City Council - Regular Meeting

Where did you go to get to the And then I'm like and then authentic. I used to be into it. Okay.

Good evening, citizens and staff. I'm Mayor Carol Westfall, hereby call to order this council meeting on Monday, December 15th, 2025, and the time is 7:02. Roll call, please. Council Zenberg, here. Council Angel, here. Council, here. Council Money 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. Okay. City of Clamoth Falls has a certificate um of service to award to Kirk Cypes for public works maintenance division for the completion of 15 years of service on December 28th, 2025. And we will make sure he gets that. And thank you.

Um, we are now going to do public comment. Am I the only one?

Just a moment. Let me just read this real quick. Um, public comment um is a time for citizens to present information to the city and if based on what is presented, additional information is needed and/or an answer warranted by the city. Citizens will be contacted by the appropriate city staff and/or future agenda item will be scheduled for further discussion. Public comment is not a time for set for questions or answers. If counselors have questions, they will be presented to staff or the speaker at another time. And re rear Ren, you're up. Cool. And you have three minutes.

I want to speak regarding Sorry, I want to speak regarding the issue of homelessness and specifically regarding the town hall that we had a couple of weeks ago. I've been wanting to speak on this for about a month now, but fortunately things just haven't lined up yet. Uh I was really frustrated with the outcome of the town hall. uh I felt that the focus of the different groups that presented uh was just kind of misguided because ultimately if you're a religious institution trying to help someone who is homeless, if you've gone and baptized somebody but you've not resolved the core issues in their life as to them not having gainful employment or rent that they can afford, you're not going to fix anything and that person's not going to have a stable place to live. That person's not going to have a decent standard of living. And really all that you are doing if you're a religious institution that cares about saving the soul of the person is you are evangelizing and making yourself feel better but you're not resolving the fundamental like reason that that person is suffering. Um I did want to say something that was positive and really reassuring which is that I have found out that I have a friend and somebody on city hall. uh we were going and having a protest and I was able to speak to somebody on city hall who gave me some money for my church's hot meal program and I was incredibly grateful about that. Um and really like I I am grateful about that. Um but I think that like our community when we are seeking to address homelessness we should not be looking at the individual moral failing of the person that is homeless. We should be looking at it as a services issue and we should be looking at people who are homeless, if they have substance abuse disorders, if they have mental health issues, as a person that we can invest in just like you would for somebody who is in public school. You know, we should look at it as somebody that you can invest in and help that person to be able to get to a stable position in their life. Um, as for the warming center, I'm incredibly grateful for

Thrive. Uh but as it is right now, it is not adequate to prevent people like suffering or becoming injured or even losing fingers or toes due to exposure. Uh we just had them open on December 1st. And I have a very close friend Ryan. I've worked with him at the church for honestly I think more than a year at this point. He's homeless. He's been struggling with that for a while. He helps and volunteers to serve people at our hot meal program. And you know, we've got these evenings in November where it's getting down to like 21°, 27°, 26°. And I talked to Ryan about it and Thrive's not open for another 3 weeks. So, I would like for the council to look at what we can do about seeing to it that during any night where it is below freezing that we know that homeless people have a place that they can go. Um, and sorry to be rambly, but I was very grateful to be contacted by the city and happy to know that you guys have public housing and affordable housing that you're investing in. I think that's a good direction to move in.

Thank you.

And thank you very much. And um, after seeing and hearing nobody else submitting a form, we will close public comment. Consent agenda 5.1. the approval of the consent agenda, meeting agenda, and prior meeting minutes from November 17, 2025 provided under separate cover and items 5.2. 5.2 is the authorization of the purchase of a 2025 Ford F250 standard cab service truck for the water division from Lithia Ford of Clamoth Falls in the not to exceed amount of $52,367.83. Move to approve the consent agenda.

Second. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Number six, 6.1 under general public hearing. 6.1 is liquor license application for WCO Foods located at 2985 Shastaway. Planning manager Joe Wall reviewing.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. I think we're all probably familiar with the WCO Foods under construction site at this point. I think they've put their signage up. uh but large approximately 80,000 square foot grosser located near the corner of Shasta and Avalon. Um in speaking to their licensing representative probably about two weeks ago, this was an aerial image probably come summertime. So progress has continued. They're looking at likely a early March opening. So starting to get everything in line with request of OLCC with what would be a limited off- premises liquor license as is typical of most grocery stores. Again, kind of beer, wine, cider, buy it at the store. Consume it wherever you do. Let's just say I don't know where I go half the time with my thought process. But with that limited off- premises license, um, as we always do, we have public hearings. We send out notice to neighbors. I was encouraged working with the WCO Foods team just over their construction project with what they've done with neighbors along Avalon Street there with some of the burm they're constructing doing fencing for some neighbors and other items as well. So with that I think happy to see another business open. There's a pad up front and I'll be curious to see what future business goes there up front of WCO too. But at this point liquor license recommendation to LCC for WCO foods. Any questions or comments? At this at this point, I'd like to open it up for a public hearing. Anybody wishing to speak on this agenda item can do so at this time. And since I see nobody, I will close that and I will entertain a motion.

Move to make a positive recommendation for a limited off- premise liquor license to the OLCC for WCO Foods located at 2985 Shastaway. Second. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? I thank you. Thanks. Adamantly. Number seven, legislative action. I've got both. Um 7.1, authorization of a geothermal utility rate increase to go into effect February 16th, 2026. And I have a report given by both uh Jada Bashetti and Robbie West. Go ahead. Hi, how are you guys?

Hi. Hi. Um, we're looking at our annual CPI increase to GEO. Uh, it's going to increase three cents a um you can see we're still uh pretty much way in the hold with our geo system. Um, so we just went with the standard CPI which is what we do with our water wastewater and our capacity and customer rates. question. Are all the pipes all current and everything now? No, just chat.

So, with this last project that we did this last summer, uh the downtown core area is all been replaced since I've started. So, in the last 19 years, that's coming from the heat exchange building down. Um, we do have a little bit of work probably uh in the Timbermill area just uh would be east of there. Uh, but we have some stuff in works. We're not sure exactly how we're going to do that, but there will be a little bit more work to be done. And that's why you can see the attached document shows kind of where we are with revenue versus expenses. And unfortunately, we do have some more stuff that we'll have to do. So, it would be nice to do this. And one thing to mention, if this does get approved, we will probably be coming back with another agenda item. Um, and Jada can talk on this more too, but GEO is the only one we have to kind of counsel to get approval to raise. We'd like to kind of put this on line with our other funds with water, wastewater where we can just raise it on the CPI um, and keep doing that. And obviously, you know, if you guys are okay with that, we'd like to present that at a future meeting, too.

Very good. Thank you, Robbie. Any other questions? Um, yeah, just quickly, what's the overall uh usage? How many people are on the go right now then? So that's roughly 15 to 15. Yeah, it it's 15 probably 15 to 18 customers are using the geo. But one thing I always like to point out, it's 15 18 customers that are using it that would be affected by this. But then we also have our snow melt that we charge for and you know that it goes to all the churches and it goes to quite a few downtown facilities that are not just businesses. Okay. So there's a lot of people that use the downtown snow melt and the downtown system, but as far as this rate about 18 customers. That's good for clarification. Thank you. Yeah.

And we have the capacity, new businesses to add on if they wanted to to increase that. Uh yeah, we we do have some capacity. It would really depend on what the business was and what they were doing. We did have a couple of folks this year that reached out that had interest in it. Uh I'm not sure if it'll go forward or not, but we do have some capacity, but it just it really depends on what the entity is and what they're going to use it for. If they're just using it for heat or production or anything like that. Okay. questions, comment.

I just want to say that I never like the idea of raising rates um especially when things are tough um overall, but I think we're really lucky to have the geo services that we do and where I work, we take advantage of it and I know a lot of people that utilize that um especially when it comes to the snow melt and so I I appreciate the fact that we can maintain it and keep this going. So sometimes we have to do that. So thank you. Mhm.

Any other questions or comments? I will entertain a motion. Move to authorize the city to increase the geothermal rate to $110 effective February 16th, 2026 with a 60-day written notification to utility customers. Second. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed?

Thank you. 7.2 The authorization of a construction service contract with Bob's Excavating Inc. for the S um for the South Sixth Street booster pump station project in the amount of 1,966,000 um plus a contingency of $393,200 and waste uh water manager Robbie West.

All right. Thank you, Mayor and Council. Uh, so if you guys recall, we came to you back in July of last year and got permission to do a consultant services contract with RH2 to design this. Um, we're through that point and we are ready to award bid. Um, just a quick recap, this station was built in the 50s. Uh, it has long outlived its useful life. We did spend a minimal amount of money two years ago to make sure this thing is going to last until the new one's built.

Um, it's a fairly large project. is going to give us um not just a station to replace what's there, but to grow into. We're going to have a couple empty slots for additional pumps if needed down the road. We'll have backup power. Um it's going to be a substantial amount of uh 16inch piping to get to and from the station, but again, that will help with future use as well. Um I think this station is something we definitely need and I'm hoping that you guys can see that too. And if you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them for you. Questions, comments? Robbie, can you specify exactly the location of the South Sixth Street booster pump? I'm trying to visualize it right now.

Sure. So, the current just the current station is in the front of the fairgrounds. Um, right that little brick building. Yeah. But because of some projects that the fairgrounds have, we actually looked at we purchased a piece of property. So, it's going to be the old Kowanas Park where they cut all the trees down. We actually purchased that back corner piece and that we will be there. So, that is one good thing too as before we were working with the county to be there. Now we'll all be on our own piece of land and we won't have to make any changes. So we can build the station how we want the size we want and move forward with that. And just for just for clarification, it wasn't Kuanas. It was another service club. It was okay. Yeah. Yeah. Just so people know that. Good to know. Yeah. Councelor Mueller White.

I have a conflict with one of the subs, so I'm going to step off the bench. Okay. Any other question or comment? At this point, I'll entertain a motion. I'll move to authorize the city manager to execute a construction services contract with Bob's Excavating, Inc. for the South Sixth Street booster pump station project and the not to exceed amount of $1,966,000 plus authorize an additional contingency allowance of $393,200. Second. All in favor say I. I.

Any opposed? Thank you. 7.3. The authorization of a construction service contract with Bob's Excavating Inc. for the South Sixth Street Waterline project in the amount of 1,618,735 plus a contingency allowance of 323,747 and Robbie West.

All right. Thanks again, Mayor and Council. Um so just to follow up this is actually the water line that we talked about. So the first um agenda report was for the building of the actual station and this will be for the suction and discharge lines that will feed that station. Um all the the same uh points from before apply the age of the station the need for it and the the upsizing of the pipe. And again if you guys have any questions I mean more than happy to answer those as well. Councelor um Mlen, um I could have asked this probably on the last item as well, but how many people does this serve? Um is

the the best way to put it is the way this station operates, this is the station that moves water to the east side of town. So essentially anyone east of um the fairgrounds and south of um like Crater Lake Parkway and uh foothills. So essentially if you drew a line from the fairgrounds like Washburn Way fairgrounds and up to Beverly, everyone to the east of that is served off this station. It's pushing water that area. Thank you. That's helpful. Just needed to map that. That's why I went Lake View and then South is that way. Yeah, it's a it's a pretty crucial crucial station for sure. Yeah. M councelor Mueller

like to put on the record I don't have a conflict with any of the subs on this particular portion of the job. Thank you. Very good. Just want to make sure I draw that clear line. Good for you. Any other question or comment. I will entertain a motion. I'll move to authorize the city manager to execute a construction services contract with Bob's Excavating Inc. for the South Sixth Street waterline project in the not to exceed amount of 1,618,735 plus authorize an additional contingency allowance of $323,747. Second. All in favor say I. Any opposed? Thank you. Thank you.

7.4. a resolution in support of modifying the Clamoth County um enterprise zone agreements to incorporate the statutory um required school support fee required for both city and county school districts and city manager Jonathan Tikkert reviewing.

Thank you, Mayor Council. Good evening. Um, so in 2023, the Oregon legislature passed OS285, which requires each school district to set a rate for school support fees. Um, this is in regards to enterprise zones. The city of Clamoth Falls and Clamoth County are the governing bodies of the Clamoth Clamoth economic or Clamoth enterprise zone and Cassita administers that. Uh the enterprise zone basically acts as an incentive to attract job growth and attract businesses by creating a property tax abatement.

Right. Um the school district both school districts have been approached uh with this with this idea of what to set that at. Uh the 15% is the minimum, 30% is the maximum that is required. Uh the schools districts have established that rate of 15%. Um the county has now passed a resolution in support of that set fee and so the resolution now comes before the council for approval. Um Al also here this evening, Larry Hillgang and Julie Matthews are here. Uh I believe there is a PowerPoint presentation that's part of your packet that kind of explains the school fee and what that is used for.

Happy to answer any questions and question or comment. Would we like to see the Yes. And it's there for you guys. Did you guys not see it already or do you want us to go through it? I'd like to hear what they have to say. Oh, no. I don't I didn't I didn't know if you want to go to Would you like to hear what they have to say? Come on up, Julie. Since you're here. Hey, good evening. So, Larry Hollesgang. I'm Larry Hollesgang. I'm the regional development officer with Business Oregon.

I'm Julie Matthews and we manage I'm with Cassita and we manage the enterprise zone here locally. So the whole program is actually a state program and it helps um incentivize it's actually the one incentive program we have that works really well. So um it's incentivizes traded sector businesses to expand and also for new businesses to come here if they do improvements. So it's a really good program and the House Bill 2009 was passed and it does require us to set this the school support fee. That's what we're here to do.

And there are varying levels of the enterprise zone. There's a standard enterprise zone that's three years. The school support fee does not apply to that. But there's an extended enterprise zone or long-term rural enterprise zone that are longer terms, five or even up to 15 years. The school fee does apply to those programs. Good. And the way it was written, um, I think the intention was to help local schools here to actually pay a school support fee to stay here, but the way it turned out is it doesn't stay locally. It actually goes to the state bucket and so it really doesn't really come back here. So

that was too bad in my opinion. Go ahead, Council Mun. So the did our local district set the 15% but then that just in lie of local property taxes goes back to the state. It's not a property tax. It's a it's a fee of 20 of 15% of the abated property taxes for the entity that would be paying it. So if a industrial customer gets a longer term like a fiveyear loan on years four and five, they would be paying 15% of the property taxes that are abated by that company.

I thought it was okay. Yeah, because the language says in it does say that.

Yeah, it's kind of in property tax, but it's not technically a property tax. Yeah, it's a fee that goes to the schools and school districts, if it happens, when it happens, would have to do the billing and collect it for the county and we'd have to work together on if if property XYZ or company XYZ is up, this is their fourth year, we would have to let as as the manager, we need to let the school districts know. And then the way it's written is the school district actually has to do the the onus is on them to invoice that company for that amount and then have them pay it. So there's going to be a little bit of coordinating that has to happen at that point.

Yes. Councelor Mueller went what kind of administrative burden does that put on our school districts? Because I feel like we're already there's a lot already put on them. So is that something that cita assists with or we're crossing our fingers and hoping too much? um you know between the assessor's office and Cassita they will prepare what is the amount that they have to bill but the school district will have to uh send a bill to the uh business and if for some reason it doesn't get paid then the school district is responsible for following up on that.

It shouldn't be too bad. I mean in the past that I've been here we've only had one or two that even would have even fallen into the category. So, and are they restricted funds or is it up to the discretion of the school district on how they spend the funds?

UN restricted in that regard. It's just you have to understand the school funding formula from the state. Um what happens is the school district collects property taxes and other revenue and then that goes into the funding formula that the state uses, right? And so if property tax goes up, say by $100,000 or they collect this fee and it's $100,000, the state reduces their contribution to the schools by the same amount.

So that's why she said that it actually goes to the state. The benefit does go to the state. Um but it's because the state is reducing how much state support will offer to that school district. So we need it to fill the gap. I think it was kind of unintended consequence that but we have it in as a as a pass bill that pass the legislature so we have to implement it and put it in place. It's imperfect due to no fault of anyone in this room. I would much prefer that the school just get that extra money because they need it so badly. But that's just unfortunate that it doesn't quite work out that way.

I think there were good intentions. It just didn't happen. I don't know. I don't sit in on the legislation. I didn't watch it either, honestly. But interesting. Thank you for that clarification. Yeah. I'm glad you guys were here. Any other question or comment? Does this incentivize businesses to come and and participate in this and existing you even existing businesses if they qualify and they expand or build or Yes. both existing businesses if they're expanding or new businesses if they're establishing a new facility in town. Okay. All righty. Good. And like you said, the standard three-year is

they don't have to pay this. So they always have that option. Okay. Any other question or comment? I will entertain a motion then. I move to introduce the resolution and read by title only. Second. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Um, city manager, please read the resolution by title. Thank you. A resolution in support of modifying the Clamoth County Econ enterprise zone agreements to incorporate the statutoily required school support fee. And I would move to approve the resolution.

Second. Roll call, please. Councelor Ster. Yes. Council Angel. Yes. Councelor Russo. Yes. Councelor Ml. Yes. Council me. Yes. Okay.

Okay. Thank you. Other matters. Anybody would like to speak on other matters. If not, I would like to just say um uh the train bell and not having it has been so lovely. Um, so I know that Chuck and Sally Wells did a bangup job and Mark, thank you so much. But now I am um I know most of the people in our area are sleeping soundly now without that train sound. So thank you. And if nothing else, merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Happy move. Move to a journ. Um, all in favor? No. Move to adjurnn. All in favor? I. Just kidding. You got the second. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Meeting is adjourned.