City Council - Regular Meeting

and the Oregon Realtor Association has a lot of information. They're doing a lot of training on that. There wasn't one person in there was like, "Oh, great. This is the end of society." And that is an understatement. Wow. It is devastating. the board. I can't think of anything good. It would literally bankrupt a lot of municipalities constantly. Wow. 90% of the communities are ready. Okay.

Good evening, citizens and staff. I'm Mayor Cara Westfall, hereby call to order this council meeting, Monday, February 2nd, 2026. The time is 7 p.m. Roll call, please. Councelor Steinberg here. Council here. Councelor Russo here. Councelor McClon here. Councelor Miller went here. Please stand and join me in the pledge of 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. Public comment. Should I go down?

One moment. Let me read this. Um, so public comment is a time for citizens to present information to the city. And if based on what is presented, additional information is needed and or or an answer warranted by the city. Citizens will be contacted by the appropriate city staff and a future generation item will be scheduled for further discussion. Public comment is not a time set for questions and answers. If counselors have any questions, they will be presented to staff or the speaker at another time. and Ren Shak Shaki come up and you have three minutes.

Awesome. Uh I am here to tell you guys very respectfully that I'm pissed off. I'm upset because somebody in my local government doesn't care about the Constitution and respectfully I want to find out who it is so that they can be named and shamed. The reason that I'm bringing this up, you'll see on the agenda topic it is flock surveillance cameras. There have been five cameras that have been placed in the city of Clamoth Falls, specifically two of them on South Sixth Street that are built and city and county governments as license plate readers or as automated license plate readers. What they are is a system of cameras that tie in with Flock Systems Limited. Uh it's about a 100,000 cameras now that basically allow for extra constitutional surveillance. What does extra constitutional mean? That means beyond the constitution, beyond the bounds of the constitution. These work in cooperation with something provided by flock systems which is an LLM large language model AI search engine to search anything that is on those cameras. So instead of the normal process wherein there would be a suspect that would be marked out for investigation or arrest where police would go, okay, we're going to go to a judge. were going to get a judicial warrant to search this, they could instead type woman wearing a pink car heart jacket or something else to that line. And what this is mainly meant for, uh, what it's mainly used for is tracking protesters or anybody that somebody in the local police department uh, has a problem with or wants to surveil for whatever reason, but doesn't want to get permission from a judge to do that surveillance. Uh, this like sends me up a wall. This frustrates me to no end because the entire philosophy around having these cameras, Larry Ellison, uh, he works with Oracle, who works with

Palunteer, who this company is also connected with, the whole thesis behind it is that a population that is under surveillance will be more compliant or a population that is under surveillance will be more polite. And it frustrates me. There's even things beyond the judicial problem or the constitutional issue with this. These cameras are very easy to hijack or to get control of. It is very easy to just point a device at the cameras to be able to read whatever the feed is at any time that you would desire. If you want to go up to the camera and press the pairing button, you can pair it to your device. And as of a couple of months ago, there is now a judicial ruling out of Eugene that they're desperately trying to get overturned. That anything captured by these flocked cameras is public record, meaning anyone would be able to access them. So, I see this as a massive issue for the Constitution. I see it as a massive issue if a stalker were to get access to the results of these cameras or the feed of these cameras that is public record. And I want these gone and I want to find out who's put them up. County government says they're not responsible. Now I need to find out if it's you guys or the police department. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

And since we have nobody else that has filled out a form, I will close public comment. Consent agenda 5.1. The approval of the consent agenda, meeting agenda and prior meeting minutes from January 20th, 2026 provided under separate cover. And item 5.2 5.2 Two is the purchase of a 2026 Ford F550 4x4 cab and chassis for the street division from Lithia Ford in the not to exceed amount of $62,811.78. I will take a motion. I move to approve the consent agenda.

Second. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Very good. Number six, legislative action 6.1, the authorization for a submission of the construction grant through the safe routes to school SRTs program for improvement adjacent to Ponderosa Middle School. Public works director Mark Boat.

Thank you. Good evening, Mayor and Council. So, a couple years ago, we were successful in obtaining a planning grant for the safe routes to school program to basically as a 10% design and a cost estimate to put in sidewalks on uh Laguna Drive from Main Street to Old Fort Road and then up Old Fort Road to Loma Linda. So, I was thinking it was going to be only there every year, but they come around every two years. So, what should be happening here in the next I think in February is the next round of grants should be available. And pardon me, I'd like to be able to submit application for a construction grant for that same thing. We scored pretty high on the planning side. So I'm kind of hoping that that same luck will follow through with the construction side as well. Um grant would be just over just over two million between two and 2.1 million and our match is 10.27% of that. So the total grant is like 2.6 million or sorry 2.4 million. So 239,000 would be our match.

So any questions if you have them questions or comments? Councelor McClung. Um yeah, definitely in support of this. I've had two kids go through Ponderrosa for three years each and that is a mess getting in and out of that school. Have you talked to the school board or anybody from Cla Falls City Schools? I've just periodically heard that ultimately the site of Ponderosa might move. So, they might be. Yeah. Wondered if this would be a big investment for a school that might move. Well, um there's enough people who walk through there even because I drive every day and I've seen tons of people who are actually pushing baby strollers down Old Fort Road um and with no sidewalks or anything else. So even if the school were to eventually to move, I think it would still be a good investment for that that part of town. Thank you for that councelor. And yes, by the way, I did actually talk to the school district early on to get their support.

Okay. Awesome. Councelor Mueller, what? I'm super pumped about this. We've talked about this forever since I think we started working together. Um, anecdotally, I had a co-orker that was actually taking her middle schooler to school and an elderly hit a middle schooler just I mean it was just a blind spot with the sun. It was very unintentional obviously and she was pretty distraught but that just happened a few weeks ago. So um you know I'm really excited to see this coming in. I'm really hopeful that they prioritize this. If they don't let me call Leanne sounds good Kelsey says prioritize this. Councelor Angelie.

Yes. Real quick to refresh my memory on that. I know the egress in there is almost non-existent. So it's one way in one way out. Does this address a secondary U? No. But it does open it up and clean it up so the passage is a little bit easier. So the sidewalk just barely fits. I I want to say I have to look at the map here, but I know it was pretty tight on the stretch of lagoon. It's a very narrow roadway through there. And I think we may even consider having to take off the little bit of on street parking this through there, but at least we'd have at least one side of having sidewalks and definitely want to be on the north side. So when they got down to the intersection, they could actually go up the hill to the school. Um and then going up 04 Road looking trying to do both sides at least up to Lomol Linda Drive.

Thank you counselor. Just one last comment that would also be really helpful for Thrive Church and the warming center and the foot traffic coming and going there as well as best care is up behind Palosa. Um so yeah, good idea. Good. Very good. Any other questions or comments? I will entertain a motion. Move to authorize staff to submit a construction grant application to safe routes to schools program for improvements adjacent to Ponderosa Middle School and accept the grant if offered. Second. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Thank you. Thank you.

6.2. The authorization for the purchase of a pre-cast restroom with a stainless accessory package from the Mountain West Pre-Cast LLC for Veterans Park in the not to exceed amount of 139,433. Parks Maintenance Manager Terry Sers. Good evening, Mayor, Council. I'm here to We're here to get a purchase a pre-cast restroom for Vets Park. It'll be replacing the existing one that is really no longer to standards and ADA. So, we're looking to just replace that restroom.

Okay. Questions or comments? Council me, is this going to be locked after hours? I'm assuming it is, but like at dark, it will. This is a It's coming as a preheated with the hopes of being able to leave it open in the winter. It won't be through the evening or anything. It'll still be locked after it'll be like Clamouth Commons. Yes. Cool. Well, different than Clamoth Commons because it's not heated. Similar hours, though. Yeah. But this this will be able to be ran through the year. Cool. That's great. It's going to be heated. We'll see. We'll give it a test run and see how things go with it. Cool. Councelor McClung,

just a supportive comment. There's a lot of events in Veterans Park and just last September there were three really well attended recovery events and the portaotti situation was less than ideal for a lot of attendees. So, I think this is a good investment and our park needs it. Yeah. And it's those events there that's up to the event holder to get reach out for more portaotties when they know they're going to have certain numbers. Yeah. I think the turnout was more than they expected. Yeah. Which taxes the portaotties. Yes. And the ones that are down there ADA, they're not big tanks. So understandable. Good. I think this is great. Councelor um Angelie.

So just a quick question. Um, with that going in there, are the poor John's still going to stay in the location for a while or during the entire the existing ones that are there? We'll keep them there for additional use. The one that this pre-cast is going to go out more towards the road. Okay. It'll be on the curb line on the left side of the garden, the rotary rear garden. Mhm.

So it'll be right out front more accessible and that way we can when it's patrolled in the evenings people can see what's behind it. The one that's back there now you don't know what goes on back there. So it's it's basically get rid of that and pull it forward and a little bit more visible to PD and others. Good. Thank you. Great. Any other question or comment? the stainless steel. It'll be able to be washed down with the drainage system. Yes. Yeah. Very good. Yes. Great. If there are no further questions or comments, I'll entertain a motion.

Okay. We move to authorize the city manager to execute the necessary documents to purchase a pre-cast restroom with a stainless accessory package for Mountain West Pre-Cast LLC for Veterans Park in the not to exceed amount of 139,433. Second. All in favor say I. Any opposed? 6.3 Authorization for the purchase of a pre-cast restroom with stainless steel accessory package from the Mountain West pre-cast LLC for more park in the not to exceed amount of 139,433. Nice.

And parks maintenance manager Terry Sers. So, this one here is to put a new restroom next to the leather's destination playground, and it'll it'll be a year round out there. Also, be heated, be a lot closer than the other ones. Just adding more facilities out there will take a lot of pressure off the other ones. Yeah, very good. I agree. Questions, comments? I'll entertain a motion. I'll move to authorize the city manager to execute the necessary documents to purchase a pre-cast restroom with a stainless accessory package from Mountain West Pre-Cast LLC in the not to exceed amount of $139,433.

Second. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Thank you. 6.4. an ordinance amending city code section 8.150 and 8.155 which adopts the 2024 edition of the international property maintenance code. Um second and final reading item needs to be continued requires some additional staff consideration and clarification. I'd move to continue item number 6.4 to the February 17th, 2026 meeting for further clarification and action. Second. Oh, go ahead, Mike. Go ahead.

Got to get um all in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Thank you. Um under other matters, councelor Mueller went. Yeah. So, I unfortunately unfortunately moved out of my ward. So, as of tonight, I will be resigning from my position as city counselor for Ward 5. Um I want to thank you everyone. and I feel honored to have served with this board. Um I think we've really worked hard on prioritizing listening to our constituents as well as staff.

Feel like our council has been one of the most supportive that I've seen. Um and that's not speaking on just my own behalf, but just as a as a collective, I feel like we've really made an effort to be cohesively supportive um of the staff and things that are moving in the right direction of the city. So, I'm saddened to be stepping away. Um, but I have to by law. So, if it wasn't me being forced, you couldn't get rid of me if you wanted to. So, um, yeah. So, I just want to say thank you for voting me in. And, um, yeah, Mike, you've got tough election next time. I'm just kidding. I don't know if we'll run again, but yeah, thank you everyone for being awesome and honored to have served on here um for the last three years. So,

very good. Well, Kelsey, we're going to miss you. I really appreciate your perspective and what you brought to the table. It was very, really positive. Thank you. Anybody else? Do we all get to say something? Sure. You have to. Um I just want to say thank you for your genuine passion for our community. I've known you a long time before serving on this board with you and I really appreciate your efforts and I think you have strong vision regardless of what you're doing and I look forward to working with you in other capacities and it was a pleasure serving with you. So keep it up. Go ahead. Well, I'm shocked. I feel like I'm the only one sorry

that's that's shocked but yeah I mean you've been my partner from the beginning. We started at the same time. Um, and just really appreciate your public health focus and just care for the community. Like you've brought a ton of passion for people's food security and water. Um, and that has really shined through and I think the public health science you've brought to this role has has bettered county and the city. So, thank you. Also, I didn't mean to blindside anyone. I just didn't want to be the lame duck. So, I was trying to spread it out as long as I could, but then we ended up officially moving everything out of our house. So, I'm had to step down. We didn't weren't expecting to move so quick, but yeah.

Anybody else? Go ahead, Council. I didn't know. Even though the the fun banter and I've known you since you were kneeh high to a cricket, it's kind of neat to to see that, you know, you came in here and and showed an example for a lot of folks of what to do. And it can be anybody, any age to do that. And bringing youthful aspect to it is wonderful and it's really good. And I do look forward to a challenge down the road. That would be great. It's got to spice things up around here because we don't get the participation from the community. Um, then there's no point to what we do and everybody has to bring their expertise to this. And you did really well. So, thank you.

Thank you. and I didn't know you when you came on the on the council and uh I'm the quiet guy so I didn't talk much to you and I apologize for that but I have a lot of respect for your your passion and and everything you bring to this and your baby. It was good sharing that with you too. Yeah, she grew that baby in that chair. That's correct. We have to change bylaws around here. Yeah, a roller coaster. Have to have to bring the baby from that. Well, I know where you work, right? We we'll still be in touch. And very good. I've appreciated having you on the board. Your your dedication. It's been a what a year it's been for you. Wow. Yeah.

You know, just with that your new job. Well, not new job, but new new position in your in your work. But appreciated having me. Appreciate your dedication. It's a lot of a lot of effort. Yeah. Making a huge difference in art. One thing I don't like is passion. Even toast is an argument. You still have to bring him around. That's still a requirement. I mean, that doesn't end today. Yeah. All righty. Thank you, Nicole.

I I don't I I really appreciated it and I agree with everyone that everything that everyone has said and I love the compassion. You do everything with heart and you um you just bring a youthful spirit and energy and it's it's it's fun. And cuz I'm 12 and a half. Well, I know you're barely old enough to be on the board. Almost 13, right? So, yeah. No, I really do appreciate Wait till she's 15. Good job. Okay. Well, thank you. Um, motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Second. All in favor say I. I. All in favor say I. I. I said I.

Okay. Um, um, meeting is adjourned. Too weird.