City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. Welcome. This clock, which I rely on quite heavily, is 15 minutes off. Maybe getting more. Maybe it has stopped. Anyway, don't look at that clock. It is 6:00. Welcome to City Council for February 23rd. I'll call us to order. Let's all turn our cell phones off and let's stand and say the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Do we have any agenda additions or correctional?

No, mayor, we do not. At the beginning of the meeting, we have a space always for business from the audience if you'd like to tell us about uh basically anything you'd like to tell us. We have Marie here to tell us about Wakoma Park if you'd like to come up. There's a red circle. You want it to be a green circle. If you touch the the edge of it, it will turn green. You did it.

Hi, my name is Marie Uler. I live at 713 9th Street about 150 ft from Wakoma Park and I was just here to support the Earth Lab proposal. Um, I talked to my neighbors about it. I'm so lucky our neighborhood is full of lots of little kids and so all those parents are home taking care of those little kids on Ninth Street tonight. Um, but yeah, we all think it sounds like a great idea and we love our park and so I'm and I can't really represent them because they're not here, but we we're all like think it's a great idea.

Thanks for letting us know. Thanks for coming down. Now, uh, we have a new fire chief. We're here to welcome Chief Rogers or perhaps Josh. I would love to hear a little bit about about you from you and Abigail. Go ahead. Thank you, mayor. I wanted Yes. I want to introduce you to our new uh fire chief, Josh Rogers. Tell you a little bit about the process. You might remember our previous chief, Leonard, Damen, let us know back in I think October that he was looking to retire toward toward the end of the year, but he was flexible as to his time. Uh we started a national search with GMP consultants um and had a pretty good response from as far as uh Maine to the middle of the country to a number of people here in the Northwest. So, we had a good response. We narrowed that down to four people that we invited in. Uh, and then, uh, after multiple interviews, we really put him through the ringer. Um, Josh is our selection. He started, uh, on the 9th. Uh, so this is, uh, the beginning of week three. I'm so thankful that he keeps coming back. Um, and I'm going to let him tell him a little bit about himself.

Yes, I'm excited to be here. Um, you know, I started my career 20 years out in on the east coast and I am a second generation firefighter. Uh, born and raised into the fire department. Love it. And, uh, made my way out here after my wife said, "Hey, we're moving to Pacific Northwest." She's from Tmuck. And, uh, she got us out here. And then after being here for about six months, um, got hired on to Dallas and then worked my way to the deputy fire chief there. And then this was my wife's one place that she really wanted to live and it happened to work out just fine. Uh it opened up and uh super excited did some more research within the department within Abigail, the city council. Um and it's a place where I wanted to be to work the rest of my career with. So super excited to be here and help uh help lead this department.

We're super lucky that Joshu comes from a similarly sized city, worked for Dallas, Oregon. uh that is also ambulance uh EMS has a great relationship with the hospital there in addition to you know the professional fire service. So he brings a lot of really relevant experience and has been welcomed by the team and I'm really looking forward to seeing what he and our fire department can accomplish in the future. Welcome aboard. Thank you. Happy to be here. I'd like to introduce him to all of you. come on over.

Thank you. Thanks for being here. Thank you. And we're here to hear a little bit more about the Little Free Earth Lab. Are you Sarah Lion? I am. Welcome. Come on up. I have a little presentation. Got it. I think I got it. Is that right? That looks exactly right. Push it. Perfect.

Okay. Yes. Awesome. Um, got my notes. So, good evening, mayor, city council members. Thanks so much for having me, community. Uh, my name is Sarah Lion and I teach uh high school science and art at Hood River Options Academy, which is uh Hood River County's public alternative school.

The window. Oh, here we go. Yeah. Nope.

Volume. Oh, there you go. I'm toggling the wrong direction. Thank you. Uh, for the past year and a half, my students and I have been visiting Wacoma Park, uh, collecting data, observing, making, uh, doing nature journals. Uh, this last week, we collected trash and did a trash analysis. Uh, it's become a really dear place for us and we consider it an outdoor science laboratory. Um the ongoing work that we've done has sort of grown into its own class, our earth science class, and it focuses on sense of place, interconnections, and stewardship. So students are learning science concepts and how to care for a shared public space. I'm here tonight to propose uh a little free earth lab uh similar to little free libraries except for this would be a more of an art and science sharing station. Materials would be made by the students uh and there would be an accompanied website uh but it serves two purposes. one extends classroom learning into a public setting and kind of gives an authentic audience for those students and two a community outreach. Uh when we're there, we don't often see what's going on and the great work that the neighbors are doing. Uh so a way that we can connect and work together. As I said, um it would be supported by a class website. It's still being created right now by our communications director at with the district. Uh but that would be a place where community members and neighbors could go to access resources, engage in the citizen science projects that we ourselves are doing. Um and any other studentled projects happening uh and it be studentrun. So they would be

writing the the blog and putting that together under my guidance. But uh in that way learning is going to happen in the park as well as online connecting students, neighbors and the broader citizen science community. Uh as you know nearby neighbors have been notified of the proposal through a letter that I think you've also read. Uh it's so heartwarming to hear the feedback and the support and I want to take that in. it's it's you know in the seed uh of its genesis. So yeah really looking to make those connections. Uh I will take full responsibility though for installation uh maintenance and possible removal if necessary. So Wakoma is a shared public space and this project is rooted in care, curiosity and respect for that space. My goal with your approval and feedback from the neighborhood is that the Earth Lab helps students see themselves as stewards, helps community members feel welcome to engage with science, and strengthens the connection between education and public life. Thank you for your consideration.

Thanks, Sarah. I have a couple questions. Sure. Couple slides back, there was a an image of the little free library, but I couldn't quite tell if it's like 2 feet wide or 20 feet wide. Yeah, I know. I wish I could bring it with me. Um, is it like the size of the little free libraries? Like it's a it's the smallest version and it it did come from the little free library website. It was actually uh I received that library as a grant through the education foundation. Great. Um so it's yeah about it'll go on a post that big. Yes. Okay. And I would have Kelby or the city parks um there to to help manage that as well. And also I wanted to ask you know Jurgen and Susan Hess.

Yes. because they stood there like 15 years ago and sort of said, "Hey, this is kind of a little scrappy place. Let's see if we can't improve it." And it's exciting to see you building on their work and making it even more of a wonderful city shared space. Yeah, they actually um were the inspiration uh not for the Little Earth Lab itself, but for our work with Wacoma uh and I was connected through them from our prior administrator, Joe Kelly, right? Who? Yeah. Good. I just want to make sure that connection. Yes. This is a nice synergy. Yeah. Yeah. Any other questions or

I had when I was reviewing the materials, one of the questions I had was what was the feedback that you had received from the neighbors and I just want to say thank you to Maria for coming and telling us yourself because that's really great to have that feedback. Um and then the other question I had was that um so the the agreement that you'll be working on with the city that'll be between you personally or will that also be the school district because it seems like such a neat program. It's something that like I hope you will stay forever but in the long term like you know is this something that the the school is also supporting and we'll have it'll endure um for future students as well.

Uh I hope so. I you know as I said it's in the beginning formation and so I am creating a class photo options academy has many legs I should say some iterations of it and one of those is we're working on creating more career focused um and this class I'm hoping is to kind of get into that relevant authentic um realm where students are actually applying the science and getting outside. Um so with that class creation that could be handed off to um a successor believe um and yeah and it would that curriculum would live with the district but no I do not have any plans of leaving. I was born and raised here and I'm very happy um to be here.

Yeah. Council, just to answer the question, the agreement would between the would be the school district and the city, like just in case I were to ever leave. It's not between us as individuals, but us as organizations. Yeah. Okay. And and also before the meeting started, you said you had received some feedback beyond um what Marie told us today. Yeah. I got sweet email. I didn't bring it up, but um another neighbor had written about how he uses the park and how they're removing some Blackberry and his kids play in it with um their friends and just that they were excited to check out the website. Yeah, Amanda,

I don't really have any questions, but I just want to say thank you for doing this. I think it's a great project and especially in this location. And I feel like Wakoma Park is like it's an interesting piece of property and land and so it's nice to see like ways to for people to interact more with it and to maybe draw people there a little bit more. So thank you. Thank you. Yeah, really hoping to maintain the integrity of of the space. Great. Thanks again. Thank you so much. Do we need to take action?

Yeah, there's a motion. Um there's a suggestion motion on page three. I move we accept the donation for the proposed little free earth lab and direct staff to work with Sarah lines uh to craft an agreement for its ongoing operation. Moved by Pollson. Second. Second by Cavaleri. Discussion. All in favor? I. Glattus. Do we have you on? Yes. Can you all um It says that I can't enable my video. Thanks for letting us. The host won't let me enable my video. Jen Jen is doing the Jen thing. In the meantime, you voting. Yes. Yes. Full support. Thank you so much for doing this.

Any oppose? Chair votes time. Motion passes. Thanks again, Sarah. Thanks again, Marie. Uh that takes us to uh the urban renewal agenda. I will recess the ordinary meeting and hand the hand the gavl over to Chair Stina. Thank you, Mayor Blackburn. Uh first thing uh any agenda additions or corrections? Well, no, there are not.

Uh next item we have is business from the audience. Is there anybody that's here that wishes to speak to the urban renewal agency board? And Jen, is there anybody signed up online? Okay. Uh next item is going to be the supplemental budget uh plan uh public hearing. So the way this is going to work for the board members is we're going to we're going to have the public hearing. Uh we'll then go back to the consent agenda and then we'll hear about the supplemental budget and the regular business items. So this is the time scheduled for a public hearing regarding a supplemental budget for the FY2025206 for the Herb River urban renewal agency. We will now take public testimony. City recorder, has anybody registered to speak or has provided written testimony? Jen is indicating no. So therefore, the public hearing on the fiscal year 2025 2026 supplemental budget is now closed. The agency board will take up the supplemental budget during the regular business items portion of tonight's agenda. Okay. So the next item that we have on here is the approval meeting of the meeting minutes from the consent agenda that are on pages 3 through five. Would anybody like to make a motion?

I'll move to approve the consent agenda. Motion by Gage. Second. Second by Pollson. Any discussion? All those in favor? I opposed. Yes. And just for clarification, that was a that was a vote in favor. Correct. Uh Glenn, vote in favor. Yes. From the sky. Okay. Uh chair votes I. Uh motion passes. Consent agenda passes. And we're going to move on regular business items. First is supplemental budget and will

Yeah. Thank you, Chair Stina, members of the agency board. Um, I won't go into too much uh detail uh unless you'd like me to. Um, this supplemental budget is really doing some administrative work uh recognizing audited beginning fund balance and adjusting budget uh to those beginning fund balances same as we do as a city. Adjusting uh capital project budgets to be more in line with current anticipated spending. Um reclassification of an appropriations category. Um and that's pretty much the uh bulk of it. We went into more detail with the advisory committee on Thursday and uh they have unanimously supported uh the supplemental budget. Um so that I'll uh be happy to go into more detail if you have questions though.

Okay. Any questions for Will online? None for me. Thank you. Okay. So with that, there is a motion on page seven if someone would like to make it. I move the Urban Renewal Agency board adopt resolution 2026-UR8-01, a supplemental budget for fiscal year 2025-26. Motion by Pollson. Second. Second by Cavaleri. Any discussion? All those in favor? I I I.

Those opposed? Chair votes I. Supplemental budget passes. Middle housing construction incentive proposed changes. Well,

uh, thank you. Um, so I have, uh, some proposed changes for our middle housing construction incentive that the agency launched uh, in 2024. It's been, um, out there, you know, it's been about a year since we've really marketed it. Um we've we uh sent out um mailers with a brochure to every property on the west side that has developable land to every builder who's pulled a building permit in the last five years and also to a list of middle housing developers in Portland uh and the Bend area that we got from uh consultant uh as well as created a web page for the incentive um that gave examples of eligible housing type lot layouts and what the incentive payments would be. Um so with uh after that uh marketing push we got um a couple emails and calls but no applications so far in its first year and so looked at what could we do um to you know this was our first try um as an agency or as a city to incentivize market rate development of any kind. So it's been um you know I think a bit of a learning process and exploration and so wanted to revisit since we haven't gotten any applications some adjustments and so I have some adjustments to propose to you tonight. Um so first off is detaching from the middle housing uh standards. So before uh or the current iteration of the program, if you use the middle housing standards, you are an eligible project to get a construction incentive on the west side. And I'm proposing switching that to just sizebased requirements. um people would uh still

be able to use the middle housing standards and uh also be eligible for this um uh program um and get all the uh density bonuses and regulatory benefits that come with the middle housing standards. But um I'm proposing to detach from those standards to make it uh just clearer for um people. And you have a uh email from um Elizabeth Betts from Klein who had some input on just how the middle housing standards might be um prohibiting some uh folks from access accessing this program that may have otherwise. Uh and so I'm proposing to simplify by just going to set size uh set maximum sizes based on the number of bedrooms. And so you see it in the table there starting with uh studios being limited to 600 square f feet and then at basically adding 200 square f feet uh as you add uh a bedroom. This also would allow the middle housing standards don't go any higher than 1,200 square ft. Um and so that would be extremely difficult to have a fourbedroom fit within 1,200 ft. So this also expands a little bit in that way. Um second change is to timing. So, the original program gave the incentive that certificate of occupancy. So, that's after you've done all your land entitlement, you've gotten um land use approval, you've um gone through building uh building inspections um and you're now have a completed uh project that's ready to to be sold. It's fully baked, fully finished, fully completed. And that's when we would give the incentive. And the reason why it was initially set up that way is because the uh funding for this program as for all urban renewal programs is tax increment. So we wanted to make sure that taxable value was going to go onto the roles before we outlaid any funds. And uh from the very beginning we got the input that

this was challenging. This was a real downside for builders because builders cash flow is king. uh and they're running on real tight margins and their cost of capital is very very high. So it was going to be a significant benefit if we could move that sooner in the development process. For the first iteration, I just wasn't comfortable taking any risk um for the agency. Um, but after digging into this deeper and actually from information I learned through the moderate income revolving loan fund found that work in progress does build taxable value and the county assessor has a table um that gives direction on basically how much to assess a house based on different construction milestones. So I do think that we can outlay we can move up the timing of this incentive a little bit um based on the um proposed in the table there 30% of the incentive that framing another 20% at when electrical is done another 25% when doors and trim are in and then the final last 25% adding up to 100% of the incentive at certificate of occupancy and that will still align with the taxable value being created. And then lastly, um, is moving away from an amount, a formula that's based on equalizing the development fee burden between large buildings and large homes and small homes and just going to a flat rate per unit. Um, and so to remind everyone kind of how this the idea behind the equalization of the development burden, uh, was we queued off of what would a 30,000 square foot home pay? These are slides from when the program was adopted. So, some of these um figures are a little out of date, but they're still uh show the concept. So, a 3,000 ft² home would pay about $37,000

in development fees um which equals um and then a cottage cluster would pay for four uh units would pay about 125,000. And then the clear uh clear water development um uh multif family 393,000 uh so more when you have more units um but also significantly more as a percentage of the development costs overall and that's because many of the development fees are flat rates um per unit uh and they have to be that way because SDC's are governed by state law and they must be have a direct nexus to the actual input or system demand. Um, so the idea was to provide to size the incentive on what would make all these other development types on an equal footing with a 30,000 foot home. So I think um overall, you know, a good idea and a and a good way to start um when we were making when we were doing our first fora into subsidizing market rate. Um and it was also something that was seemed to be feasible with how long it would take to um the taxable value to refund the incentive. So with the cottage cluster we estimated about 16 years to pay back the incentive and with uh the multif family example about seven years. And I think that's about the bookends. Um but um uh feedback uh from uh Elizabeth that's that's in your um packet kind of summarizes I I think where that doesn't fit well is uh developers often aren't bringing their own money to a development. They're pulling money from banks and con construction loans and also investors and uh not having a set dollar amount that they can point to and having to have this explanation of oh

well it's the formula that will equalize my development fee burden based on what a 3,000 foot home is. It just it doesn't it's not it's not something that can be underwritten and it's not something that helps you get a construction loan or an investor to invest in your project. And so I'm suggesting we uh switch to a flat rate of uh $12,500 per unit. And that's right about in the middle of what the um Westside District constructibility analysis that um Echo Northwest presented to us last year said that was necessary for middle housing to compete with single family homes. So I think that's a good place to start. Um so those are the three uh changes that I'm proposing and um the advisory committee um unanimously supported these changes and with have the following input to add on is uh one uh don't wait another year uh if nobody applies for this um consider adjusting it again within six months. um consider maybe in future iterations if we want to change the incentive um based on how many bedrooms it has the home has rather than just the dwelling unit um itself. Um and then uh even consider uh providing the incentive even earlier in the development process with the understanding that it is taking on some risk that if the developer doesn't finish their project we would be left without new taxable value. So that was input from the advisory committee. So that I'll answer any questions.

Questions for Will Hannah please. Um, it was super helpful to have the input from Elizabeth Betts at Klein, but I'm curious if you got any input from actual builders or from the marketing push that you did. Um, if you heard from any of those prospective participants in the program of what might help them be more interested in using this program,

the um getting it earlier, the timing issue, um, I heard that from builders the first iteration quite a bit from several of them. Um, but no, I uh haven't um got additional feedback. I I found that builders and developers are mostly interested when they have a project in the pipeline and are a little less interested in giving feedback when they don't. Any additional questions?

Will and I talked about this a couple weeks ago. Um I work in clickot county and next time you go to Dickiy's farms right behind there is a 60unit development some of which are going to be online this year and Will's immediate reaction was wow let's make sure that developer knows about our like incentive program and what for me really came out of that conversation was there's so many variables and factors in the economies and the marketplace that w without even any incentives it made sense for that developer to be building that there's no government support over there, but 60 units you some are town houses, most are apartments like popped up in a cornfield in Bingen. Whereas over here, we're pushing the rock uphill and just there's so many federal, state, local policies and and geopolitics, you know, when tariffs change, when rates change, when um you know, costs of lumber change, it just uh we're doing what we can and there's so much that we can't is really kind of what drove drove that home. Um, so I'm excited that we're adjusting our strategy to see if we can't be be more effective.

Um, I have a a couple of concerns. Uh, I like the the payment timing idea, understand the cash flow reasons why doing that. The first concern is growing eligibility. Uh, divesting divesting or detaching uh this incentive from code. Um are are there any concerns that we are creating separate layers or separate levels of bureaucracy or whatever it is um that may misalign with each other. Uh we would be detaching this incentive from our middle housing standards and uh creating a an additional set of um uh types of housing based on arbitrary numbers of square footage per bedrooms. Um, are there any concerns with doing that instead of abiding by our current code? Uh, and perhaps if needed adjusting our code to meet this as opposed to creating this additional layer.

Yeah, thanks for that question and I think you hit on why we um tied to the middle housing standards in the first place. Um couple uh I didn't hit on uh I meant to mention to another reason for detaching the middle housing standards is the development code update may u make that chapter no longer exist as um those components of the code are integrated with the fuller comprehensive code and so if we don't detach from it we may be pointing to a non-existent um code chapter in the future. Um and secondly um you know the middle housing standards have a lot of design components. There's a lot of additional it's it's very much a a negotiation between allowing much higher density but also uh additional design requirements. Um, so that's really what it's about is a is a is a sort of quid proquo uh that will allow higher densities while maintaining um uh um neighborhood character. And so that's its purpose and it it does a great job at it. Um but uh the size based is really about what's probably going to be most affordable. So all else held equal. smaller homes are cheaper than bigger homes both in sales price um and in cost to operate. And so this is more purpose driven of if it's just about affordability then this is your incentive and this is what we're trying to incent um the the equalizing development of fee fee burden amount. Uh when we first discussed this uh we had a very deliberate conversation about equalizing that percentage uh that was a topic that we discussed quite a bit. If we set this at a fixed amount uh would we not be

going back to unequalizing quote unquote that fee burden based on the per unit um build? Yeah, it wouldn't be as um I guess uh intricate or um what's the word I'm looking for? Uh nuanced.

Nuanced. Yeah, we didn't. So, we we basically I think because this was our first try at uh incentivizing market development, we wanted to be as precise and uh you know, a scalpel, not a not a sledgehammer. But um the trade-off, like I said, is that it doesn't really it's kind of a round peg square hole for underwriters and at the end of the day uh if you can't underwrite a project you don't have a project. Um and so that's that's where I'm proposing a flat number. I think in the scheme of things you know these homes even the small ones are selling for a half million to $750,000. Um so whether you know I don't think oh under the previous model I would have gotten 4,000 and now I'm getting 12,000. that's like minuscule in the scale of what we're talking about. So I don't know if you're so perhaps maybe someone's getting more than they would have and but I think it's minor and and the other objective is to actually have the system be useful for underwriting.

Yeah. Thanks. Um tongue and cheek. I'm kind of surprised that the bankers can't do the math but all right thanks Lattice. Thanks Will. uh appreciate being here. Given that this is like a trial for us, when would this come back to council for us to evaluate the effectiveness and any potential changes to this incentive?

Yeah. Um thank you. So um I waited a year this time. The advisory committee um recommended six months. Um, I'm happy to take direction on um whenever the agency board would like me to um evaluate and and return with additional changes. Any additional questions? Anna and Ben.

Um Oh, I'm sorry, Ben. Um can can you just clarify too this is only applicable to the Westside Urban Renewal District, right? This would only apply there. Have we is it an option even to consider maybe like expanding that? And um the other thing that you said was, you know, if houses are like afford attainable houses are at a half a million dollars over on the west side, like you know, potentially selling for that much. Um you know, maybe you 12 and a half or you know, $12,500 is not incentive enough. Like the problem is the cost of the land. You can't get a lot for less than $300,000. So again, this is kind of where it'd be really helpful to talk to, you know, people that are considering or would even consider these kinds of projects and and I mean it would just be helpful for me and maybe that's my own homework to like go and talk to these folks and find out like what would help you actually start a project because you know maybe like you always say the juice just isn't worth the squeeze.

Yeah. Um yeah, I think that we we may find that this isn't enough money. Um, one problem is uh with expanding outside of the westside district or even making it bigger is uh where the funding um comes from. Uh in the westside district we have tax increments. We have a funding source. Um but already we're pushing maybe maybe 10 to 15 years of tax increment that we're giving up front. And so it starts to be how long do we want to wait for that payback and that break even? And uh if we're getting really far out, you know, we're really then it's more right now it's sort of based where it this program pretty much pays for itself and so that makes it really scalable. If we get to the point where we're incentivizing so much so that it's going to take decades and decades for it to pay back really we're not talking about it paying for itself. We're talking about robbing other projects in the west. we're using like existing t tax increment rather than new new tax increment to pay for the incentive. Does that make sense? And then it's talking about then I think it opens up the discussion of um what's more valuable this incentive or putting money towards the Mount Adams roundabout or other infrastructure investments that could open up um wide development. um at this level of incentive I'd say it it pretty much pays for itself and so it's not really robbing other programs if that makes sense.

It does. May I quick follow up like there if it if it's not actually producing anything though there there is no future tax increment. So like where where's where where do we split the baby like where do we you know we take just enough risk to actually start something and initiate some some development and not so much risk that we are you know taking from future projects. How do we use your magic eightball and tell me that answer?

Yeah. Well, I don't have to use the magic eightball. I because I um you know really relying on the constructibility analysis that Echo Northwest put together for us. And so they quantified that we're kind of in this range for what makes a smaller home um on equal footing to a larger home. Um and then we can uh you know we could bump up to 15K or or you know maybe 17 and a half in the future if we want. Um but this is you know if we start here um we're testing testing the market and um since we're going to obviously uh adjust I'm sorry

I saw that councelor uh Glattus's hand was virtually raised is next.

Okay. Um, since we're going to be like readjusting this and obviously going out to do presumably another marketing push since uh this has changed. Um, I don't know if it would be helpful to also include the other incentives that are out there. Like for example, the that DEEQ grant that's you know $20,000 per door for I forget it was like 1,400 anything less than400 square feet or 1,200 ft² or something like that to just you know I know it's not our program but to just you know uh add another incentive like here's another thing that you could do you know add 20 grand to that and you know 12,500 like that's certainly a significant uh you reduction in the cost. So, don't know if there's any other opportunities out there besides that grant in terms of what incentives there are either from us or the state or feds um to get those costs down. Like maybe that's, you know, helpful to add that in there if we have access to that information.

Yeah, I think so. And that was part of the goal attaching it to the middle housing standards was um put more um you know uh messaging behind that too like see if they can kind of raise each other's profile at the same time. Um yeah, I'll talk to Dustin about um maybe talk getting folks interested in the EPA money as well out of this. I know um it's not just size um with that program because it is federal. There's Build America, Buy America, and just a whole host of federal requirements that um and just the uh conversations with developers that I've had while sitting in with Dustin is um the problem isn't the size or the dollar amount, it's that the federal restrictions start to um be a net negative even with $20,000 of

Didn't realize that. Thanks,

thanks. Uh, I had a similar thinking to to councelor Mitchell. How do we send all of this out in a marketing package include any developer that has built anything any sort of housing within the city so that they have awareness of these changes? And we'll continue to go back to the, you know, the recommendation does say those six months, is that too long? Should we do something along the lines of three months, for example? I'm I'm trying to figure out when would be a good time to bring this back to see this isn't working, this is working. Where do we potentially adjust?

Yeah, it's it's a tough question. I think it's a judgment call and I defer to the agency board. Um, I could see one wanting to be dynamic and uh adaptive and and and quick moving. At the same time, I could also see um a developer say, I know, if I just wait, they're gonna increase the price of this and I'll be able to get more money, so maybe I should hold off, you know. So, there is something about creating urgency as well, or it's but it's tough. It's tough call. There's no right answer, I don't think. Any additional questions, Amanda?

Well, not so much a question, but just to kind of have conversation about the length of time before we revisit. Um, yeah. I guess I don't know enough like of okay, you hear about this, when will they hear about it? And then how long does it take? Like, oh, you decide you really want to do this? Would we even know in 3 months that people are actively working on this? Or would it take six months to be like, okay, now we're seeing something from that change. Um, three months seems for me a little bit short, but again, I don't know development timelines. I agree. Three months seems really short.

Well, when someone if if someone was to make a motion about this, would you want that month figure in it? No. Or your choice. Okay. Yeah. I I'm just I mean, we we you know, you you've got, you know, essentially the recommended motion is just, you know, to accept the changes. Then the advisory committee, you know, says six months. A couple other considerations that seem to be future-based. Um that seems to be the only one that's kind of now needs to be decided.

Say uh if the agency board wants to direct um a certain time frame to return this then included in the motion. If you don't want to uh explicitly direct that, I get you know I've I've heard the discussion. I I I'll monitor and I'll bring it back when I um when I think the time is right.

Okay. Additional questions for Will. Do we want to have any discussion on this? Do people feel like they are seeing this clearly at this point? I'm up from Ben. Okay. Uh and yeah, Will, just thank you so much for taking the time to do this. I know this is this is a transformative program that other people in Oregon are looking to see can we make this happen and whatnot. So, um appreciate that you're you're doing as much as you can to try to make sure that we have a program that's workable and while still remaining agile. Um, so yeah, with the with the spirit of that, uh, would anybody like to make a motion on this?

Happy to. I move the Urban Renewal Agency board approve the proposed changes to the middle housing constructing construction incentive. Motion by Glattis. Second. Second by Amanda. Any further discussion? All those in favor? I. Yes. I opposed. Chair votes I. Motion passes. Thank you, Will. Uh, next on the agenda is the Heights Professional Services.

Thanks. Um, Chair Stina, members of the agency board, I have three proposed contracts in front of you tonight um through the qualified pool list um to get some work done in the heights that will allow us to transition quickly um once we have a design services team on board through current RFP that's going to take the first three heights streetscape plan projects to full construction um with construction u slated for uh late spring of uh 2027. So, uh, we have the RFP for that design services team, but, uh, three things that we can do now to just have the data ready for them to hit the ground running, so to speak, is, um, a, uh, survey, uh, increased survey from, uh, Klein. Um, so they surveyed what was necessary for Taylor Avenue. Um, but now that we have a conceptual jurisdictional transfer in place, we're moving forward with all three of the first projects. And so we need to expand the area of the survey. Um also is geotechnical work through GRRI. So they're going to do soil sampling and also pavement sampling. It's going to um uh look at infiltration um and so and soil types which influences how the storm water um components and um are sized and and designed. And also the com uh pavement will um look at how much of the pavement can we keep or basically really dial in um how much of um the existing pavement and uh concrete out there is is um reusable. And then lastly is uh more refined traffic analysis from DKS. It's not only unit counts um but all but really dialing in what are the types of vehicles that are going to be driving on the road in the future and that will influence um pavement design and uh we

think um you know can help us really refine and um not overbuild um by once we have the actual data of the type of types and volumes of vehicles that will be using this, we'll be able to save quite a bit more money um on not overbuilding the roadway um when we design its construction. So um you know the uh contract amounts are in your packet and happy to answer any uh questions you have. Questions for Will Anna. Sorry. Will I have a lot of questions? Sure.

Um I am curious. So the financial impact it says that the construction budget for the first three Heights streetscape projects is approximately four and a half million. Heights urban renewal district has approximately six and a half in remaining maximum indebtedness and the city expects 4 million from ODOT as part of the jurisdictional transfer. I'm just curious where um so where are we banking on future money to pay for this these particular projects right now or we've got that in the budget? uh we have this in the checking account this amount um but I just wanted you know we're always running against that timeline of maximum indebtedness so I was just giving you a kind of a snapshot of where we were there okay

um and then I was curious about that but I we uh my firm represents one of the vendors so I'm going to see okay noted thank you additional questions um thank you will um then I would Entertain a motion. There is a suggested motion on page 20. I move the Urban Renewal Agency board authorize award of the attached projects to qualified pool firms DKS GRI and Klein and Associates as presented. Motion by Grant. Second. Second by Paul. Any further discussion? All those in favor? I. Yes.

Opposed? Extensions? I. Chair votes eye. Motion passes. Thanks, Will. Moving on. Stand in the Heights Heightsformational Display.

Yes. And this one doesn't, you know, from a dollar amount uh rising take it to the board, but um with um Chair Stina thought that maybe folks would be interested in just having a heads up of things we're working on. Um but, uh proposing to put in a permanent uhformational display, uh up on the heights to talk about the height streetscape plan. Um, I get questions quite often of what's going on in the Heights, when am I going to see something? Uh, I don't know if you get the similar questions. Um, but, uh, as this project, you know, will eb and flow in activity. Um, we really don't have any information memorializing all the work that went into the streetscape plan or what it's going to do in the future other than online. And so, um, the idea was to create kind of a physical, uh, artifact that's in the Heights that talks about its history, all the work that went into it, its goals, the sequencing of the projects that are going to happen, and then always um, pointing folks to the the website to get the most current information. So, having a QR code. um one of a former member of the advisory committee um uh graciously offered to allow this to be um installed on a corner of their property um at Taylor and um and 12th Street. There's a extremely rudimentary uh image of kind of what we're talking about in your pocket on page 21. And uh so what's still needed is uh graphic design. That's $5,000. Uh MIG uh we chose them because they have they did the height streetscape plan. They have all the information and graphics and pictures. And um this dollar amount fits into their current budget for the Taylor Avenue 30% engineer designs that they're doing. So um this is budgeted work but still um a decision point. And then stand fabrication is going to be um

$2,000 to $3,000. So the steel and and welding and uh I believe public works can likely um install. Um so um talked about this with the advisory committee and they were um unanimous in their support. information um feedback that they had was to consider not only installing it uh anformational display at this location, but also on the north end of the district near the future roundabout, maybe somewhere in Jackson Park, and then also on the southern end of the district. Uh and that's something uh we can definitely look into and do. You know, Jackson Park we own. Um there may be a way to install it maybe somewhere around 10 speed um after we uh move through construction. There's going to be a bus stop, a future bus stop over um near Tinsspeed. Um but the bus actually can't use it until there's a roundabout because they can't make a right. So there'll be a bus stop without buses yet. And so that could be a place maybe anformational sign could fit. Uh the advisory committee also said to prioritize plan goals, project sequencing, and the QR code over the project's history if space is a limiting factor since as we get into it. And um also just to they discussed um considering different sign proportions, maybe being more of a portrait orientation and making the sign more visible to motorists. Um so not its intent and but I'm have you know I'll talk to the city engineer. We kind of discussed this a little bit and if we get too vertical and too large it starts to be more of an engineering task with wind loading. So um you know but definitely can consider it. Uh, so just looking uh you know there is a suggested motion if if you're in support.

I'm sorry Will, but you I don't like those big signs. I feel like they clutter everything and I um I don't know how much foot traffic there is going to be around there. I think it's a great idea to try to help um you know our community understand what the future could be, but eight grand is a lot of money for a sign. And I just think that that I mean I park over there when I go to yoga sometimes, but like that is not a highly trafficked like foot traffic area where somebody's going to stop, read the history. And I just think a lot of signs kind of clutters things up. And I think maybe we could do like, you know, really nice posters and talk to the businesses that are in that area and see if they'd be willing to put some stuff in their windows like they do for other events um for a fraction of the cost. So, um I I appreciate the idea of getting more information out there, but I'm I don't I don't like the idea of like signs, you know, cluttering up our a lot of them clutter like, you know, we don't need additional signs in Jackson Park. And I know it just takes away from the natural, you know, regular look of our town.

Paul, then Glattus, I think you make a good point, Anna. Thank you, Glass. Yeah, I I appreciate the idea, but I was wondering if instead of, you know, and I'm happy to volunteer since I'm bringing this up to create some sort of video messaging where I think a QR code would be great to have, but the QR code then goes to a video, for example. I think about not everybody uh captures information or retains information the same and how could we communicate these efforts through a message like a video for example. Um happy to support those efforts as well.

Any other questions or comments at this time? Well, is there an is there an equity component to having something like a sign? You know, I I mean, I think we could debate about things like, you know, where where the best location is. Um I I think that, you know, the fact that Travis Dillard's offering this for $100 a month is is a year

a year. $100 a year. Sorry. Wow. It's very cheap for that. Um so, you know, I think that's that's great. And thank you, Mr. Dillard, for recommending that. Um are are there options that you you've been able to identify for better locations with more foot traffic? Um we've done signs like this in the past uh visited river information, etc. Uh is this a you know not being an expert in in signage uh you know is this a you know a good deal on a sign for for that size and scale. So, you know, question about location, question about equity, question about the the price.

Yeah. And I just say whatever the agency board chooses is totally fine. Um uh so um yeah. Um see where to start as far as I did want to say uh also one of the QAR codes would be to scan and then you'd have the um graphic all in Spanish. So I did um want to mention that it would be bilingual um to make sure uh everyone's able to get the information. Um you know s you know I guess electronic social media is uh videos are important and we should be doing that too. I think where the sign is uh more permanent and sort of just sits there uh and doesn't need to be you know it's less ephemeral. Um the idea came from uh Mariposa Village. We put up a sign that said like right when we bought the property, we put up a sign that said affordable housing coming. And the idea was uh that this is going to take like three years, maybe four years, and we don't want anyone to be surprised because, you know, if you drove past it, you saw the sign saying affordable housing is coming. And it seemed to be effective and uh make people not surprised and keep it on top of mind for everyone who drove past it. Um, so that's the idea with this too is just sort of the permanence of the program and as new people come in, they're not uh surprised. If you're a user of the heights, you would see the sign. Um, and uh once we do the Taylor Avenue connection, it will be a shared use path with um enhanced crosswalks on uh 12th and 13th. So it should be a pedestrian spine uh for people crossing east west. Um and uh and then we could also move it once the Taylor Avenue is constructed. There might be space to put it somewhere in the rightway and get it off of pilot private property. Just as an aside.

Yeah. No, I think that's a good point about it being sort of close to where the first milestone is. Um Oh, price. Um I'm not an expert in welding, but I do know just basically anything that's custom nowadays. you know, if it's not built in a in a factory and mass-produced, it's it's going to, you know, and it's uh professional labor. It's going to be expensive. Amanda, I'm good. Yes. Yeah. Great. Thank you for asking.

Um, yeah, when I saw this, I was a little bit torn. Like, I do really appreciate having something that's just there that people can refer toformational. Um, and also I was like, do we want to spend $8,000 on something like this? I guess part of the um what I'm thinking also is that when this is done, the stand could be reused. So, it's not just like, okay, we're like we could use that for something else. Um, and I guess like you said, the design, we can use that on different places and not just um on the sign. But yeah, I think in the end I'm in favor of it. Um, I do think that is kind of a hightraic area. I use that turn. I turn left on that street a lot and then there's always people crossing the street there. So, I think that there is a lot of foot traffic. Um, and if people know like like see it like, "Oh, what's that sign say?" They might walk over to. So, um, yeah, I don't know. I I wasn't just like, "Oh, yeah. This is the best thing ever when I first saw it, but I think um I think it would be good and nice to have something for people to refer to." Um, especially because this does it is a long process. It's already been a long process and acknowledging that makes sense and feels feels good to me.

Thanks, Um, a couple quick things addressing what other counselors both brought up. Um, this, as mentioned, would be a fairly permanent structure, so it would have a long shelf life. We could move it around. Um, use it to address a number of different projects in the Heights area over time or other projects as they come up. Um, so in that it makes sense as a longived asset. Um, if we were to do something different, a different delivery method for comms, um, there's, I would imagine, um, a higher maintenance cost or printing cost or implementation cost of that communications effort, posters and windows, what have you, because they would need to be put up, regularly, maintained, uh, refreshed and whatnot. And we would not necessarily have a permanent place for those. And we would be relying on businesses to keep them up, maintain them, clean around them, what have you. Um, so that's sort of the trade-off as I look at those two different delivery methods for this uh communications effort. The only, if we choose to go with this sign, the only gripe I would take or but I pick with the committee recommendation would be to make the sign more visible to motorists. Um, as people are driving, I don't think they should be reading a sign on the side of the road that is uh that has a QR code on it, let's say. um motorists should generally be driving. So uh that's the one thing that I would disagree with the advisory committee recommendation

and uh personally I agree with councelor Cavalerian mayor. I don't think that this is particularly necessarily especially for $8,000 and also especially because this is something that's going to be happening in peace meal. definitely see the see the arguments for that but um yeah I don't know I don't think this is particularly necessary for that amount of money. Okay. Uh Glattus.

Yeah. I just want to reiterate like I like the idea to inform our community for sure. I really do. Uh, but I am wondering if there are other ways that are more effective than this signage and a video, for example, I think would be a better route to go. And you can still have a you can still have flyers that has a QR code and when you click on the QR code that goes to a video that explains all of that and you can update that video as needed. So, I I really like the idea of keeping our community members informed. Um, but I don't know that a sign a permanent sign would be the route. Well, is there are there any additional plans or budget for more community outreach as more milestones are are met and sort of this the sort of thing that that council river is talking about that we could point to right now or is that just kind of at at some point we'll discuss that?

Yeah. uh definitely plan to do um outreach um at every definitely every step where there's a decision to be make made but also just to at milestones to trumpet the progress that's happening. So March 9th coming up, we're going to have a joint meeting with the advisory committee to receive the 30% designs for Taylor Avenue. And my idea is after presenting it to you all is to do um public outreach, newsletter, um social media posts, and potentially even an openhouse um or input, but um you know, we're really it's really about uh like an openhouse presentation, show people what how things are coming along. So, um, yes, uh, plan is for public engagement, public information, uh, throughout every step of the process.

So, we're not like blowing the budget on the sign kind of thing, right? That's it's we have other things planned. Oh, yeah, for sure. Um, yeah, this fits within the the at least the graphic design fits within the current uh outreach budget for um, MIG for the current iteration. And um, you know, like I said, the the whole thing is $70 million. So, was there another Did I see another hand down here?

Well, I was just going to say the other thing is that, you know, as soon as a sign is made, it's going to be out of date. And I understand there's like a QR code on that, but feel like so many things can change or that this is going to take such a long time that I am also kind of concerned about about that even if there is a QR code um attached to it. So I will say that's one of the uh purposes of the sign is there's a sequencing plan of I think 11 discrete steps that act that must happen in this in a certain sequence for the way the traffic um is done. And so that's built into the height streetscape plan. And so that is um really the purpose is to not shift is to um in a really permanent unchanging way uh show what dominoes are going to fall and maybe we don't know how quickly because it's on as funding is available basis but we want people comfortable with um with the plan and not um basically wanting to go to the back to the drawing board.

So there's no like timeline written on this just sequence. Okay. Amanda. Um, and I feel like I get probably possibly more than other people questions about this um, just owning Volcanic and having people coming in and like, isn't there something happening up here? you know, so like there really is a need and a wand in the community for information about this project and where are we when you know I guess we're not addressing the when stuff is happening but at least people know like oh well if I see this happening

then I know that this is going to be next and like have a just a better understanding of like this isn't happening overnight and like we are working on it and you know I I don't know I think there is definitely a need and I don't know that a I don't really feel comfortable asking businesses to like support our posters. I don't know. I have people all the time coming in, will you hang a poster? I'm happy to do that if it's like a twoe thing. I don't want a permanent poster on my windows or whatever. Um, so I don't think we should really rely on those people for communicating our our stuff. Um, oh my gosh, there was another thing that I had and I can't remove. Um, is this in Oh, the video thing. Um, yes, great. Have a QR code to a video, but I think we need more than that because yeah, we need something like tangible. Um, I feel like is is an asset to communication. So, that's all.

Thank you. All right. So the council of gaval just have one quick follow-up question to that because I think that's a fair and valid point and as a business owner your perspective is valuable on like maybe um having a permanent poster in a sign in a window isn't something they want to do but I am curious um if if the agency is doing anything to keep in constant communications with the business owners up there so that they're updated and when they get questions about what's happening they're able to to share that. I mean, do like hopefully business owners feel very informed about what the process is and what the um you know, I'm just curious if what what are the strategies to keep those guys informed so that they can share that information as it's asked.

Yeah. Yeah. Honestly, I could do probably a better job of staying in constant communication with the uh business owners. I I haven't talked to many of them in quite a while. um there hasn't been, you know, activity, but I think this roll out of the 30% designs is going to be an opportunity. Um one to personally reach out to every business that has frontage on um Taylor Avenue and and um this project, but then also to have the open house, get some facetime, the people who want to come in, get my card, and uh just sort of reel in that door. I would think the chamber could be a useful ally in getting that communication happening. Right. Well, it is exciting that we're starting to get towards uh, you know, a design milestone for the first project that's part of it. And uh, yeah, with that, if any would like to make a motion, there is one uh, on page 22. I move that the urban renewal agency board authorize the creation of a height streetcape planformational display and authorize the agency administrator to execute a lease agreement for its installation location.

Motion by Kiki. Do we have a second? Second. Second by Pollson. Okay. Uh I think we're going to have some disagreement on this. So, if we could do a roll call on it, starting with councelor Rivera. I really support this idea, but I would rather spend that $8,000 on more intense video messaging um versus a physical side. So, I'm going to say no. I do like this idea and think we should continue keeping our community members engaged in the process.

Okay, so we have one no. Amanda, yes. Grant, yes. Paul, no. Ben, no. No. Okay, chair votes I. So that's four nos and three yeses. So motion fails. Okay, wrap. Me too. lot of stuff on the sign. Okay. Uh we're going to move out of the heights, go back to the west side. Mount Adams Roundabout contract amendment.

Um thanks. So this is continuation of the Mount Adams roundabout process. Now we've uh discussed ad nauseium before. This is really the um key capital project to open up uh capacity for um development all over the west side. Um we have uh created 10% engineered designs. the um council adopted a resolution um instituting a proportionate shared district so that new development on the west side will help pay in towards this intersection improvement. And the next step is getting an improved intersection control evaluation with ODOT. And so, uh, that process is an iterative, um, back and forth, uh, dialogue, uh, quite a bit between technical staff at ODOT and the city, um, questions, comments, uh, and, um, a and a lot of studies and traffic reviews to get us to a point where ODOT and the city agree what is going to be the treatment of that um, intersection. And so, we proposing a roundabout. Um, Roundabout has been our preferred design in our tsp for quite a while. Um, but it is a state facility and so we need to get the state to agree with us and and the intersection control evaluation is the it's the professional process to get that done. Um, but it takes multiple rounds. We're on our second round of comments uh from ODOT and DKS has been our uh firm helping us move through that process. We ran out of contract authority um with them. Uh but then uh now we've gotten through the financial audit. I've been able to take a review of the uh Westside District resources and I think we can comfortably spend another $20,000 on this effort in this current fiscal year um rather than waiting to resume this work um in FY27. Um, so I uh am proposing a 20 uh $20,000 contract increase um taking the total contract

uh to $91,820 with DKS to continue this work. Question for Will. Paul, I think the uncertainty about this is a true barrier as Will describes. I'm excited about continuing to move forward. I think it really would unlock some development if we got that uh that uh intersection straightened away.

Can you forecast for us how many more rounds of conversations are needed to get this done? Cannot. Awesome. Okay. Any additional questions for Will? Okay. Okay, with that, there is a suggested motion on page 24 uh for those 20,000 additional dollars, which is roughly two and a half signs in in sign currency. I move that the urban renewal agency board authorize an additional $20,000 for additional intersection control evaluation scope of work with DKS associate. Motion by Cavaleri. Second.

Second by uh Ben Mitchell. Uh any further discussion? Sorry, I was going to say Mitchell. Then I forgot your last name for a second. Uh, okay. Well, yeah. What's your middle name? Christopher. All right. Any further discussion? All those in favor? I I. Those opposed? Chair votes. I uh motion passes. Final thing today is an admin update. Will alluded to it earlier um for the URAB slash joint meeting.

Yep. Just a reminder, next uh meeting March 9th, uh when the agency um portion of the regular meeting on Monday, March 9th, will be a joint uh uh to receive the 30% designs for the Taylor Avenue uh improvements with the shared use path and the enhanced crosswalks uh on Taylor and A Streets. So um saving on uh consulting uh costs by having it presented to the advisory committee and the agency board at once uh and also giving the opportunity just to um have that interface with uh your advisory committee. So thank you.

Thanks and we I think that's we don't have enough opportunities to do that. We really value the URAC and the work that they do. So excited to be able to meet with them in person. Thanks. I have to ask are there any items from agency members? usually or not. Okay, with that, I'll adjourn the urban renewal advisory board meeting and pass the gavl back to Mayor Blackburn to reconvene city council. Great. I'll reconvene us uh on to the consent agenda. We have an OLCC permit approval that I will pull off and I would entertain a motion for the remaining three items on the consent agenda. So moved. Moved by Stpino. Second. Um hold on. I want to jump in. Oh,

go ahead, Glattus. Can you hear me? I just wanted to jump in around the the minutes really quick. Um, and I'm happy to express Hold on. Let me pull Sorry, I'm online and I'm pulling up my packet right in front of me. Uh, I do want to make a quick little addition to the minutes really quick. Great. So, Glattus, I'm going to hold hold right there. Uh, second by Pollson. So, moved by Stpina, second by Pollson for those three items. now discussion and Glattus it'd be perfect for your addition here.

Yeah, I want to make a correction to page 11 in our minutes. Um there's a section that talks about public comments and it lists the individuals. Uh it's Patty Lara, L A R A, not Patty Laura. I also want to make an addition to page 35 in the packet where it's uh council comments and it states that I was talking about the retreat. I just want to be clear that I was seeking clarification around feedback from from a counselor who was talking about communication agreements and I brought up historical facts about the retreat and what we have focused on in the past and that I was trying to gain clarity around was the counselor confused around council procedures versus bylaw. So, the way that it's stated isn't what I said in our meeting.

Let's make sure we get that right. Can you uh we we could put we could put off approval. Glattus, do you have a do you have kind of a quick fix here or is it a a more complicated uh discussion to figure out what what the minutes should record. Uh, councelor Rivera sought clarification regarding feedback from a fellow counselor about communication agreement, questioning whether there was confusion about existing council procedures or if the bylaws and charter needed to be revisited. That's that's what the minutes should say. Is that it, Glattus? Yes.

Uh, I don't have those in front of me. I I don't have a sense right in the moment whether that's um enough of a change that we want to Abigail, do you have a sense of that? Well, it's a statement that I made. Um and so I I write down my statements and that's not what I said. So the minutes the way that they're captured isn't what I said. I understand that. I'm just trying to figure out how much that differs from what's written and whether we should correct that on the fly in the moment or if we should just put that off. Uh, I can look for the minutes and read the original text to you, but I think for the sake of time, we might just pull those off and we can submit a corrected version for the next meeting's consent agenda. Which meeting was that at class?

Uh, this Yeah, this is our last meeting that we had. It's on page 35 of our council packet. With with permission, the February 9th minutes will be taken off the consent agenda. We will deal with those in a future Anna. Go ahead. Bylawash should be spelled B Y L AWS in that same section. And also our January 26th meeting minutes shows that um Mayor Paul Blackburn was with us, but I think you were absent that. I was not with us. Yeah, those were Yeah. Also edits to that.

So with the n February 9th is off the approval here. Uh that correction from councelor uh Cavaleri I feel can be captured and and we can keep January minutes on. Uh so we are still very much discussing this. Uh other comments on the consent agenda as it exists with these two changes. No OLCC permit and no February 9 minutes. We do have a motion on the floor. All in favor? Yes. opposed. Chair votes eye. Motion passes. And Abigail, you'll get us February 9th. Come back to us.

Yes. Thank you, mayor. Thank you. Now, I would entertain a motion for kickstand. So moved. Moved by Spina. Second. Second by Pollson. Uh discussion.

Yes. I will abstain from OLCC permit applications. This is not a reflection of these establishments, business, or owners. Rather, I object to the fact that we do not have enough transportation options for people who visit these establishments. As a result, they may end up getting behind the wheel and putting themselves and others at risk. I'd like to highlight the broader public health responsibility that we hold. The recent adoption of code allowing transportation networks is a step forward, but access remains limited, especially during late evening hours and our upper valley. If we and our countywide partners are able to provide adequate transportation during late evenings and weekends, I will start approving OLCC applications. Thank you, counselor. Uh, did you have something to add, counselor?

No, never mind. Um, so I don't think I've said this very many times. I'm going to say it now. I really want to know what's happening with Uber, like in theory versus for real. So, if you want to help your mayor and council, please send us a message if you have used Uber in our city because maybe it happens, maybe it doesn't, maybe it's allowed, not quite sure. We're still haggling, but real information would be so useful. So, thank you. Uh, we heard from councelor Rivera. We have a motion and a second. Discussion on approving this permit. All in favor? I I I

opposed. Abstension. Yes. Chair votes eye. Motion passes. Thanks y'all. Uh we have Amy here from CAT. We're going to talk about bus passes for downtown employees and then we're going to take a little break.

Thank you, mayor. uh bringing you today uh a proposed IGA, actually a renewal of a um inter intergovernmental agreement that the city has had with Columbia area transit for the last couple years to provide uh bus passes to downtown employees uh and uh the option for the city to uh pay for lowincome residents to receive passes. uh in the past couple years, CAT has been able to find other funds for low uh lowincome residents. So, the city's not paid that, but still want to provide that option in the IGA if their current funding falls through. So, um the one other thing I have for you is the it's downtown employees. I think this was connected to when the um parking study came out that was in 2021. Um and uh the funds come from uh the parking meters. So, there's been a direct nexus to downtown. So, but with that, uh, Amy is here in the audience. Amy Sloppy, the executive director for Columbia Area Transit. Um, and Will, as my historian, is also here if we can answer any questions for you.

Thanks for that that overview. I want to understand, it sounds like what we're considering is the same as we've been doing. Yes. For the employee passes, we've been doing that. We're considering doing that again. Yeah. But I'm hearing there's a change in the lowinccome support that we're considering because there have been other funds and those are questionable or have they already said no and how much of our money are we possibly going to chip in?

Thank you, mayor. And that has actually that is also a renewal in that uh the past IGAs have also had the if the other funds that CAT has available fall through then the city would pick that up. So, um I don't know Amy if you want to speak to what the past history has been of the low-inccome passes. Yeah. So, um that talk close to the microphone.

Yes. Thank you. Uh yeah, so we pay right now for the low-inccome passes through statewide transportation improvement funds. Um we are seeing the amount of funds available uh decrease uh over the years. Uh so that I'd probably be more concerned about in the next one and a half years. um with how much funds we will have available for low-inccome passes. Um but I think for this this next year we uh we do have funds for low-inccome passes. Oh, okay. So there's clouds on the horizon. Yes. But it appears that in the coming year the city's not going to have to backfill. Correct. How much are we talking about?

If we had to backfill, if we had to backfill for the low income passes. Yeah. Um I I think I would probably come to a request that is similar to our downtown employee pass program. So the $6,000 the 6,000 6,000 and that's for 150 passes. Great. Thank you. The the one thing that I I would like the council to be aware of is right now the the current pass is $40 for an annual pass. Um I would assume in the next several years that that will probably increase. This is a little bit off topic, but there was a lot of chatter at the beginning of the ski season that maybe the ski bus was going to change. Can you remind me what happened?

Uh, we're still here. The ski bus is running at at full service. Uh, we did have to delay our full service uh this year due to staffing levels. Um, and we do have a grant for this past year and the next two years that will pay for that service. And did the price change? Uh, it did. It's $5 each way now. It was $5 round trip. Is the $40 annual pass going to change soon? Not in the next couple years. Great. Thank you. That was a lot of questions. Others Glattus. Thank you.

Yeah, I I do have a question. Amy, thank you so much for being here. Thanks for all that you do. Um, it talks about CAP bus and trolley services and I don't believe I have seen the trolley. Uh can you help us understand what's happening there? Yes, great question.

This is a great question. It's a really good question. Uh so right now uh the for us to lease a trolley bus is just not possible. Um we do we have been applying um every time I get a opportunity I have been applying for a couple of buses that look like trolleys that are new buses that are not um that don't see some of the maintenance issues that the old trolley buses have. But Amy is well aware because I bring it up all the time uh how the city appreciates appreciated the trolley in the summers that it ran and we would very much like to see that come back.

And we're actually working on an application um right now that is again going to be applying for some some buses that look like trolleys but they can be used year round as well. So thank you for that. Um I have one additional question for you and then I have a question about the contract itself. So in our packet it says that there were 128 passes distributed of the 150. Is that correct? Great. Thank you. Um and I may add to that. Uh I think the IGA language in the practice has been if all 150 are not distributed then they roll over and so our price the following year is reduced. Correct.

Thank you. Sorry just one correction. It's not necessarily reduced, but they those exist within the bucket. Thank you. And within the some of the the reasons why that still exists is um because this is a popular program, we we at first we limit how much each business can have. So we'll say like, "Oh yeah, we're we're giving two out." And then if you have more employees that are um that are interested, let us know. we'll make sure we we make comments and if there's remainders or if we we just kind of hold on to a little bit. Um and I think this year maybe we held on to a little bit too much. So um yeah,

thank you. You answered my you answered my question there. So I'll the last question that I had is in the contract it says that the city will help with marketing and so I'm curious how this is being marketed to our community members. Yeah. And I believe the intent was to just work with uh the so making sure that was on the digital platforms and um yeah I think in the city had it on bulletin boards and other pieces but certainly open to um other ways to help publicize this.

Well if needed I'm always happy to help make a video. I would love to have done a video with the trolley but maybe next time. Well, I will let you know when we finally get our trolleys for sure. Council wants to Thank you. Thank you so much for all that you do and appreciate you being here tonight. That's all those are all my questions.

Others Grant. Hey, thanks. Um, we talk often um I noticed in the packet we have a lot of nonquantitative feedback from folks. If we can get some quantitative feedback on number of trips that reduced that, I would appreciate that. That's just me. Um, this is more of a question for council. Uh, regarding council policy, but if you would like to shed light or provide feedback on this, that'd be great. Um, this program currently is restricted to the boundaries of downtown. Um, we obviously have other areas of town that are commercial hubs that are restricted in terms of parking or whatever for whatever purpose. If this program is addressing multiple um city council goals, um why should we not extend it to more areas of Hood River?

I think that's definitely something that council can choose to do. I I think it just we would how we would reach out to um businesses would probably change just a little bit. um just instead of calling each one and reaching out to them, uh we might have to just change our approach. Um and it might change how many that we can give to each uh business at the initial step. But um definitely if that's something the council wants to do, especially since we had, you know, some leftover passes this past year, I think that that makes sense. Um and then with regards to your requests for quantitative data, totally get that. Um we have enough businesses who want to uh reenroll in the program where uh this year we are going to implement a um questionnaire. So before they can get their passes, we ask them how many times they've been uh part of this program and some more data like how many times do you use this? Like does this replace your car to get to and from work uh etc etc.

Thanks. Just as a as a observation, the place where parking is far and away the most restricted and uh treasured is downtown. I argue because we have meters to manage it. We don't have meters in any other parts of town. So uh using the bus subsidy to reduce parking demand downtown makes to me makes the most sense. I would also love to explore the idea of encouraging uh participating businesses who want to use the bus passes to give an incentive for those who are members of the Chamber of Commerce. I think that's a collaborative working together effort that uh serves our town very well. And you know, I don't work for them, they don't work for me, but we're good allies and and chamber membership as a perk or bus pass as a perk for chamber membership. I I I like the idea of that. others. Uh, do we need to vote?

Yes, you have a suggested uh motion in your packet. I believe page 49.

Grant, go ahead. If I can entertain the the mayor's inquiry for a moment. Um the question and comment that the mayor mentioned was uh if individual businesses outside of downtown were to partner with the chamber and purchase through either the chamber or individually their own uh permits for their employees. They would be this is a question that they would be doing that on their own or would the chamber as you envision it be subsidizing that purchase? Great question. I hadn't thought it all all the way through about how it would happen. It just seemed like in general I'd like to see the the collab be rewarded. Uh I' I'd like to think that through.

Okay. Um un from my perspective, just understanding how the fiscal mechanisms work. We as a city provide this benefit through CAT to businesses in the downtown core and only businesses in the downtown core on behalf of the businesses employees are only in that downtown core and we don't extend this benefit outside of that core. So, it's the the inequity of uh offering it just to that one group of businesses based on their located on where they're located versus where they may be in the waterfront or the Heights, which at some point may experience the same sort of parking restrictions or whatever at some point in the future depending on if we do the Heights through uh development or West Cascade or whatever it is, wherever it is. Um, that seems arbitrary to me.

I I see the point now. You make a good point here. The we can't tie it to parking meters if we're doing it in a place that doesn't have them. But supporting a downtown business versus supporting another area business. I Yes, that inequity is is not the obvious goal of this in my in my view. You make a good point. I hadn't separated those out before. Thank you.

Amy has a just to clarify. I believe it was last year and I think sometimes the fact that we're still using the terminology downtown and blight pass might be a little confusing but it actually does in the packet uh it does expand um from essentially the downtown it includes the waterfront and then also um Walmart Safeway areas as well. Oh yeah, let's uh get that brushed up because that's not many people's view of downtown. Yeah. Now, just to be clear, does it extend to the Columbia Gorge Hotel? Yes, it does. Well, it's in in that area. Yes. Wait, we have disagreement and we have an expert witness here. Wait, am is it not? Am I

Your map doesn't go that far west? Oh, sorry. Thank you. I am incorrect. It goes to Walmart. Interesting. But then it's also not including the heights at all. Right. So, correct. Correct. another expert witness for the Yes.

I'm curious why we we can't just I mean is it possible to have a program where you know the city says we will subsidize up to this amount 150 passes and then open it to businesses and then you know it's kind of a lottery system or a first come first serve. Not to like make it harder for CAT but that way it's like if you are a business within the city of Hood River you can qualify for this. But the purpose of it is to help alleviate parking in um in congested areas, but it's also to help our citizens be able to move around more. Um you know, I'm just thinking about other bus pass programs I've seen in other cities, but um I don't know, would that would that create an imposition on CAT to manage such a thing or um is that like a policy decision that we get to decide? Um because it does kind of make sense to have it be available to you know city businesses and residents and oh sorry

go ahead Amy and then we'll hear class and we'll maybe can add some more but I mean that was there the I think this program has evolved to a lot and I think it's it's up to council to to decide how they would like to see it evolve because we can be be flexible in that sense. Um I think it was just the reason why it was downtown. It was just it was all related to the parking study.

Yeah, I I think it's evolved past its origins. I can tell you the origin was consolidated fee schedule typically ups things just by an inflationary factor. And uh we broke from that for parking lots uh in 2020 and we started saying anytime we sell out, we're not going to just increase it by inflation. We're going to increase it by $5. And quite often we get push back from downtown businesses that, you know, downtown parking isn't reinvested back into downtown. It's just subsidizing the general fund. And so to kind of make a the argument stick that no, this is about parking demand management. This isn't about growing the general fund, we simultaneously created this program for downtown uh employers to provide um them with free bus passes. So it was kind of a quid proquo geographically based. Sounds like it's already been expanded far field. So I think it's completely just a now just city program. That is up to you how you want to run it.

Thank you Glattus. Yeah, I just wanted to mention that I completely uh support the sentiment of expanding it. It does create an unintentional inequity to only have it in the downtown corridor or for the downtown businesses and would be open to expanding it. That was it. Doug, should we expand the amount of money and passes then or is that not a possibility? I from this conversation, I would say if you can give us some direction, Amy and I be happy to go back and uh tailor the the draft intergovernmental agreement and I can bring it back to you at a future meeting. So, keep going and then Amy and I can work on um finishing up the language.

I spend a lot of time thinking about this because I drive the Mount Adams version of this bus. Part of my job is doing that. So, I'm driving these buses around town. Um I just it's a continual ponderment. How much is it the city's mission to support public transportation? No offense, very important, but it's not like actually the core of what we the city do. and we could spend a whole lot of money on public transportation. Also, uh I know that the Mount Adams bus does not in fact turn right at exit 64 and doesn't go to the Columbia Gorge Hotel. So, you know, it doesn't actually provide service in that area. I don't know where the CAT buses go, but it's a it's a complicated thing and as it's drifted or evolved from its original mission, it will have these additional complications of equity versus parking abatement versus quid proquo. It's not like a slam dunk and hey, how come we haven't fixed it yet?

In the meantime, uh the question before us is shall we approve this uh Glattus? I would say I I'm open to keeping to to the same amount, $6,000, but expanding it to all the businesses so it's not just downtown. So, keep it at 6,000, but expand the geographical location. Great. I'm going to say that's not quite a a motion yet. We're going to keep talking. Amanda,

um, yeah, I would agree with that and re-evaluate if we find that the bus passes are selling out and we need to give more money or we should, you know, we want to, um, do that at a later time. So, I move that we Sorry. Oh gosh. Good job. Can Before you do that, can Amy just a quick comment? Go ahead, Amy.

I just want to make sure that if with that expansion that just understands the type of outreach that CAT staff can do is going to change. Um, so right now we we reach out individually to all those businesses. That's just not something realistically my staff can do with all of city of Hood River businesses. So we will adjust our game plan and I'll work with with um Abigail with that. So, I just want to make sure that's that's kind of clear, but we'll still make sure we're doing that outreach. Thank you, Amy. Uh, Doug, and then back to Amanda's motion.

I I would just say that I think we should direct staff to aid in, you know, like Glattus said, let's create a video, put it out on our, you know, social media. We should push it out on our social media accounts when we get them too, you know, kind of thing. So, um, yeah, we could help. Amanda, you ready to move still? I think so. All right. Uh, I move to authorize the city manager to sign an intergovernmental agreement with Columbia area transit to provide bus passes to eligible citywide employees. Moved by Gakei. Second.

Second by Rivera. Discussion. I will just put in the plug as long as we're collaborating with publicizing it. Get the $40 pass. It's the freaking best thing. Go to the airport. You go to the mountain. It's just awesome. So, just saying um uh deliberation on this. Uh all in favor? I opposed. Chair votes I. Motion passes. Thank you. Uh we're going to go ahead and I think I heard that was really that was specific enough that I think it I just got direction that we can just handle it. It does not need to come back to you for another review. Is that correct? Great. Yes. Thumbs all around. Thank you.

Councelor Geeki did a great job with that that motion. I got clear direction. So, thank you for that. Thanks everybody. We're going to take a little break. Be back. Sorry.

All right, mayor. And as our city engineer is coming up, I want to note that this week is National Engineers Week. So, shout out to Annie Robinson, our very own engineer. Thank you for being here. Thank you. I mean, I would say it wouldn't be successful to be an engineer without, you know, people like Randy and Chris and Abigail and all the other staff. So,

thank you. Um, so thank you council tonight. Uh, I'll just do a brief introduction for our presentation tonight by FCS group. They are um just a little background. This is uh following the previous presentation on the capital facilities plan for the storm this the storm water master plan. So we are um we are we were uh working with Bell Design on that plan and now Bell Design has also contracted with um FCS group to do a storm water rate study to see how our capital improvement projects within the storm master storm water master plan um will affect our storm water utility rates moving forward. So, with that said, I'll pass it off to uh I believe it's Luke Nelson and John Gillarduchi.

Gillarduchi. Yes. Great. Well, thank you very much.

Thank you. And thank you, mayor and council. So, the way that and I'm John Gillarduchi. I'm the principal and project manager on on the project and I'm joined uh by Luke Nelson. the way that we've arranged this uh we'll spend I mean just very briefly I'll touch on the existing storm water rates how they are imposed on city customers and and then um talk about the the revenue requirement which is the focus of our of our work and really all that is is a a multi-year financial plan for the utility and then Luke will walk us through the revenue requirements results and what that uh financial plan looks like. I'll come back and provide a little bit of comparative information and some potential next steps. So, these are the existing storm water rates and it's actually just the rate on the far right there. We've included a couple years of of history, but the current rate is $11.3 per equivalent dwelling unit. So,

excuse me, John. I'm sorry. Sorry, John. Yeah, sure. Sorry. Can Can the Zoom person move the picture so that we can see the

That's the one. Thank you very much. Sorry, John. Yeah, no problem. Thank you. Um, so that that rate on the far right 1103 is the current storm water rate. It is imposed per equivalent dwelling units. So all single family residences in Hood River pay that 1103 per month. Other developed property that being uh commercial, industrial, etc. They pay based on their measured imperous surface area divided by the value of that EDU which is almost 2500 square ft of imperous surface area. So they'll pay a multiple of that rate depending on their imperous surface area. So, as I mentioned, the revenue requirement is really a multi-year financial plan and and the result of it uh is a series of proposed rate adjustments um usually increases. Um the key inputs in determining that revenue requirement are fiscal policies. We want to make sure that that we're being smart and leaving enough money in the bank at the end of each year to handle potential emergencies. That we're being uh smart about how money is being spent on capital versus operations. So those fiscal policies are important. We we build in economic assumptions like projected growth uh inflation in our forecast. So we're trying to project what actual costs of operations might look like. We look at operating costs that being the the operating budget um forecasted into the future and uh probably the big driver uh as far as this study goes is the capital plan and how that capital plan will be funded. Right now we are assuming cash funding for uh storm water

capital projects and you'll see that has a significant impact on the rates. So uh a little bit of additional background on rate making I mentioned we we start with the costs of providing services and and forecast those into the future. The two main types of costs are the operating costs which include salaries and benefits um inspections repair and maintenance. Those are fairly predictable from year to year. We know what the operating costs are going to be. It's the capital costs that uh are sizable dollars. They jump around a lot from year to year. Um they include infrastructure replacement, uh system expansions and upgrades, things like that. So we look at all those factors to again determine what that revenue requirement will be for each year in a multi-year uh projection. We take into account the fiscal policies, the forecasted operating costs, debt service if there is any, and then how we're going to fund capital into the future. And those four factors determine our our annual revenue needs. All right, so let's look at what this actually means for the city of Hood River. Um so we started off by taking uh financial and planning documents from the city and bell design um and kind of basing the forecast off of these. Um on the next slide uh these are the assumptions that we built in. Uh so we're forecasting 20 years. Um we're starting with uh modest growth uh

in terms of 43%. Um and that's going to represent just growth within the system without any rate increases. Um and then we looked at inflation at being about 5% for general and construction projects and a little bit less than that for labor and benefits. Um, in terms of the capital improvement plan, uh, we have $16 million, uh, through 2035 in unescalated costs being assumed. Um, applying inflation to those, uh, we reach up to about 22 million through 2035. So in this graph uh we kind of look at what we need to be able to meet that capital um as well as maint uh be able to fund any operating expenses and existing debt. Um so we see that that solid straight line uh eventually is not covering even the operating costs as we get across. Um, but it's also not funding any uh capital. So, we need uh we implement these double-digit rate increases for the first few years, kind of tailor it off until we get to uh inflationary increases towards the back. Um, and that dot dashed line uh represents being able to fund that capital uh in that plan. Um, so with those double-digit increases, we see that we're raising the uh the monthly bill uh by $3 uh $4 and kind of increasing from there um until it tailor off in the 2030s.

Okay, thanks Luke. So I I'm sure we'll want to come back to that. I know those rate increases are um uh significant um at least by percentage. The dollar amounts are not at as bad. And it it really relates to uh the capital plan and um the the uh the amount of capital spending that the city needs to do. Um, so just to give you a sense and and I will I will caution you that everybody's systems and needs are different. So we're looking at uh a rate comparison here. Hood River middle of the pack at at the current time at least among these uh comparables. Um and then with that first year uh would move up uh between uh 13 and $14. You see that one on on the right hand that right hand blue column. Um many of these rates of these other these other cities will also be going up but uh we don't know by how much and uh where the city will stand after uh 26 fiscal year 26. So, some potential next steps. I mentioned that capital costs are the real driver of these pretty significant increases. Uh, one thing that the city might consider doing is refining the project list. And what I mean by that is confirming the prioritization. The uh the list is organized in high, medium, and low priorities which determine where we where they're scheduled in our analysis. the city may wish to review that and then incorporate the high priority projects into their capital planning. Another thing, you know, we uh Luke showed you a 10-year planning

period. If we were to spread that out over 20 years, the execution of those projects, then the rate increases are more like 20% a year for the first few years instead of 30%. And of course the dollar amounts are um are uh similarly lower.

Um we we've had a discussion with the uh public works director in advance of this meeting and one of the things that he would like to look at is potentially looking at debt for all three utilities um as a way of mitigating some of these increases. So examining, you know, the careful use of debt and potential other external funding um to try and again reduce the impact of those capital projects on the city's rateayers. Our our recommendation is is not to go the full 30% in year 1 with these other potential next steps hanging out there, but it would be to increase the rate from the current 1103 to 1324, which would be a 20% increase for fiscal year uh 2027. and then to potentially coordinate the further increases that you saw with water and sewer capital and rate planning to come in the next uh in the next year or two. And that's our prepared material. Thank you. Annie, are you going to come back up or?

Yeah, there is um there actually isn't any recommendation uh for staff right now other than just to um kind of listen and ask questions about this. Um there was a couple recommendations that FCS group had suggested and if you want to discuss that now that might be good for our staff direction. Great. Thank you. Uh, Amanda and then Grant,

I'm still kind of new to all this, so I'm just um curious about Okay, so we raised the rates for the capital projects um and they're pretty significant and then after the, you know, the time period that we're looking at, are the rates still that high? we don't have the capital ex we paid for the capital but then do the rates stay like what happens then do we go back down I mean it just seems like once you go up it never comes down and so I'm curious how that goes

and uh um bell design may be able to speak to that a little better than I can but the um the capital projects go on for many many years and as you say you you know so they're looking at a at a 20-year period. And um we developed the capital I mean the financial plan that will allow the city to execute those projects. Um I would say and I'm not an engineer but it's likely that there will be new projects that arise as the city uh nears the end of that window. Um and at least that's what always seems to be the case. That's that's also though a uh an opening to use to look at using debt because it does spread if if there is a let's say a mountain that needs to be climbed and then once those projects are built the capital spending can go back down again. If you if you use debt carefully you can spread the repayment of those costs over many years and they will benefit customers for many many years. But it it means that your near-term rateayers don't have to bear the full cost of those projects. Um it gets it gets spread out over many years. So I I I hope I answered your question there. But you're right. Usually there are new projects once the uh once the current projects are built,

right? Um just to clarify your comments about debt uh and debt loading assuming we were to take on debt to uh build some of these requirements we would be taking on an obligation that lives in the future and so future rate payers would be taking on that liability. Correct. That's right.

Thank you. Um what would be uh follow-up question. what was the logic uh behind the recommendation for a 20% increase as opposed to a 30? So in in the discussions we had with the with the public works director in advance of this meeting um there some of those potential next steps that that uh and I'll share that screen again um would effectively uh um could reduce the near-term need for that 30% increase if the city were to look at using debt. um if the city were to spread out the the uh execution of the list to a longer period of time, it would reduce that initial bump that was needed and and buy some time to coordinate with the other utilities. That that was his um uh main concern. I hope I'm not speaking uh for him here, but was was coordinating future increases with water and sewer um capital and rate planning. So that was the idea to to to uh pick a smart first year that would allow the city to uh to look at again at the long term and coordinate it with water and sewer.

Okay. Thanks. And then one last thing that came up. Uh assuming we just paid for this all with rate increases. Um hypothetically when do you did you guys forecast when all these capital projects would be paid off in full using the um the revenue model that you guys forecasted? Yeah. and Luke, we had a long planning period, but but the for this that the the uh period we showed you would have executed the project list in 10 years. Is that right? Uh I believe that the full project list would be executed in 15 years. Uh the way that we were looking at it, we're looking at a 10ear window,

but we were looking at the first 10 years uh for the for the uh for the slideshow. Okay. So after 15 just just to clarify after 15 years there would be no additional debt on the books. We potentially would the city would be looking at another CIP round uh 20 years from now or so. Um but they would be in similar position that we are now um to evaluate future CIP needs without a debt burden should we execute this plan. That's right. Okay. Thanks. And I I see that Stoner Bell is on. He may be able to shed some light on this. Stoner.

Okay. Sorry, I was trying to unmute. Um this utility is is unique from the water and the and the sewer in that the the size of the pipes are based off impervious area as it's developed which is somewhat not connected exactly to population growth. Um, so the plan really looks at buildout and so I and John and I have talked about this. I mean the pipes are good for, you know, I mean in reality they're probably good for 100 years, but we'll say 70, you know. Uh and the there shouldn't be any really major new infrastructure that would be needed. I mean, this plan, I'm not sure when the last time the city really invested in the storm water system. I mean, outside of town on what we've seen down there on the waterfront, which was from pipes that were 60 years old that failed. But um so where I'm going with this is I I don't think it would be bad to extend the payment period out over a longer period than you know a recovery longer than 10 years because it's not going to be in the situation and also if we use debt it's not you're not going to be in the situation if you you kick the the debt down the road you know 20 30 years and then you still have all that debt and now the system needs to be replaced. It's not going to be like that. So, that's the kind of case you can find yourself in with like wastewater treatment plant upgrades and, you know, major water pumping stations,

facilities, things like that. You don't want to get into that situation. Thanks. that was clearer, but that's one of the option was was to stretch the payments out over a longer period of time.

Thanks, Stoner, for that clarification. Um, uh, I do want to add though that, uh, much of the master plan was based off of capacity needs and not so much on, um, treatment of storm water needs. that you know as we have um different regulations that come from you know EPA down to DEEQ down to us doing uh different requirements for water quality you know salmon safe rivers all these other things you know that's something that we will be kind of also addressing in future updates for our uh master plan but you know everything is ever evolving and we didn't really have water quality standards I think when uh this master plan initially started. So that's something that, you know, we can look forward to and capital improvement projects could address a lot more of the environmental factors that come from storm water. So

I got to say when I see the suggestion of a 30% increase, it makes me feel like we really should have been doing something sooner. Like that feels like an asleep at the switch kind of a thing, which is not my favorite thing. Um, and it's complicated, and I appreciate your expertise, but it's like, wait a minute, 30%. Um, and I hear that we can extend it out to make it a a a smaller two-digit number, but but still, have we had much benefit to our systems ability to function well and economically with the increasing requirements for uh parcels of land to do some more local treatment? I know for example that co-housing project with 24 residences has like the most impressive piece of concrete I've seen this year like a huge effort to slow down their runoff. Have we does that create an appreciable uh reduction in the demand on our system or is that just kind of a small potatoes thing?

That's a complicated um question. There's many ways to look at this, but you know, when we look at buildout of land, we often when we talk about storm water, we we say, you know, if it's we try to mimic the uh previous developed hydraologic um conditions. And so the a lot of these developments that are currently happening are trying to uh mimic exactly what's happening on their footprint of land that was pre-development. So that means that they're caring for their piece of land. Whereas, you know, in our rideway, we have a lot of reason, you know, we have a lot of things that are happening in our rideway that have to be impervious. And so there's a lot of different um reasons why we have uh larger storm conveyances because often we don't have anywhere to infiltrate in our lands. It's we have a lot of hard pan. We have a lot of infilt uh non-infiltrative areas that get directed towards our rideway because people don't know where to put their storm water. And a lot of older, you know, previous to the 2000s, no one did anything about storm water other than get it away from me, you know, so it's kind of that was the the practice. Um did that help answer your question a little bit?

Thank you,

Stoner. Yeah, I just wanted to say on the west side we we did take that into consideration. We reduced what we normally would have tried to put in the pipes by 50%. Because there is a requirement to do no net increase, full detention and now you know more LI which is even better. Um, but the reason we did that was because we had, as we, you know, kind of annexed in and took over some systems that the county had approved that were supposedly no net increase, they had massive failures and it was because a lot of these systems are privately owned and they just didn't have maintenance. And then so especially like uh infiltrative type galleries uh central they're kind of like centralized infiltration or or or water treatment facilities for the subdivision. Uh they had failed. They had been privately operated. um at true LI where it's all on each individual lot there's less risk of that failure but it's still Anyways because of that we took 50% plus all the roads

thank you stoner Anna can you just clarify for me um the these rate increases would be for capital improvement so that's expansion of our current our current system but not like maintenance of our old stuff is that right or would it cover like the rate increases would also cover um improvements to existing infrastructure. Is that considered a capital improvement or does it have to be um expansion? It would it would cover everything. Thank you. Existing and new.

Could you talk a little bit more about debt? I know we're talking a lot about putting a question to the voters about whether they would like to uh take on some debt. uh would this be something that we could do administratively or is this a is this a a bond measure on the ballot?

So that's really up to you. There are a couple different kinds of of debt. Your utilities have the option of issuing revenue bond debt which is secured by the rates. The terms are not quite as good as a voted general obligation bond issue. Um but you got to pass uh uh you got to pass a public vote. Obviously, there are also full faith and credit um obligations which essentially pledge all all the resources of the city um to repay them without an associated um tax increase. So, that's out there. But, I mean, the two basic options are revenue bonds secured by the rates and general obligation bonds um generally secured by taxes or other resources.

Thank you. Let me work backwards from the end. The goal is to approve a one-year rate increase tonight or are we looking to approve that whole dotted line curve or where are we? I think it's just information tonight. Yeah, this is justformational tonight. I think um I mean correct me if I'm wrong. think we'll probably come back as a staff to kind of determine next steps and and then do a proposal on rate studies

tonight. We also want to hear are we on the right track? Do you have any big concerns or other direction you want city staff to be investigating before this comes back to you in a more finalized form? One second, Grant. So to that to that I I will say how come it's 20 or 30%, why wasn't it, you know, 3 and a half% all along? You mean like in the past over the when you say all along? Yeah. I think and you know our public works staff can speak more to this than I can but storm water is a fairly new utility.

Um and I think the fact that the master plan isn't finished and pieces show uh that we're a little bit late to that thing where we've had water for you know a hundred years. We've got that one pretty dialed in. Uh where storm water is kind of a new science for us. And the fact that we're doing so much more focus on infill has created needs to upsize pipes and um and to you know redirect pieces along with the statutory environmental work that uh Annie mentioned. So it's been a we're late to the game and it's rapidly changing.

Thank you. Great. Um yeah, echoing echoing as to why we're behind the ball a little bit. Uh we haven't set aside money or done anything for this particular thing before. Um a little bit of commentary and uh if if we are talking about debt loading for this um this this is something for council to consider that will in absolute terms make uh this capital improvement plan cost more money. period. Anytime you finance anything, it makes the cost of the project more expensive. Period. So, uh if then that's a that's a policy choice for us to make how much we want to bend down that uh increase curve at the expense of this costing more in absolute terms and uh debt burdening future generations for this expense period. That's it. One of the recommendations was to refine the project list and I was hoping to gain more clarity around what when that would happen or the deadline for that when that needs to take place.

Well, I think that's one that that is up to um the city as well if whether they even uh entertain that as an as a potential next step. that was something that um you know that could be done over the over the course of the next months or or longer. Um and the city could could still implement a a firstear increase to buy some additional time to um to I guess you know take a second look at that at that project list or how to execute it. There's no hard deadline on that. Yeah.

Yeah. Thank you. and and to Annie or or Abigail um I know that we we'll be having discussions around retreat and one of them is to incorporate the high priority projects uh how would we incorporate this conversation into these retreats or is there a plan to have this longer discussion at a later time? I think a an opportunity coming up in the next two months is uh the capital improvement plan or the capital improvement project list as part of the budget and so staff will bring you a list of here's what we anticipate in the next five years and here's why we have ranked them the way we have and that's an iterative process. I mean we're always you're always looking five years ahead and and staff are adjusting. You might remember last year uh Adam showed you a number of videos about like the worst pipes in town and why those made the top of the list. And I don't know if he's planning videos for this year, but he always entertains us. Uh just as we look at that CI the CIP list is um it's a very iterative process and we're always adjusting that. So you have a chance to revisit that every year.

Other other comments on this, Amanda? Um I yeah I don't know. I was just pretty surprised by the amount of increase here. Like um you know pretty much like if I think I'm doing this right 400% over 10 years or something like that's huge. So I would like to see us try to uh mitigate that as best we can with yeah the other debt and things. I just think that's a lot to ask of our customer like our citizens and we all have to pay for that and so it's like this thing that's being forced on us and it's a big a big increase. So I I'm just putting my two cents in for doing what we can to make that less or longer periods of time or something.

All right. Thank you Annie. Thank you John and Luke. Thank you very much. Great. That's it. Thank you. And um storm water like say is something that didn't get a lot of attention two decades ago and now you're spending a lot of time with it. So I appreciate your time and attention to this topic. Moving on to city manager comments. Thank you, mayor. Let's give you a couple uh quick things. First, I want to acknowledge Chris Green is serving as your attorney today. So he is uh on the screen or he's there he is. Hi Chris.

So thank you Chris for being here. Uh Dan is out for I think another week. Um so if things come up in this meantime, Chris has been very helpful in prepping for this meeting and uh I appreciate you Chris. Um uh with Dan being gone, I'm sorry to say he and I just didn't connect about finalizing the social media policy. My apologies. I will bring that to you at your next meeting. But if you council members are interested in a social media account, um happy to get that process started so that when uh the policy is adopted at the next meeting, it can launch right after that. So let me know and Jackie and I can work with you on that piece. Uh just a quick ICE update or immigration enforcement. Uh I think we are very close to finalizing the postcard that would go out to all city um mailboxes. Um only a few staffers have left to have training. Sandy um got almost everybody touched before I left or while I was on vacation.

Only a few staff remained to be get training to receive training. I staff left. I don't like sound.

No, you're right. That's exactly like I try not to say we lost people, right? Uh um and then my last uh immigration enforcement piece is uh Jackie sent out a doodle poll to all of you trying to schedule a town hall. So please uh look for that link in your email and uh reply. We are meeting with uh next door on Wednesday and really hope to get as many dates uh pinned down as we possibly can. And then um as the mayor mentioned it earlier uh an update on Uber uh just I can tell you that at this time Uber has put a geo fence around the city. There is no Uber activity happening in the city. People might start a trip somewhere else and be dropped off here but no trips are originating in our area. Um we've as staff have been going back and forth with Uber uh as you are aware uh they had some concerns and objections to the fee schedule. So we uh are hoping to have one more conversation with them uh before we bring uh that topic back to you. So not a lot of detail but uh I would be very very surprised if anyone is able to generate a trip here in Hood River at this time.

Thank you. Thank you. City budget committee. Oh thank you. I think we uh need to we have three members who termed are up. They may be interested in renewing but we are looking for one or two counselors who can join our finance director uh for interviews. So looking for one or two volunteers. I see councelor Rivera has raised her hand. Is that a yes to volunteer or was that a comment?

Um I just I guess I had a question around the Uber update. While I appreciate the amount of effort that's gone to coordinate with Uber, I'm also curious to hear if there has been any additional followup with Lyft. I know that at one point quite some time ago, there was an initial conversation and not sure if there have been others that have been approached besides Uber.

Yeah, thank you counselor. Uh early on this process, we've been doing this for several years now. Lyft was engaged and I had good conversations with them and then I think that person must have left and I've been unable to find a Lyft person again. So, put that back out into the universe. If anybody knows uh someone in Lyft government relations, hook me up. Thank you. So, I'm happy to help however you need. I'm I'm happy to call folks.

Okay. Thank you. And actually, uh um executive director Amy Schloppy from Columbia Area Transit has been helpful with that in the past as well. So, I'll reach out to her again. Uh, so now I'm looking for a volunteer or two to help with budget committee interviews. Anyone? I can help if when I'm available. Great. I'll help. Anna and Grant, thank you all. Super. So, either Jen or Chris will reach out with possible dates. Thank you very much. Anything else, Abigail? Committee reports. Anna, I've got nothing. Ben, nothing for me. Doug.

Yeah. Uh, first of all, Visit Hood River met uh last Wednesday, but I was not able to attend. So, I'm meeting with Katie in a couple days. So, I'll have an update for you next time about their their last board meeting in February. Uh, Taste of Seruda is coming up. So, um, yeah, I mean, the kids are coming soon. You can see Kasle Rivera's got some tickets. I have some tickets. Um the way this works is the taste of Seruda is the major fundraiser for the sister city program and on March 14th uh Saturday March 14th is uh going to be that taste of Seruda fundraiser. Um it's a lot of local businesses that don't that that you know bring in food and and so on and so forth. Um it's at the Mount Hood Winery from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Dinner will include traditional and local Japanese cuisine including sushi, chicken, seafood, vegetarian dessert. uh silent and live auctions, wine tastings, artwork dinners, uh and more. Um tickets are $50 per person or for $500 uh dollars for a table of eight. Tickets can be purchased by emailing hood riversistercity@gmail.com or by contacting a board member. Glattis and I are both both board members, so you can contact council Rivera or I. And if anybody on the council or city staff would like anything, uh you know, Kevin Lebertie as well is a board member. So, lot of ways uh to be able to get uh the fundraiser um tickets. Uh also that day um the the schedule is going to be a little different than it was last year in terms of what the kids are doing. There's a little bit less uh you know um coordinated activities to give them a little bit more time to do some stuff. Uh they expressed an interest in being in school a little bit more. So, they're going to be visiting the middle school. Um but that morning um they're actually going to be coming to the firehouse. So, um they came to the firehouse last year uh as well. Uh we had received a new fire engine and they helped push it in

uh cere ceremoniously. Um but they'll have a welcome breakfast there. Spend some time get it get a tour uh that morning of March 14th of uh the firehouse. There'll also be a planting of a tree. They'll they'll visit the the cemetery uh as well. Um, and yeah, just, you know, it's a it's incredible program and it's been going for aboutif 50 years now and would urge anybody in the community to come out and support that that fundraiser. Um, that's it for me. Any questions about that from anybody? Anything to add, Glattus, on on that note? Okay. Thanks, Grant. Committee region one uh act meeting is next week Monday. Amanda,

I don't have anything right now.

In December, there was a 7.6 uh magnitude earthquake in the province where Seruda is. So, I just wrote a letter to the mayor was like, "Hey, you heard about the I got a letter back with a cute picture of him wearing the ski jacket that I gave him. Thank you for your kind concern about a recent earthquake. It was strong. However, luckily, Seruda suffered no losses or damage. They've been getting tons of snow. There's a picture of him in front of a 4ft snowbank. Kind of cute. So, as Doug said, I mean, nearly 50 years this has been going on and hundreds and hundreds of kids have gone across the ocean and given the geopolitics these days, I think knowing some folks way over there is just an excellent idea. So, join in. It's fun. I'll be at the dinner on the 14th. Uh, no other comments for me. Council comments, Amanda. Oh, Glattus, I skipped you.

That's okay. For committee, you get to go committee and council comments.

Okay. uh committee. I'll bring you all a larger committee report at our next meeting uh for council comments. I just wanted to take a moment, you know, it is Black History Month and to acknowledge the passing of Reverend Jeff uh Jesse Jackson um who most of you know as a powerhouse in the civil rights movement and a lifelong advocate for justice, dignity, and economic empowerment. Reverend Jackson reminded us that uh injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Words that just continue to ring true and to call us toward courage and action. I just wanted to take a moment to thank Black in the Gorge for all the activities that they have planned. I hope many of you have had an opportunity to join and going out to the center of arts for example. I I know I've enjoyed seeing all the pictures and all the art that has happened uh here. Um besides that, that is everything for me. Thank you so much.

Amanda, council comments. I don't have any grant. Uh I'll start off by saying the mayor and I were able to meet with House Representative Dexter on Saturday. That was Saturday. Saturday. Yep. And and Piper.

And Piper. Piper was there. she she goes everywhere. Um expressed uh concerns within the community uh at the federal level. So shared everybody's uh uh views and whatnot with our house rep. Um let's see. Uh I have a personal council more personal council comment. Um we earlier in this meeting um saw explicitly in the numbers um how much necessarily our our this CIP for just storm water rates may increase uh which we still need to discuss and talk about. Um but it is a thing that exists. There are liabilities that exist on our books. There are objectives that we as a council wish to meet. um housing, roads, um a number of liabilities both um acred and addressed and also acred and uh unfunded which continue to accumulate which I I I believe we as a council should do a better job in addressing. Um, we have not yet had time to uh get together in a a strategic meeting or any sort of retreat, talk about a number of these issues yet. I understand we're all busy people, but um I am concerned that we are not going to have time to do that before we get busy with budget season, then summer, then it'll be election season, and the year will just vanish before us. And the longer this goes on without us addressing these concerns, the less we will be able to do to work at for the benefit of those in our community. So my personal encouragement

for all of us is to set aside the time as much as we can collectively to work on behalf of our constituents and the community in which we are elected to serve. That's it. Thanks. Thank you, Grant. Doug,

uh, not much for me. Just want to echo the sentiments, uh, shared by Council Rivera about, uh, Black History Month. Also, um, I think it's important to recognize the Reverend Jesse Jackson. I grew up in Chicago. Actually was very close to him once. Um, at a White Socks game. If my dad's watching, he probably remembers that. It's a good story. Um but uh yeah, it's it's you know um I think we have to do as much as we can to sort of recognize some of these really important uh figures in America when we didn't even get you know any recognition from the federal government about the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson. Just uh completely despicable in my assessment. So um I think we should do more of it uh at our level because it's not being done u by the federal government. Thank you. Ben,

nothing from me. Anna,

yeah, I don't have anything either. I just uh thank you to Grant and Glattis and Doug for mentioning um things that you mentioned. I do think that um you know, I always before every meeting I I always go back to what our mission is and just try to focus on that and um I'm just gonna it's um provide essential services at the lowest possible cost to continually enhance the quality of life in Hood River. And I think that um you make a good point, Grant, that we need to be discussing those things because we got to go back to like storm water is an essential service. Um you know, roads, all safety, public safety, all those things. We focusing on that stuff is really important.

That brings us to the end of the agenda. Anything else for the good of the order? Do we start at 6 PM even when we have URA visiting? I think we currently are planning for 6 PM, but if you would like uh we can check with your members for early start if you would like to start at 5:30 or 5:' if we can talk about that just for a second. So for me it makes it worse because like it's less like eat dinner and then come but it starts earlier and if there's a whole segment dedicated to your rack and then there's a full agenda of items, you know, 10 o'clock is not fun either. So, do do folks have any like preferences like start at 6 or start at another like go ahead.

I was just supposed to say that your rack meets at six when they meet. Okay. Um so that that's their going to be ready for that's their normal normal time. It's it's usually the the other every other Thursday or or so every they meet at 5:30. Five. Oh, it is 5:30. Oh, yeah. So, yeah, they have a but it's Thursdays, you know, just so you know. Okay, thank you. It's a different day. Anybody else? S Pro Six or earlier? Those seem to be the two choices. Amanda, I'm open for earlier if it works for people. Okay, I'm pro six because it's my job. Yeah, I'm going to either one. Grant.

Oh, I'm I have usually on council nights, I have bridge authority between 2 and 4, so I'm available anytime after 4. Okay. Okay. Urek meets at 5:30 on the regular. Let's say 5:30. Is that okay? We say Doug. Go ahead. I want Ben to be here. 530 is challenging. It's challenging. I could do it if that's what works, but sometimes stuff comes up and Yep. Right. Thank you, Doug, for all right. Six o'clock regular time. Regular time and we'll see you here and they'll be the first portion. Is that the idea?

That's right. I think we'll probably have you all sit together on the floor and then if we take a quick break, we'll break down that furniture. Thanks. That's helpful for me to understand. I didn't know about the bridge starting and stuff too. Thanks all. We're ajourned. Thank you.