City Council - Regular Meeting

Okay, we're live. Okay. Good evening, citizens and staff, and I am sorry for this late start. I, Mayor Carol Westfall, hereby call to order this council meeting on Monday, November 17th, 2025. The time is 7:10. Uh, roll call, please. Council Stinberg, here. Council Lee here. Council Russo here. Council here. Council me

here. Please stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance. I aliance 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.

We don't have any presentations. Public comment. We don't have anybody has that has filled out a form. So, we will not have public comment. Consent agenda um 5.1 the approval of the consent agenda meeting agenda and prior meeting minutes and from November 3rd 2025 provided under separate cover and items 5.2 5.2 2 is the board appointment park advisory board and if there are any questions um Jonathan Tikker can you can ask him if not I will entertain a motion move to approve the consent agenda

second all in favor say I any any opposed very good number six under general public hearing 6.1 liquor license application for Sizzland downtown buffet located at 61 Main Street and planning manager Joe Wall reviewing.

Good evening, Mayor Council. Have a public hearing this evening for a increase in liquor license privileges for Sizzland Downtown Buffet, which is an existing restaurant business located at 601 Main Street. Um you might remember it was about a year ago that um I was in front of you and applicant asking for a limited on premises license that allowed for beer and wine. Uh council had ultimately made a positive recommendation for that license roughly a year ago. It took quite some time in order to receive a license from OLCC um which was uh within the past month. So with that, um, staff reviewed it and thought it best with not being able to observe any impacts from the limited license given it was just received that a neutral recommendation be made at this point. So what we have it would be full on premises. Proposed business hours are consistent. It's, I believe, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Uh, I believe maybe closed Tuesday. A portion of the business is to be age restricted. Um, having been in the restaurant before, I'm going to call it kind of the bar lounge area that's a little to the side. That would be age restricted at all times. Um, as we do with any liquor license or in this instance an increase in privileges, uh, we do send notice to all neighbors and to PD. Um, and at this point, staff would be making a neutral recommendation. Ultimately, we I know we have people in the audience who will probably speak this evening and we may further review and ask questions, but um, with that, I'd be happy to answer any questions council has. questions or comments? Go ahead.

Limited license issued. Um, according to OLCC, October 21st of this year. Oh, it just happened. Okay. Okay. Any other question or comment at this point? I'd like to open it up for public comment. And I know we do have some people interested in speaking. So, three, please note that there's three that want to speak. three that want to speak and 11 that do not want to speak but are in favor of 11 that do not want to speak but are in favor. So we will start with Elizabeth Cisnerero.

Thank you.

Good evening. So basically you know who I am. Elizabeth and Snarls. Um, my restaurant has been doing well, but adding I added an eightpage menu of, you know, Mexican food and of course I still have the buffet, but um, you know, people like the menu and also people like the buffet. So, I have both sides. So, in my eight-page menu, I would like to add beverages like margaritas, specialty drinks to make a complete restaurant. Um, I've been working hard to build this restaurant into something u welcoming and familyfriendly and positive for downtown. I'm trying to keep moving forward and growing my business and continue being part of the success of downtown in the community. Just be part of it's not easy to survive on downtown. It's hard. So, just beer and wine. Sometimes people like to come and have a margarita and I've had a lot of people they come and order fajitas. they order and they're constantly saying they want a margarita, you know, like I do sell wine margaritas, but people like the other type of margaritas and I'm just want to be part of downtown and being able to sell my margaritas. It's just it's been a struggle, but I'm getting there slowly. I'm trying to build. I'm following rules. I close early. I had some events go on and I was closed by 11 on Halloween which I had an extended um event and I had it until um 2:00 in the morning and I closed at 11:00. I mean I had my crowd come in, everybody enjoyed the closed by 11:00 but that's only like on special events because I'm really I'm not really into the night life anymore. I'm a lot older now and I also like to go to bed early. So, I closed the restaurant aid. I mean I mean you if you guys are downtown you see my clo restaurant is closed early. I'm not in the night life only on special occasions like I'm planning on New Year's Eve night to stay open past

midnight because it's New Year's, you know, but after that my doors will be closed and I'll be back home. But I'm there in the area in the restaurant supervising and working it myself. Like on Halloween I worked at me and one other girl. And so we're and Cara was there, the OLC investigator. She she was fine. She sat there. I think she stayed about 45 minutes and everything went well. It was good and stuff. So I'm just asking for an extended now. And I spoke to and they agreed. I just need to pass with you guys. Super. Any other question or comment? Go ahead. Um Council Mulan,

I'm just curious. 10 months is not a usual time for a permit to be given. What were some of the hang-ups? Um they um were just I you know what to be honest with you I don't know why it took so long. They were just putting me through department through department through investigator through investigator. They gave it to me. I have no idea. Um they just kept I don't you know what I just I was constantly emailing them and not even Tara. I would I would email Tara and Tara would say I don't know it's Portland. But a lot of it they're really backed up in Portland on a lot of stuff. So, I finally got in there,

but it's not easy to get a license. Like, there's so many people piles like when I was in, you know, the office, there were 75 people like we're ahead. I mean, there's not so many people working right now. They work through home, you know, so it's really hard to get um a liquor license, you know, because it has to go through the process, you know. Okay. Thank you. I don't know to be honest. Super. Yeah. Any other comment or question? I I would be inclined to just we've got more people. Um

thank you so much. We don't have any more questions of you right now. So Muhammad Shabir, you heard my name Mohammed Shabir. I'm a longtime resident of Clamoth Falls for about 30 years. And my uh relationship with that business is strictly professional. I remember going to that place after we got off work with my colleagues from Tamat First Federal Bank when I was the manager of their ATM and electronic banking. We used to have good time and I'm in favor of her getting a you know hard liquor permit because I remember when I used to go with my wife and kid I was okay with beer but my wife hated beer. So, so, uh, and then I've known her that way. And then later on, I worked with some events at her other job. I I believe she works at Plumbridge, uh, Elizabeth Cisneros, and I've helped with some events for the elderly people there. Um in my opinion or in my experience you know I found them to be very professional people

and like I said I don't know them personally you know just my business experience uh business related experience says that I can trust her that she'll uphold her commitments or whatever promises she makes to the OCC and to the city council. And that's all I have. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. and uh Tatiana Ciserys.

Good evening. I'm Tatiana. I'm the daughter-in-law of Elizabeth. Um watching Elizabeth work to open her restaurant has truly been a blessing. Um she pours her heart into everything she does, not just for her business, but for the people around her. She's generous, community-minded, and always looking for opportunities to support others. As many of you know, in today's restaurant industry, having the ability to serve alcohol is often essential for long-term success. The profit margin on beverages, especially alcoholic, helps keep small local restaurants financially stable. For customers who like to order off the menu, which offers a variety of Mexican dishes, guests often expect to enjoy something as simple as a margarita with their meal. Allowing Sizzalin to obtain this liquor license from the OCC would not only help the business thrive, but it would also support our local economy and enhance the dining experience for our community downtown. Thank you.

Very good. Thank you. And um seeing that that is um all of the anybody else that wants to speak on this agenda item um we will close that and I will entertain a motion. I'm I would like to move to give them a positive referral rather than a ne neutral one. Second. All in favor say I. I.

Any opposed? Very good. Under legislative action. 7.1. The authorization of a contract change order number one with Outlier Construction LLC for an additional work associated with the Oregon Air National Guard repair aircraft shelter B325 project in the amount of $141,996. and 73 cents and director um Ian Basic.

Uh good evening council. This is uh if you remember prior months we've made amendments to MCC military construction cooperative agreements and um this is related to the construction that's ongoing on for B325 the big shelter project that that's going on right now. So, as we started the construction and the the guard engineers and the contractor, they found a whole bunch of leadbased paint on some structural materials and federal law requires them to remove this leadbased paint. So, this is a a change order for that. The guard has agreed to to amend our their agreement with us. So, they'll pay us. We're not going to pay this bill uh for the additional work until we've actually received the money from the Air National Guard. So, um and we get a 5% fee on the top of it. And actually, I just found out today that they've uncovered more lead based paint and more lead more contaminants. So, we're probably going to end up with a second amendment after this, probably in a couple of weeks. So, don't be surprised if you see another amendment coming before you on this one. So, this is uh as they're taking things away, they're finding, you know, plates and things that are welded together with, you know, lead based paints and other materials that the federal government requires them to remove. So, that's this is the first amendment for the outlier project. questions, comments I will entertain a motion.

I'll move to authorize the city manager to execute change order number one with Outlier Construction LLC for the Oregon National Air National Guard repair aircraft shelter B325 project in the amount of $141,996.73. Second. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Where's the last any council to move to? I would move to the council meeting into session for urban renewal agency. Second. All in favor say I. Any opposed? Um

I needed to dismiss myself for a direct conflict. Very good. Thank you. Um action information 7.2 Two adjournment meeting into um session as the urban renewal agency quarterly project status update developer presentation main and esplanade redevelopment reconvenance uh reconvene council meeting uh de uh developer Mark went reporting or do we need to move to no did we move to we're in urban renewal agency council was acting with urban renewal agency that was just part of the title so you didn't have to read But it's completed. Now we just need to do the report by the developer and then we'll move back.

Okay. If we can have the report by the developer. Could you handle everything? Yeah, I pass. We've got the information. Read it. Yeah. Instead of me go taking you through it. Um, but just by reading it, you'll get a lot more information than me trying to double dip here. But just asking if you have any questions regarding it. Why don't we take the time to read it? Okay. You read it? Yeah, I read it. Questions or comments?

I know last time we talked and got an update. Uh we mentioned maybe putting some kind of signage up showing that the project was, you know, active. Yeah, we we discussed that and it's we think it's a little bit early to do that. Okay. At this point. And why would you think it's too early? That's been sitting there for how long? Um we really owe it to our citizens to let them know that we are progressing on this somehow. But I don't know that we owe it to the citizens for that. But we just that our in our discussions we just didn't think it was a good timing for it.

Well, what do you think? I get back to you. We can discuss it again and get back to you again on it. Mhm. If if you want. Um because this project is really holding up the Spring Street renewal project. It's based on that project getting started. So, we're holding up a whole big area for redevelopment. So, it is very important to the city that we see it get it done. We know that we're working pretty hard to get this thing done and investing lots of money. So, we want it just as much or more than you do. Okay. Go ahead.

At the la at the last meeting when this was discussed a little bit, I'd mentioned something about maybe some cleanup on the property and it looked like some of the weeds were knocked down and things like that. Okay. Yeah. Are you It wasn't going to be just a onetime thing. Hopefully maybe something in there moving some things around just to kind of spruce it up a little bit can go a long way for just uh good posture kind of thing. Are you guys able to do that? I mean to help What types of things are you looking at? We go pick up garbage in there. We cut down weeds. We we straighten up the fence. Um what what type of other things are you seeing?

No. And I appreciate that because the fence has gotten knocked down in the past and you guys were really quick about getting that up. But just just maintaining the weeds and things like that to make it effective would be really helpful. Yeah. If you have any anything else that you see in there, just let just let me know. Well, the sidewalks, they're no longer able to people aren't able to use them. So now we're pushing people off the sidewalk. So it's been that way for a long time. I know. And it's not ideal because we have students walking by and now they're having to it is an eyesore. Any other question or go ahead. Yeah. How optimistic are you on the rest of the timeline? Did you read that? Mhm.

We're trying to shoot for all that. So, I don't know. We're I'm optimistic in the lecture part, but I'm getting hearing updates from them because I'm involved in the whole thing, but it seems like the people are making progress on that portion. Okay. As you said in there, I think he said something about hopefully we'll be able to finalize some of those agreements in the next 60 days.

And I just want to say the reason about this sign for me is that this is such a beautiful project. It's just really exciting to get behind it. And I understand there's been several things that have stalled it out. But I think when you come to a place where that makes sense, I would love to see something showing so that other people can see how beautiful it is and that it's a project worth continuing to do.

And that was my reason of just having something up there. Yeah. So people can see and they can be just as excited as I am. It'd be kind of um I don't know, different on our part, I guess, to to put a sign up there and then have the whole thing fall through, you know, but and I don't want that to happen and and I don't want to get promises that we, you know, we still have investors to to shore up within the agreements. There's things for us to do still and we have been working pretty hard at it. So, Mhm. First part was we had to get the project in line budget wise. Mhm. That took quite a while.

I guess I'd have one more just clarification question for myself. Since the last time uh Mr. uh Kininger came in and um read through and then now with you, are there any distinctive changes in there or is it just about the same level as it was before moving forward with the investment? Quality

well of of has anything changed in that time frame between then and now that is noticeable or notable might help? Um, we've changed our heating and air conditioning system. We've taken snow melt out of the u the project around around that. Um, and value engineering ideas. The the u the heating and air conditioning equipment came from Europe and with the tariffs going on it was like three times the price. So, we went back and went back to the wall bangers that you get in in normal hotels now. Um, but there's really not too much um that would would change the quality. It's all going to look the same. The original the the hotel part of it still all brick on the exterior. Um, and the the the apartment building is um has the um the siding on it pre the pre pre-stained siding. Um we still we still think it looks fabulous.

It does. Okay. Um I mean I think it's there's a ton of potential here. The city's excited to get it done. It seems like you are. Um what in the contract language? And maybe Mr. Swanson can answer this, but are we almost out of extensions? I'm not sure where it's at. One more. I think during the last uh not the last presentation presentation before I think it was uh May of this year the team came before us and asked for the first of two extensions at that time.

So currently the uh shall we say the due date would be January of 2027. Okay. And then there will there's the possibility one further 12-month extension beyond that. Okay. Is that is that your recollection as well, Mr. I think so. Yeah. Okay. Well, yeah. I mean, it's my hope that this gets done. Nobody else is lined up to want to. Everybody seems a little frustrated with the whole process right now, including you, as are we, but I don't see people. We were all ready to go and co hit. I mean, ready, completely ready to do do it. And then we had this big price increases on everything. Economy's gone to heck, you know. Yeah.

It's hard work to get it right back in line. Every single project that you're seeing, my guess is, is well over budget. Well over, excuse me, cost from before. Everything's gone up. Mhm. I'm seeing every project completed. Every single aspect of every single project, there's nothing that's gone down. Okay. Well, I'm hopeful about it. We don't have a line of people waiting to try to develop there, and it's a window to downtown. So, not spending $3 million so far on it ourselves and u not wanting to do this for me. So, okay. Any other question or comment?

Do we have anything to vote on or we're just hearing? No, we're just getting an update. So, thank you very much. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. I do need you to come back. Convenience. Yeah. Move to reconvene the council meeting. Second. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Great. Other matters. Um, anybody for other matters? Go ahead. Councelor Mueller one.

Yeah, I would like to bring up so um I recently had a constituent who had an incident on the Link River Trail and it took over an hour for medics to get to him because they couldn't get a key to the gate. This is a really critical situation when we're thinking of people walking in Moore Park. You know, I know that the gates are closed to vehicles, but there's a lot of people that walk and run early in the morning, and there is a chance of accidents happening. So, I just wanted to open the opportunity to coordinate with the police department, the fire department, and the parks department, and whomever else is appropriate, um, to not only get keys to properties that the city is affiliated with or has access to, um, just to prevent any sort of accidents happening like that in the future. It was an elderly man and he fell on the trails. otherwise very healthy and this was just a very isolated incident and it could have been a lot worse than it was and it took over an hour for for the fire department to get to him because they couldn't get access to the trail and I know not all of our trails have the vehicular weight holding of for for cars or for paramedics but we need to make sure that they have the keys to be able to access if there is an incident. So, I just wanted to put that on our radar for the police department, for our parks department. Um, and I'd really like to urge to get that done like as soon as possible because you just never know when something's going to come up. And you know, I mean, I used to run in more park every morning at 5:00 a.m. It's dark, it's locked up, and there's an opportunity for something really bad to happen if people can't get to. So, um, I just wanted to bring that up and urge that we get that done like ASAP. So, I wanted to coordinate with the chief and parks department. So, and the fire department, but I don't know who that would be with. So, maybe you can help me, chief.

Very good. Anybody else? I'd like to wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving and um appreciate all of your efforts for city and staff um that you're doing for our community. So with that I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. Move to adjurnn. Sorry. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Meeting is adjourned.