask questions, and fill in those blanks. Not for the purpose of nickel and dimming any department or person or anything like that, but for the purpose of transparency, accountability, and building trust in our community. This is where we learn and grow and pull together, not by holding desperately onto the status quo. Sometimes things need to change. By the way, on the way here, someone asked me, "When are they going to start allowing volunteers at the library? My teenager has been asking so many times, and she's tired of being rejected." So, I said I would ask um when that might um happen. We've got a lot of people really wanting to um support this. And just to note, all of the services, it looks like, are the same as last year. All the services for the library are funded. It was just the personnel that has changed. and I'm excited. I'm looking forward to Thursday. I'm looking forward to a great conversation and looking through and spending a little time and asking more questions because I think that is our duty. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Go to items on the agenda.

Bruce Kelch. Right. Public hearings. I see none. Before I go to consent agenda, I would like to acknowledge that. Can Can we please have order? Thank you. I'd like to acknowledge that it is National Public Works Week and I want to recognize our public works department leadership uh director Stewart um that just does a stellar job for this community and thank you. Thank you for that consent agenda.

Council, I move approval of the consent agenda. I second. We have a motion with the second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Resolutions and ordinances. Item A, resolution amending the resolution number 2001, the housing development cost assistance program. City manager, Mr. Sarowine.

Well, good evening again, your honor and members of the council. This is really a followth through from what we discussed at the last budget committee meeting. Uh, as you'll recall, uh, we have a, uh, program called the, uh, housing development cost assistance program. Real quick, this is actually resolution number 2177, correct? Yes. Not 2001.

Yes. Yeah. Uh uh what this program essentially does is uh it allows the city that if there's a group like uh Homes for Good or Habitat for Humanity uh that wants to build in the city, they will often ask that we wave uh their system development charges and also their building permit fees. Now wave is a bit of a misnomer because we're still going to need to pay that money uh somehow. So, this fund was set up originally $150,000 from the general fund and 50,000 from our building department to fund it. The current budget has 200,000 in it plus about 20,000 um in interest. So, it's roughly $220,000. Now, at the as we discussed at the last budget committee meeting, uh the budget committee is interested in perhaps transferring some of that money back to the general fund. And effectively what this resolution does is give you the city council authority to do just that. So effectively by passing this resolution this evening, what you're doing is giving yourself authority to transfer the money from the housing fund back to the general fund. It does not take any action. That'll take a separate action for the council at a future date. But this or but but the changes to this resolution gives you that authority. So with that, I'd be happy to take any questions you might have. Any questions?

Councelor Urban. Just I know in our previous discussion we talked about a portion of the funds being transferred. Is there anything that in this that would prohibit um if uh the council decided to transferring more than uh like transferring the portion back to the housing or the building permit fund uh department as well as the general fund.

Uh well, let me just read you the language changes. Uh funds remaining in the trust fund at the end of the fiscal year will remain in the fund and be carried over to next year. The new language that was added is unless moved out of the trust fund pursuant to city council action. So any other questions?

Councelor. Well, I would move that the council adopt resolution number 2177, which is amending resolution 20001, uh, the housing development cost assistance program. I second. We have a motion with the second. Any more discussion? I just want to clarify that a clean copy of the resolution, not this legislative version, is what that motion adopts. Will the recorder please call the role? Councelor Merid, I. Councelor Lamman, I.

Councelor Irvin, I. Councelor Hein, I. Councelor Settlemire, I. Councelor Wilson, I. Mayor Solsby I motion carries unanimously. Councelor Irvin

probably should have said this in the discussion portion but I just want to clarify that this is not a fix of any ongoing matter. What I what I understand this why I support doing this um or allowing us to the ability to do this is a stop gap measure uh to put a more permanent solution in place. sometimes the shock of you know some changes can make it so that you fail fail to even start on on the on the future. So some sort of a hold me over and I don't know exactly where it would be allocated yet um but is going to be necessary uh to give people time in the various um their various capacities to uh to do what we need to do going forward. Um, so not not a fix. Um, but at least at least we have this

councelor Sodtomire and the whole conversation as to how much of this fund and all of those things I hope gets put in a really good perspective when we see what the staff comes back um with other alternatives possible also. And it's just so much nicer to start seeing possibilities when we look at trying to balance what everybody agrees is a really tough decision or group of decisions.

Item 11, business from the city council. Letter to Governor's Prosperity Council. Councelor President Councelor Urban.

Thank you. Uh, thanks for allowing this item here. Um, this was an item that I wanted to bring to the council to um call for our our advocacy action as a council on behalf of the city of Cottage Grove. Um so we've had um notably a number of presentations over the years. Uh economics needs analysis done. Consultants have come in. They've talked about the opportunities that we have here in the community. Uh what some of the um impediments are to to realizing those uh things. And some of them uh rise to the to the state level, maybe some to the county. Um but one of the ways I think we can be effective as a council is to delineate uh from our perspective from the perspective of the city of Cottage Grove uh what are areas that um we would be able to do better uh if the uh rules, policies um legislation uh were different. Uh and so I would like um in some way shape or form uh I was thinking of at least initially in a letter uh to to be able to present that uh to the governor's prosperity council. Uh there's a liaison there. Uh and that's a council that's been assembled to hear from uh business, industry, nonprofits, um cities, uh individuals what is needed uh to take Oregon from basically the bottom of the pack in terms of business friendliness and economic opportunity uh to the stated goal of top 10% in the nation uh over roughly the next 10 years. Um so those will have to be some fairly substantial changes I think uh to affect that and uh if somebody's asking for opinions I

would like to u share a collective opinion if we can coales around it. Um so that's that's my proposal. Uh I don't know the logistics of that if that's a letter that we want to direct staff to seek input from us from and try to craft um or if a committee would want to work on it and and present it to the council. Um I think it is fairly timesensitive in that you know this council was given recommendations. They're already doing presentations uh to various groups about some of the feedback that they're receiving. Um, so that that's my report request. Your honor, members of the council, um, I would be happy to work with a subcommittee of the city council to put together uh, some sort of a, as you say, a letter or a statement, a statement of purpose um, and bring that back to the council for approval. Thank you.

All right. Yeah, if you want happy to serve on that. Yeah, I was gonna say uh go is anybody any obviously would work with council member Iran. Are there other council members like to be a part of that? Yes. Okay. And I'm going to chime in if that's okay. Um these ad hoc council committees are subject to public meetings rules. So just as long as those notice and public attendance and everything is uh complied with

So can we send out surveys asking for input from the full council as we're trying to put a letter together? I go ahead. I say if we're going to if we're going to survey the entire council then we should do it at a public regular city council meeting. What I what I would hope is is that we could put together, you know, I'll call it a list of bullet points um as a committee and then bring that back to the council.

Conley, you look like you have something to say. Well, I was just thinking it through. So, if an individual council had a an idea for this ad hoc subcommittee, they could send it to the city manager and it would be added to that

proposal. Yeah, I would I would just follow up on what council member Irvin said is I think time is of the essence for this. U you know, it's something we need to you know, if we want to have Cottage Grove's voice heard, then we need to move fairly judiciously with this. Would it work for the council to have a draft prepared and then as part of another agenda item edits and modifications so that it can be brought in and circumvent um a lot of time and committees and

efforts some low hanging fruit can be put onto the Okay. Right. Thank you. Item B, rescheduling of city council meeting. Mr. Sarine. Well, good evening again, your honor, members of the council. Um, as seems to happen every year, our second council meeting in May falls on Memorial Day. So, uh, staff is recommending that we move it from Monday to a Tuesday night. And it's my understanding uh from the city recorder uh that a quorum of the council members have responded to her saying they would be available on that Tuesday night.

So do you need a consensus? We we would need a motion for that because you are officially moving the date of your city council. Council, thank you mayor. That that's the 20 or what what's the date? 26. Okay. So I move that the city council move their May 25th meeting to May 26th uh at the regular time. Yeah. Second. We have a motion with a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you. All right. Concerns from council.

Councelor Lamman. Madame Mayor. council. Uh so to touch on the garbage um issue, are we going to have a amendment in time for a future meeting in June uh to their franchise agreement? Uh or is it going to be further out than that? Because I know it stated it it takes a while, but I know just a simple amendment doesn't take that long, I would think. But I I I think the straightest answer I can give you is that Carrie and I plan to talk about it and also involve Tim in the conversation and you know we understand the timeline that's involved

some kind of an estimate. Yeah. I I get you know by the end of June. Yeah. I was going to say I I I I doubt that we'll have anything by the second meeting in May, but we will aim for having this back to the council in June. Okay. Anyone else? Council Merid.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, a member of the public had um brought to our attention that uh Oregon Revised Standard Statute uh 357.621 621 um prohibits the uh abolishment or the withdrawal of support from a public library. Um we had received legal advice. Um our public library was founded officially by by ordinance number 331 on March 4th of 1912. That does not mean that library activity was limited by the state. There was an informal library movement that where a collection of books migrated from lawyers offices to public reading rooms before ending up in um council chambers. Um, this ordinance established a fund and um directed a board to be established to operate our public library. The revised Oregon standard in question statue in question uh was passed in 1975 and since our library was established before this date, it will not apply. it would only apply should uh through ordinance we had uh aligned our library to the statute. So I wanted to bring that to make sure that we follow that the public knows we did follow through with this question.

Councelor Irvin mayor um I am interested I appreciate that we received a uh stack petition material with suggestions. Um, I wonder if there's any uh update or follow up on the insurance side of things with the ENO insurance suggestion or there's any coverage for what what occurred. uh if it could alleviate some of the the blow and maybe if there's been any progress on conversations surrounding general um I guess it would be materials and services and contractual services around uh the broader insurance question.

Well, good evening again your honor. Um uh we are going to be having a presentation uh from Brown and Brown who is our insurance agent who represents us with uh city insurance services our insurance carrier and one of the issues I've asked him to to discuss is the issues of air on emissions insurance and you know speak to the specific issue that you've raised councelor Lamman. So, there's a lot of uh statements from the public in regards to don't close the pool. I already know the answer to this question, but Mr. Sourine, can you state who owns the swimming pool?

Uh, the swimming pool is owned by the school district. So, the city does not own the swimming pool, so we can't technically close it.

No. uh you had a presentation at a previous council meeting with representatives from the school district who I think rather eloquently explained how the pool is funded uh now obviously where it's located and you know talked about you know what the city's contribution was for and I think they talked about uh just as any other government service that if the revenue goes down they're going to have to make some tough decisions. Well, uh, the school district is in many ways in the same situation that the city is. I mean, we've been talking since, you know, December. Uh, that we knew we were going to have to make some hard decisions this year with our budget and I believe the school district has done the same.

Okay. I just wanted to verify that for the members of community who keep insisting that we control if the pool closes or not. Um, and then there's a lot of volunteer uh chatter and I just wanted to mention that the city in fact does have a link on the city's website to sign up to volunteer. Uh, so there is that option as well. Learn that. I'm good. Thanks.

Thank you. Anyone else? I have a great announcement. Uh the Woodard Family Foundation uh decided to put their support behind the wall dogs and um the 50th anniversary celebration of Animal House in the city of Cottage Grove in 2027. And so they um have gifted us first 15,000 that'll go to a set building um for the sets of the original Animal House in hopes that eventually we will have a Hollywood museum in Cottage Grove um to bring in tourism and since there's been so many movies filmed in our locations around town and we are also that's um and the total that they are giving right now is 125,000 um pledged to us to apply also for a uh travel Oregon uh grant that we have already put in for and we have some real cracker jackack grant writers on the case and we were advised that we needed to apply for this loan that we were loan grant that it's not a loan it's a grant um that we are exceptional fit and so we are um very optimistic that uh we it's a good possibility. So um it is a very competitive grant and so um we'll be very fortunate if we do receive it, but I do believe we have a really good shot at it. So we're very excited and uh we've got a lot of irons in the fire right now trying to get support for this project and uh it's it's looking very good right now. So,

we're very enthusiastic about it. And also, I need to say, she's going to hate me for this, but today is Georgia Haskell's birthday back there in the back. See you at the chamber. Happy birthday, Georgia. And what are you doing here on your birthday? Sorry, Georgia. All right. Um, business from the city manager. Well, good evening again, your honor, members of the council. Let's hear it for May birthdays since uh the city recorder, the deputy city recorder, and the city manager along with Georgia uh all have birthdays in May. So, uh first off, I just want to invite everyone to our historic Main Street grand opening celebration this Saturday. Uh really appreciate seeing everybody there. Uh we start at 11 o'clock from 11 to 2:30. It's going to be a great event. We're closing off Main Street. Uh all of the local businesses are going to be open. The restaurants are going to be open. Uh we're going to have a band and huge thank you to Cameron for once again providing the sound system uh for the event. We're going to do multiple uh ribbon cutings um and try to celebrate everyone who provided funding from the federal government and local governments and celebrate some of the folks who let's be honest, it's been 15 years in the making uh to get this project underway. So, we want to thank a lot of the people who've helped us along the way and we certainly also want to reach out to the contractor Wildish and all of their uh subs who I think just did a phenomenal job on this project. So, let's give ourselves a round of applause. Really the biggest uh just a couple of things uh that I

wanted to cover. First, we've talked about doing a citywide cleanup. Uh kind of had two ideas for that. Maybe doing a volunteer program uh to, you know, kind of build some community spirit and fight litter. and also doing cleanup day where people could drop off everything from old paint to scrap wood, whatever it is that's filling up your garage. If you ever see my garage, uh, you know, uh, and those are really kind of two ideas that I that city staff has been working on. We've had a request from council to perhaps create a city council subcommittee that may have some additional ideas. So, um, looking for volunteers again for a subcommittee if there's council members that want to work on putting something like this together. um you know don't all speak at once but uh if we can get a couple of people to be involved in that uh it'd be really helpful you know let me know within the next week or so and we'll start to put together a group so uh for that and then also uh we are working with our friends at Warehouser uh they're in the process of completing a major upgrade uh to their facility and we want to get the city council out there so that uh you can do a tour of the warehouser facility for council members and you know we'll invite other folks to that tour as well. Uh and then finally just looking ahead uh we've discussed the fact that urban renewal has to have its own budget. You know we also discussed the fact the first year that urban renewal is in place it's only going to generate about 40 $45,000 and we don't see any of that money until really the end of this calendar year when the property tax revenue comes in. But uh on May 19th, the budget committee will have to review the urban renewal budget. They'll have to have a public hearing on that and also the uh city council meeting at their June 8th meeting. Uh we'll have a public hearing for urban renewal and then on June 22nd hopefully we'll adopt uh the city's regular budget and then also the urban

renewal budget. Uh what that looks like practically in a meeting is you the city council also sit as the urban renewal agency board. Our our uh budget committee also sits as the budget committee for the uh urban renewal agency. So at each of those meetings, you know, the budget committee and the city council will complete their work for the evening. We'll adjourn the city council meeting and then we'll immediately start uh the you sitting as the uh either the budget committee or the agency board uh for urban renewal. So this year it's going to be a fairly simple process again because there's not much to the budget. Uh but in future years there there'll be significantly more discussion uh as you sit as the urban renewal agency and also as part of the urban renewal budget. So with that I'd conclude my report and be happy to take any questions you might have.

Any questions? Councelor Merid. Thank you, Mayor. Uh, did you have any time frame uh for the citywide cleanup?

U, as we've discussed before, I kind of wanted to get us through the at least the beginning of the budget process. I'd like to initiate uh you know again I'm looking for ideas from from the council but I'd like to initiate a citywide cleanup as far as you know something that you know we work with different groups uh around the community you know as early as July um and maybe aim for later in the summer to have the cleanup day uh where folks can you know empty out and like I said get rid of all of their stuff. Uh a lot of that also is coordination. We have to work with our friends at Cottage Grove Garbage um and also a couple different county agencies to coordinate some of those things.

I do really like that idea of maybe getting the service clubs involved and maybe the high schoolers. That would be great. Yeah. Yeah. I I've seen similar programs to be really effective in other communities.

Business from the city attorney.

Thank you, Madame Mayor. and council. Um uh it's interesting the two things I was going to mention actually came up during tonight's meeting. So I was going to uh confirm that staff at least knows we put out a quarterly newsletter and I'm not sure if it gets forwarded to counselors but it can be helpful. And this month this quarters in particular had a article on committees and subcommittees which then came up you know just as I was about to talk about it. It also had a um two different articles on legislation this past legislative session. Um so ask for it, ask your staff for it. Um it gets distributed to them. And um and then interestingly enough in the public comment uh a mention was made to the two two different provisions of your council rules. Um the three minutes or less per person. It's it's actually I just wanted to confirm that's the language um in rule 11.1 and it also limits then items not on the agenda. The total time committed to that is 30 minutes as was mentioned and I just don't know if anyone's tracking it. I'm not. Um and I thought maybe I should be but I thought I would raise it just to make sure that that's happening. And the same for then items on the agenda is a separate 30 minute chunk. Three minutes each per person. And then when is this Animal House se celebration happening?

That's the last week in August 2027. Okay, that's it for me. Thanks so much. Well, it's a shorter meeting tonight. We are adjourned.