City Council - Regular Meeting

tiny forest area out along the Riverside Greenway, which you may have heard about, and I look forward to inviting all of you to the first planting sometime in the fall. So, in 2025, the city's urban forestry division received two large grants. The first is our Island Avenue Greenway Project. This project began last year with fill grading and mulching to extend the line of trees along Island Avenue all the way out to the city boundary. Uh we'll be completing this project in the fall with the addition of over 100 new trees which will be a mix of drought tolerant and native species. The second grant which I'm going to spend a little bit more time on is our community forestry for all grant from the Oregon Department of Forestry. This grant is funding increased outreach and engagement, increased tree planting and establishment and increased tree maintenance in three lower canopy and lower socioeconomic neighborhoods over the next three years. It's also funding our new urban forestry outreach coordinator who is spearheading these efforts. That was the position I was originally hired in in September before I transitioned to the urban forester position. And now we have a wonderful new staff member, Megan Oor, who started in February and has taken over now. And you'll probably be hearing a lot about these efforts um if you live in one of these neighborhoods over the next three years because we are really trying to take a neighborhood by neighborhood approach uh in acknowledging that different areas have different tree needs um different tree desires, different histories and perspectives. So, because I think council might be interested, I'm going to give you a brief re recap of some of the results from our neighborhood tree service bay that I sent out to our first target neighborhood. Uh, I sent this out last December and that was to the Greenwood neighborhood, the boundaries of which

were defined by the grant parameters and follow the two census blocks you see marked with a star on the screen. So, we had 47 responses to the survey from residents. Um, which is not as many as the splash pad got, but um that's okay. Uh uh so it's been a really really valuable jumping off point for more community discussions and our planning purposes. The first question was pretty simple. Do you think your neighborhood needs more trees? Um the majority of folks said yes, 64%. uh and we had them elaborate uh a little bit with our next question. So why or why not? Uh we saw a lot of variation but also a few trends like residents liking shade and beauty but not appreciating when trees are not maintained by their neighbors especially or when leaves blow into yards uh or damage after storms. The Greenwood neighborhood had a micro burst several years ago and that's been brought up in conversations a few times with residents. We then asked what people like most about the trees in the neighborhood and by far uh folks like the shade and cooling, lower energy bills, followed by beauty, wildlife habitat, reducing noise pollution, improving air quality. We also asked what challenges people might have noticed. uh most said risk either actual observed or perceived risk from things like falling branches uh followed by affordability of tree care. So as I said these responses have been a really great jumping off point for further discussion and we're active actively working to address these tree related challenges while continuing to enhance the benefits of trees and what people do like uh through the grant-f funed work. Uh that includes doing more classes throughout the year on topics that survey respondents said they would

like to learn more about like tree selection, tree care and maintenance and fruit trees. Uh I hope you're able to join us for some of those classes and our hope that this initial grant work is just the start of a long-term relationship and growing an ethic of tree care within the neighborhood. There's a lot more to say about all of this and I'm happy to chat more about the grant work or the survey if anyone would like to talk more. But back to overall in 2025. Um, by the numbers, our urban forestry division continues to meet our goal of planting at least 100 new trees every year. Uh, with about 50 trees on average removed every year. This keeps us at a good replacement ratio of 2:1. Tracking of the trees is done through our inventory, which are the colorful dots on the map you see. Uh at the end of 2025, we had records of 5,290 public trees in the city. We know there's more. There's probably about 5,500 public trees. So again, not private trees in your backyard. Um, and just to put that in perspective, so we have uh uh although we did add one more full-time position in 2025 with the grant funding, we only have two full-time staff, one seasonal um and then probably about 5,500 trees. Uh so, as I like to say, the trees outnumber us. That's why it's a community effort and shared stewardship. The predominant tree species amongst our city trees are maples. Uh so we continue to work on increasing our species diversity. Uh before she left Theresa and I did work on updating the city's list of recommended and prohibited tree species. Uh that updated list can be found on our website and it has a really wide variety of good selections for Lrand. Our survey of city trees 3 years after they're planted to see how their establishment is going and their

survivability is doing um was really really good for the trees planted in 2022. So we found that 75% of those were in excellent condition followed by fair or good. Um and only 2% had died in in 2025 uh not including regular contractor power line maintenance performed by OTC and commercial tree services pruned 487 trees. And of course, trees are a vital part of what makes our community great, and part of the job is to build awareness about them. Teresa made sure to always have a lot of opportunities for folks to interact uh with trees of all ages uh through both volunteers opportunities and events. So, in total, volunteers contributed 194 hours of work to urban forestry last year. Teresa responded to 338 requests for information or questions from the community about trees. Although, as I noticed when I was driving around with her, sometimes people would just flag us down in the parks and wreck vehicle to ask questions. So, I'm sure there were some that she missed. Um, and she conducted these and more community outreach events uh throughout 2025. So, this just really emphasizes that we really couldn't do this work without the help of our volunteers and the participation of our community. 2026, our goals remain similar. uh essentially to continue the good work and tradition of good urban forestry that the city has maintained over the past 36 years while continuing to increase the diversity of both species and also ages of trees in our canopy. use our additional staff capacity through the grant to host more volunteer and educational events to empower residents to become tree stewards, especially in the Greenwood area this year, and to support residents and our commercial tree services in their collective efforts to maintain our trees and share the responsibility for our city trees.

And finally, the fun stuff, these spring events you've all been waiting for. So, next Tuesday uh will be our April branching out tree class. Um this was one of the ones requested through the survey. Uh it's called What's Wrong with My Tree? Uh we'll be welcoming Teresa back actually as a guest speaker to talk about diagnosing tree problems. That will be at the Anderson Perry Community Room at 5:30m. And then Saturday, April 25th will be our spring community tree planting day where we'll train volunteers uh how to plant trees and then divide them up all around the city to plant them. Uh the following Saturday, May 2nd, hopefully the biggest and most tremendous event of the year. All are welcome at the Arbor Day block party at Greenwood Elementary School Field. will have games and child care for kids on the field while parents can attend short tree workshops if they choose. Uh we'll have a lot of community partners tableabling on the field and we'll end the day by planting uh 13 new trees around the school. Uh thanks and that's thanks to a donation from Oregon Community Trees which is a nonprofit. Uh we're also hoping to have a sponsor for the lunch and be able to provide a picnic lunch to everyone who pre-registers. And of course, um, we have our regular Oregon Arbor Month and Arbor Day poster contest, which are the posters that you can see, um, well, you could see as you walked in up on the dis there. Um, those are from our wonderful fourth graders. So, all of the fourth graders participated, um, throughout the the three different elementary schools in our Arbor uh, day poster contest this year, the theme of which was tree people or triple power. Um, I went and talked to them about all the different kinds of careers and people who work with and take care of trees. So, thank you very much for your time.

Um, and if it's okay, I have the Tree City USA flag if we can get a photo with the council. You know the drill. I do. Yeah. I thought you thought you knew the drill. So you were going to go. You're going to go too. I should have told every

year. I'm encouraging you

get on up there. That's it. Just rearrange the council chair. Sorry. That's good. Trees. Treeful. Tremendous. Thank you. I think that deserves a clap. Good job, Anna.

Yes. Good evening.

Thank you.

All right, we'll move into public hearings. Uh, at this time I will open the public hearing and ask the city recorder to read the rules of order in its entirety. These rules of order are applicable to the public hearing for a proposed ordinance amending chapter 32 articles 1 and four of the code of ordinances for the city of Lrant. This is a legislative hearing. Therefore, counselor exparte or prehering contact does not apply. The hearing will proceed as follows. The mayor will open the public hearing and request the staff report. The mayor will then accept public testimony relating to the matter. There is a three-minute time limit for testimony. The order of testimony this evening will begin with that of proponents, those in favor, followed by opponents, those opposed, and ending with those neutral to the ordinance being adopted. The proceedings are being electronically recorded to be converted to written minutes. When testifying, please step to the podium and clearly print your name and address on the speaker sign-in sheet. Please state only your name before addressing the council. Members of the city council may ask questions of the staff at any time and subsequent to deliberation, the mayor will close the hearing. Back to you.

Thank you. And actually, I did skip a little bit, so I'm going to go back just for a quick sec. Uh, this first one's going to be a public hearing and first reading by title only. uh proposed ordinances amending Lrand City Code Charter or chapter 32. And with that, could I please get a staff report?

Yes, mayor and council. Uh staff coordinated with legal thes reviewed and updated the city's right of way and utility code to modernize outdated provisions, improve consistency, and align with current operational and legal needs. The proposed ordinance, chapter 32, article 1 and 4, establishes clearer standards for utility licensing, construction, and maintenance in the public rideway while improving coordination, safety, and permitting clarity. It also confirms the city's authority to require permits, collect fees, and enforce compliance. All the updates strengthen transparency, consistency, and accountability, supporting better infrastructure management and equitable treatment of utility providers. It's my recommendation that we proceed uh forward today with first reading by title only.

Thank you, John. Uh at this time, I would like to invite public testimony. Uh in favor,

uh thank you, Mayor and Council. Uh Steve Vincent with a Vista Utilities. The address here in uh Union County is 102 01 South F Street, Island City. Um my purpose in addressing you is just to say that we're as a utility are in support of the changes to the rightway ordinance. Um worked pretty close with Robert Stro when it was first drafted. OTC and myself spent many hours upstairs in the conference room just kind of working through what the language is that you see in the the original ordinance and you know how that it's best for you and best for the utilities. I I especially want to just acknowledge um and thank your city manager and staff for agreeing to recognize the franchise agreement that your council adopted in early 2023. Um to allow that franchise agreement to continue um and uh the change in the definitions under existing franchise agreement is how how that's achieved. Just try and be brief. Uh franchise agreements are pretty important to the large utilities. Uh when we borrow money, those lenders expect that we have long-term permission to operate. So if if you imagine Safeway building a new store on leased ground, if it was a month-to-month lease, no lender is going to probably give them, you know, the loan. And the same goes for uh utilities. when we borrow money, uh, it's no longer in our corporate bonds, but I think as recent as probably 30 or 40 years ago, the covenants in the bonds themselves, the bond holders actually called out franchise agreements of other types of long-term agreements. And the challenge with a rightaway ordinance is that a council could make changes to the terms and conditions every other council meeting, right? And

in a franchise agreement, at least there's a 10-year term contract. In Washington, most franchise agreements are 25 years. Clickac County recently adopted a 50-year franchise for a Vista. That was their template, not mine. So, I didn't really argue with them over it. Uh, and in Oregon, statute allows for 20-year franchise agreements, but over the last hundred years, most of them have been 10 and 20 years. The smaller cities tend to be 20 like a Somerville or North Powder and even commonly 20-year franchise agreements. But my point is is that it's um it's that long-term ability to invest the capital in a community and know that we have a longer term permission than what a right-of-way ordinance really represents. Um, other than that, you know, recommend your approval of the changes to the ordinance and happy to entertain any specific questions you might have.

Thank you. Thank you for your time. Thank you.

Any more public comments? Council or discussion? It all seems pretty reasonable. Yeah. When I was reading, I didn't see anything particularly that stood out to me. Me either.

Any more discussion? At this time, could the city recorder read the proposed ordinance for the first time by title only? An ordinance of the city council of the city of Lran, Union County, Oregon, amending chapter 32, article 4, utilities, referred to as the utility licensing ordinance, and chapter 32, article 1, section 32-3, excavations, tree maintenance, obstructions, and encroachments of the code ordinances, city of Lrand, and declaring an effective date.

Thank you. At this time, the public hearing is to continue to May 6, 2026, at which time the proposed ordinance is scheduled to be read a second time by title only and considered for adoption. Uh, our next public hearing and second reading by title only for proposed ordinance amending the land development code. So, with this one, uh, we're going off the last the rules of order have already been read and we're just continue on from the March 4th meeting of 2026. Correct.

That's correct. And with that, can we have a staff report, please?

Yeah. Thank you, mayor and council. So, these are land use code amendments. Um, many of them are addressing state law issues. Um uh they're most of them that we found are optional for us. Uh but uh they are intended to make the land use process a little more uh I guess convenient and expedited for applicants. I do have two uh applicants that are waiting for these code amendments and have held off on submitting their application because the amendments are more favorable to them. Um I don't have anything to add. If you have any questions, I did my presentation last month, but if you have any questions and want me to go over anything, I'd be happy to do that. Uh, but otherwise, uh, haven't had any, uh, public questions or, uh, there's no conflicts or any issues that have been presented, uh, throughout the process.

I have a question. I I don't have a problem with with the land development code or anything like that. Um, and I wasn't here last month, but I was just wondering if it came from Oregon, um, from the state. Um, I know this sounds weird, but I just thought it popped out in my mind that they took family out of it. Now it's just instead of a family, instead of single family unit, now it's a single unit. Instead of a multif family, it's a a multi-unit. I What was the purpose of that? I just, if you can explain that to me, I just thought that was household versus family.

Yeah, it's just it's just a change in the demographics of who's living in a house. So now you're having uh people it's much more common with the cost of housing that folks are sharing houses and so it's no longer just a family. Now you have um you have people that yeah colleagues that work together share. You've got college students that share and and anyway it's just kind of a statewide trend that they are now calling it a household instead of you know lumping all of these folks that are sharing housing together. Instead of calling them a family they're just calling it a household. So, it's not really intended to demean family and change. I don't know. I just thought it just stuck out to me and I just thought, well, I was just curious and wondering why and I knew you could answer it.

Yeah, it's it's going to be an interesting change because family is just one of those things that we're programmed. We everybody knows what it is, but now it's going to be single household and so it'll it'll take some time to catch on. But anyway, okay. Any more questions for Mike? I didn't see I didn't see anything that I agreed with everything you said last time. So, thank you, Mike. Good. Thank you. At this time, we would like to invite public testimony in favor, neutral, or opposition.

Councelor discussion. I did forget to ask one question. Um my so will there be I mean okay so I was reading over this like I wasn't here last month and I should have went over and I over the tape the video and I did not. So can people still have um on their private property somebody could stay in their RV for a short period of time. Is that still acceptable or not? Yes. Yeah. So we yeah we allow up to a 30-day guest. 30-day. Okay. That's what I was thinking but I just wanted to clarify. Yeah. Super. Thank you very much. You're welcome. Any more discussion?

Okay. At this time, I would like to close the hearing and entertain a motion. I move that the proposed ordinance amending the land development code be read for the second time by title only to a vote and adopt. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any more discussion? Could the city recorder read the proposed ordinance for the second time by title only?

An ordinance of the city council of the city of Lrand, Union County, Oregon, amending subpart B of the code of ordinances, city of Lrand, Oregon, regarding amendments to the land development code that are required for maintaining conformance with Oregon state land use laws, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, and declaring an effective date. All in favor? I. Anybody opposed?

Thank you. All right. We do not have any unfinish unfinished business. We are going to move into new business. And the first one is considering a resolution establishing lean on real property. Could we please have a staff report, Mike?

Yeah, thank you. So, this is a uh chronic nuisance property that has existed for many years. Um, but this incident related to this resolution started a couple years ago. There was a law enforcement incident at the property that uh I guess triggered some interest in doing a uh an inspection of the interior of the property that was done by uh I believe the building official, fire chief, and maybe even the state fire marshal. Um but anyway, they have identified a number of uh uh life safety issues in the building that uh made the building not safe to be in. And uh so what's before you is abatement process that we went through notifying the property owner to correct the uh the challenges or the problems themselves which they didn't. So the city went in and took care of that for them. Uh so we seized the property, abated the uh the issues that were at least most significant and has since given the house back to the the property owners. Um and this is a lean for a little over $18,000 that uh would go into the deed records and uh hopefully we'll collect it at some point in the future when uh that property changes hands. Do

you have any questions? on this real quick. I know we the city's gone in there more than once to clean the property up. We've been in there several times. Yeah, there's several leans on the property right now. That's that was my question. When is the end of going and taking care of someone's property and then just putting leans against it? When does the city or rights of the citizens to have to pay for someone else's property? When do we say enough is enough? Yeah. So, that'll be a conversation. John and I are going to have after this process, after this lean gets uh put in place. You may recall a couple years, I think it was a couple years ago, the council passed a foreclosure ordinance

and it does not have a minimum threshold, but uh at least in talking with the city attorney. Um while we did not put a minimum threshold for triggering uh uh foreclosure process, there is a reasonleness level that we at least have to justify uh before you go and take somebody's property from them um and force a sale or uh do that foreclosure. And so I think we've reached that level, at least my opinion is that we've reached that level. And so we're going to be having a conversation with the city attorney to see if there's enough leans on the property to start that process. Uh it is a lengthy process. It requires a one-year notice to the property owner to essentially pay their leans off um in order to keep their house. Otherwise, the city then would foreclose on it, seize ownership of the property or control of the property, force its sale. Uh and uh and then hopefully we'll we'll see a permanent solution at that point. But

is this an out ofstate uh property owner? It is not. It is not. No, the property owners actually live on the property. Yeah. Okay. So, the 18 plus is basically for the electrical that was done. What is the total of all the leans? Do we have a total? I don't know what the total is because I haven't completed that research, but I think we're somewhere close to 30,000.

So, I know we have some other uh we have some court fines that have been put on there for leans. We also have some other abatement that's been put on there. So, I think we're close to 30,000 in leans right now. Before the lean went on, did you offer that they could pay off some of it like monthly payments or anything or does it just go immediately to the lean?

We've we don't offer that, but uh the prop it's I guess it's up to the property owner to reach out and ask for something and in this case the property owner didn't reach out at all and so so we just go straight to the lean process rather than uh I guess offering other alternatives. if a property owner actually made an effort to communicate with us, um I think we probably would be agreeable to to try something. But in this case, the property owner u didn't reach out to us and does not appear to have interest. And do they ever lean? Did they ever reach out to you on other leans? No. Okay. I didn't think so.

No. When when we began this most recent round, Jason and I went out and spent some time notifying the neighbors um of what was going on so they'd be aware. Um several of them, at least speaking for myself, I can't speak for Jason, um indicated a high interest in us hurrying up and getting them out of there. Um we explained to them that there's a process and this is going to take some time. We're not our goal isn't to get rid of them per se as it is so much to just deal with the nuisance. um the their list of nuisance is much longer than our own. So, correct. How is the property owner notified of these proceedings? So, these ones uh I mean we send notice out to the property so they actually receive mail

like mail. Yeah. So, we send that you have to sign for it or

um I think we do send stuff certified but we also send a copy by standard mail. Um, so the property owner has every opportunity to receive it through a mail process. Um, as we've gone through the abatement process, the law enforcement folks have a rapport with these folks and and uh have communicated with them on, you know, on the process. Maybe not quite to the level that that we would if they were to contact us, but um but they are well aware of the process and and uh were eager to get back in the house after we did the cleanup. and and so uh um you know so the property owner is not I guess left in the dark. They're not unaware. They're definitely aware of of the status of you know I guess the city's efforts and where we're at.

It seems to me I mean I I had in my mind much more than $30,000

to initiate a foreclosure. I mean, you know, average home sale here, even the sale of a a small property lot is far in excess of that. And so, um, I I'd be curious on the attorney's feedback on that meeting an appropriate threshold. I mean, I guess I would I would expect that that number would rise much closer to the value of the property itself before we would act on foreclosing and seizing property. I just I don't like to see the city engage in that. Um, you know, I realize that at some point the city needs to get money back that has been spent um in in doing things and and and that, you know, that's also important to maintain other aspects of the city's health. But

yeah, I think part of the conversation here is that it's a chronic nuisance property and the house really is not habitable even though we solved the the life safety issues. It has no water. It has no sewer, you know, has no heat, you know, and so there's there's a number of issues that uh you know, make this property different than other properties. So it's not it's not that,

you know, it's it's not warranted. I think it's it's warranted that we do something. And this is so so we we passed the foreclosure ordinance a number of years ago u with this property in mind as one of our uh um properties that we would likely use it on. But uh but that is an interesting question is is what is a reasonable threshold and so then we'll have to make that decision. Uh you know and I don't know how many people how many people occupy that house? Uh well, at the time that we did the I guess the eviction notice for this abatement, there was three. I don't know how many others come and go, but there was at least three living in the house. Cuz isn't this kind of like the same as that mustard house was? Yes.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Any more questions? And we did close that one totally. Well, that one had a fire, so that was a little bit That was a little bit different, but but yes, it own self. That's what we're trying to prevent. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Mike. At this time, we would like to invite public comment.

Counselor discussion. I think the only thing I would say is I don't think it's about the money and be why we would go. I think it's the safety of the citizens around it, the nuisance that is ongoing that we have to go in there and clean this out this this property up and that's a cost to the citizens. So I think there is something with that that we need to act against it to fix the issue to recoup right the money that the citizens have effectively paid. It's unsafe for the people who live there or not store. Yeah. I mean, especially without water and sewage. Oh my gosh. Not a nice situation.

Yeah. I just, you know, I I want to be very careful with how the city exercises that kind of authority. And that's that's what I'm hearing is that this is not necessarily about recouping money. There's other issues involved. Correct. I I can appreciate that, but I I'm I'm always going to I think probe a little bit before before the city exercises that option. So, and you know, we we we trust the actions of the, you know, the individuals that are overseeing that. But I think it's just good to ask those questions. Definitely.

If there's no more discussion, a motion. I move that the proposed resolution establishing a lean for failure to pay the cost of evading the building code violations and property located at 1325T Avenue be read by title only put to a vote and passed. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any more discussion? Uh before I do that, uh could the city recorder read the proposed resolution by title only? The resolution of the city council of the city of Lrand, Union County, Oregon, establishing a lean on real property for failure to abate a dangerous building and nuisances. All in favor? I

I. Anybody opposed? Nope. Thank you.

All right. Our next one will be considering a resolution to continue the building inspection reserve fund. Can we have a staff report, Heather? Good evening, Mayor and Council. Um, so I'll call you sound like a broken record because there are four of them um that we're required to do this by OS 294346. Every 10 years we're required to review them, state our purpose for the funds that we put in there and have the council pass it. So the first one we have tonight is our building reserve fund or building inspection reserve fund. Um, in there we put money away each year. Basically, they use it to purchase vehicles to go out and do inspections. So, um, we're saving up so we don't have that one big huge expense um, and have to face it. So, it's more of these are more of like a savings account for big capital projects or capital purchases. So, that's the first one, the building inspection reserve.

Any questions for staff? Where's the money come from going into it? It comes from the building inspection fund. the fees. Yep. And this one stands at about 96,000 right now, the balance in it. All right. Uh if there is no more com or questions for staff at this time, we would like to invite public comments on this councelor discussion. I think it's a wise way to manage money is to chip away at it to put it away a little bit at a time until that need is

sounds like these are largely procedural. We're just you know once a decade we're we need to go and actually this is the first time of reviewing it 10 years ago is when it was they were put in place. I agree. Uh motion. I move that proposed resolution establishing the need for the continuation of the building inspection reserve fund be read by title only put to a vote and passed as presented. Second.

Any more discussion? At this time, could the city recorder read the proposed resolution by title only? A resolution of the city council of the city of Lrand, Union County, Oregon, establishing the need for the continuation of a building inspection reserve fund for the construction, reconstruction, and the furnishing of municipal buildings and the purchase and repairs of equipment related to building inspection. All in favor? I. All right. Our next one is considering resolution to continue the sewer reserve fund. that staff report.

Again, this is a reserve fund for the sewer. Um, this is a fairly large balanced fund. It's 5.9 million is what they have in there. Of course, this is for our big large projects for our water sewer treatment and our collection systems that we put away. So, um, very important that we have this money obviously to move our sewer along. Any questions on this one? I am a little bit curious when we retain those funds, where are they located? Are they in a savings account of some type? Does the city keep them in investment accounts? You know what? I would assume that that's not just sitting in the bank.

We keep all of our funds within the state pool where we do receive interestments off of it. Yes. Any more questions for staff? At this time, we'll invite public comments. Councelor discussion motion. I move that the proposed resolution establishing the need for the continuation of a sewer reserve fund be read by title only put to a vote and passed as presented. Second. A motion and a second. Any more discussion? At this time, could the city recorder read the proposed resolution by title only?

A resolution of the city council of the city of Lrand, Union County, Oregon, establishing the need for the continuation of a sewer reserve fund for the construction, reconstruction, and the furnishing of municipal buildings, the acquisition, construction, reconstruction of infrastructure, and the purchase and repairs of equipment related to the sewer fund. All in favor? I. Anybody opposed? All right. And our next one is considering resolution to continue the storm utility reserve fund. And with that staff report, please.

So this is um for the storm utility reserve fund. These fund fee or funds come from the storm utility fee that's on the UC on the water sewer bills. Um so they make that transfer over to save money each year. And this um fund is currently out of balance about 889,000. And what will those monies be saved for? for large sewer storm utility like um when putting in sidewalks the storm use of storm drains those big projects like that.

I do have a little question here Heather and and I guess this again applies to all these but my recollection is you know we had tried to gauge what certain capital improvement projects would cost and how rapidly they would deteriorate and need replacement. um how often do we go back and reassess that and ensure that we're still putting appropriate amounts of money aside so that we can cover those those future costs just recognizing that things inflate. Um

absolutely no Kyle's really good about um planning for those especially like in the water reserve fund. I know they're looking into a new well um so he's been putting money in the reserve fund to cover those. So, um I think he does a very nice job going and I don't know the specific projects he has in mind and I know he does and they will be spelled out. I do know actually some of them are spelled out within the budget document that Yeah, I mean I remember seeing these every time we review the budget on an annual basis. What I what I don't recollect is whether those dollar amounts are the same from year to year. So, it sounds like they're probably not if

No, we're increasing and putting money in. Um, in fact, I think he did change up the amounts we're transferring this year or we're planning to uh budget to transfer based on fluctuations. Thank you. Any more questions for staff? At this time, we would like to invite public comments. Councelor discussion. Motion. I move that the proposed resolution establishing the need for the continuation of a storm utility reserve fund be read by title only put to a vote and passed as presented. Second. Have a motion to second. Any more discussion?

At this time, could the city recorder read the proposed resolution by title only? A resolution of the city council of the city of Lrand, Union County, Oregon, establishing the need for the continuation of a storm utility reserve fund for the construction, reconstruction, and the furnishing of mun municipal buildings, the acquisition, construction, reconstruction of infrastructure and the purchase and repairs of equipment related to the storm utility fund. All in favor? I. I. Anybody oppose? Nope. Perfect. All right, our last one for Heather. We'll be considering a resolution to continue the water reserve fund.

So, last one, water reserve. Um, this one is a a fairly large one. 7.3 million is about what the balance is at now. Of course, as we all know, it's it costs to keep up our our water system. So, we are, as I had mentioned, the well um looking at doing that. So, that's money that we're setting aside for those big projects like that. Mhm. And the well is possibly one of them. Yeah, he's been talking about the well for a while. Any more questions for staff? At this time, I would like to invite public comments. Counselor discussion.

Motion. I move the proposed resolution establishing the need for the continuation of the water reserve fund be read by title only put to a vote and pass as presented. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any more discussion? At this time, could the city recorder read the proposed resolution by title only? A resolution of the city council of the city of L Grand Union County, Oregon, establishing the need for the continuation of a water reserve fund for the construction, reconstruction, and the furnishing of municipal buildings, the acquisition, construction, reconstruction of infrastructure, and the purchase and repair of equipment related to the water fund. All in favor? I

I. Anybody opposed? Nope. All right, we're going to move on and I will be the next one. Our first one is going to be considering adopt or appointing citizens to the air quality commission and parking traffic safety and street maintenance advisory committee. Uh the first one is a vacancy in our air quality commission. Looks like this one is going to be a three-year term, I believe. Uh, with that, I move that

Javan Ireland be appointed to the Air Quality Commission for the remainder of a three-year term, which will expire December 31st, 2028. I need a second. Oh, second. Sorry. Thank you. Any discussion? All in favor? I. All right. Our next one is for the parking and traffic safety street maintenance advisory commission. With this one, we actually have one vacancy, but we have two position or one vacancy with two people that are applying.

Uh with the rule, we no longer can vote outside the meeting. So on this one I am going to read looks like we have Mr. Ireland uh has not served on the commission but he is seeking an appointment to the air quality and for the parking parking and traffic safety and street maintenance as well as Mr. Road has not previously served on this committee. Uh, so I think the best way to do it, it will just start at one end and you tell me who you would like to appoint and we'll go through and whoever gets the most votes, we move on.

Okay. Denise, would you like to go first? Yes, I go first. I like to vote for Shane Road. I do enjoy his comments and his um um thing that he wrote in the very back that he has some knowledge of that and that would be beneficial to the committee. Uh, I agree too. has a little bit of background in roads. Mr. Same for me. Same for me. Me, too. Mr. Roads. Um, Ireland. Thank you.

I think we're very open and out in the public so that way we don't say we're doing it behind everybody. Uh, so on this one here, I moved that Shane Roodie be appointed to the parking, traffic safety, and street maintenance advisory committee for the remainder of a three-year term, which will expire on December 31st, 2028. I'll second. We have a motion to second. Any more discussion? All in favor? I I All right. Union County updates. Good evening, commissioner.

Good evening, mayor and counselors. Don't really have much to say. Uh budget season is upon us and we're working very hard on that. Uh but I do have one announcement. The uh Sunrise Rotary will be having their we will be having our Easter egg hunt. This our annual Easter egg hunt uh out at the fairgrounds. Uh it starts at 10:00. I would like or I'm sorry uh everyone should get there about 9:45 to get ready for the Easter egg hunt. Uh there was a lot of construction going on out there. I have no idea what's going on. Uh a whole bunch of Now they're tearing up the ground for something. I'll make a phone call and try to find out what's happening out there. It's not hitting as well as I thought it was going to, but I got it.

Yeah. Yeah. I appreciate it, guys. But really, that's it. That's all I have. You have any questions wise? Good to see everybody. Thank you. Thank you. Staff comments. Do we have any staff that would like to make any statements?

I actually do. I don't get up here very often. Um, but we're excited to announce two weeks ago, well actually when it went out with water bills this month, our new online bill pay system. Um, as you know, we upgraded our software and with that we also upgraded our online bill pay system. It's been a little painful for some customers, but I think once that transition um makes it, it's awesome. Um pay by text. There's so many more different options you can do now. Also, we were only able to do online payments for water and sewer bills, but now we're supposed to we can we're able to do it for our accounts receivable invoices we sent out. So, um really excited. Like I said, it's been a little painful in our office this week explaining and getting um people moved over to it, but we're excited. So, congratulations. Thank you.

Any other staff? Question. Thank you for being here. City manager comments.

I got a few things I'll share with you, mayor and council. Just a reminder to everybody. I sent out the u um current draft of the strategic plan that we're proposing for going into the next uh five to six years of um of attacking some of our fiscal transformation initiative efforts. Um so waiting for feedback from you guys on that if you guys could take a look at it and get it back to us. Um I'd like to be able to make sure that we can uh marry it up with uh when we approve the budget so that we can be actually start executing it going into the next year. assuming that everybody approves that. Um so then uh behind that I think everybody has seen from following from the last work session that we had we've started to get proactive in creating engagement opportunities with the community for education and discussion on the overall um prop potential likely addition of that to the November ballot um for community to vote on. Um, we've got several of you that have signed up for the first three sessions that we've scheduled. Um, I would encourage you if you aren't able to attend anything that we particularly um, schedule that if you communicate to us dates that you want to actually and you know you're available, then we'll work to make sure we're scheduling that at a time that works for you to be available to the public to talk about it if you'd like. Other than that, we'll just keep sharing with you. and Stacy's doing a good job of deconlicting and making sure we never get more than three of you on board at a time at any particular location. Um, unless you have any questions on that. The, uh, next city all hands is going to be on April 9th. If, uh, again, if you're able to attend, that'd be great. Um, no more than three will deconlict. Um, and then of course on the 22nd will be our next city town or community town hall as well. I'm planning on continuing to share with them some of the highlights of what we're working on and

developing. Um I'm not intending to get out ahead of anybody or ahead of the council in any way, but doing the best we can to make sure the community stays informed on everything that is we're doing and the different actions there. Um uh and in May we're going to have another uh a separate roundt from the streets and roads discussion um getting into the future of Lrand really trying to tap into what the younger people of the community think feel and or need and want for the future of Lrand. Some of the information that I'm getting from the community is suggesting that most of our youth um can't get out of here soon enough. Um, and so we're trying to figure out what would keep them here and make them want to help make Lrand what it needs to be in the future as well. So that's just the beginning of a conversation, but intended to help get them involved as well. Um, let's see. We're calling that the next generation edition. And then, uh, in June, we're planning on doing another version. We haven't set a date yet, but something in focused in on the budget, making sure that we're educating the community on, um, our budget realities. um so that they can all say with confidence they've at least had the chance to know. Um pending anything any questions you might have of me. That's all I have for an update. Right now, I'll I'll share the uh um what do you call it? Collective bargaining stuff when we go into executive session here later.

John, just want to commend you um on the efforts that you've made to communicate with with our community members. Um it's uh it's it's notable and I think it uh it's really helpful. Um uh you know heard a lot of positive feedback about that. So I appreciate I know that that means a lot of time that's a lot of effort uh on your end and um and yeah I just want to commend you for that. Thank you. Appreciate it. I've heard a lot of positive comments too. I get emails and I get texts from people that say that's really nice. It's nice to see him. It's nice that he's asking the community questions. Yeah.

And wanting their input. Thank you. All right. We will move on into city councelor comments. Anybody have a comment? I have some. Very well. Um on April 27th, the League of Women Voters is hosting an election integrity town hall. uh keynote speaker Tobias Reid, Secretary of State of Oregon, and an EOU Prof, uh Dustin Ellis. Um and it's going to be on the county elections process,

uh just educating the public on how it works. Um because the a lot of people don't quite understand that. It's at um Lrand High School auditorium and it's at 6 PM. Okay. And then Union County Safe Communities Coalition Update. Um we worked with um a public health class at EOU and had them do a survey for the safe communities um called a community readiness assessment. And the data from this study, we just got it back a couple weeks ago. and uh it's going to help uh the safe communities coalition identify strengths and gaps in intervention efforts and prevention efforts um and to help better focus the efforts. And I've looked at some of the study and I think it's going to be really helpful targeting um the coalition's efforts which is where we voted to put money towards. So um I think they have a um some good information to help them with their focus. Um and they've started with that um with uh visibility and public education working on social media and I think I've sent to you some of their Facebook posts and asked you to forward them on just basic um statistics and um educational pieces on substance abuse and misuse in Union County. Um and I think those are are uh good for our for our public. So that's where they started working and I think it's going well.

That's all I have. Right. Thank you, Miriam. Oh, I just wanted to give a quick re report on the Shamrock Shuffle that happened on was it March 14th? I think that rainy day. The rainy day. Yes. We had like 315 applicants to to be involved in the 5K and 10K. Most of them were 5K rather than 10K. Not everybody showed up because I could understand the weather was terrible and we were I was giving out some parts of it and I thought I'm glad we're inside the building because it was really yucky out there. But everybody seemed to have a great time and I do app want to thank John and his wife Laura to because they manned one of the the centers or one of the watering.

Yeah. Yeah. And I understand that some people got lost in the track somewhere. They made a wrong turn somewhere. I think it was the 10K. Yeah, they just decided then make up their own route because they didn't know where to go. And I don't know what I know that they had it marked, but I think with the rain it might have washed some of it away and they didn't know where to go. So, they just decided we'll go this way. It worked. Pictures look like they had fun though. Yeah, they did. They had a great time. Everybody who came in. I have one comment, too. Um, the senior center of community connections has changed their bingo day. You know, it's gonna be in trouble.

Well, they're working it out. Let's just do that way. That's your schedules.

I know. Especially bingo. But anyway, they used to do it on Tuesday nights, but now they're doing it at 1:00. You can start getting on Wednesdays. They're doing it every Wednesday because a lot of people don't want to drive at night. And that's kind of the reason why they kind of changed it. But then it counts a lot of people out who are working. But they're all working it out and they're going to see they might eventually go to both things so it could fit both kind of people. But they're they're doing it and it seems to be doing all right so far. But this will be the first month. This is the second time that they'll be doing it on Wednesday. So yeah, but it's Wednesdays at one o'clock. So go play bingo.

Don't they have a new director? Yes. Yes, they do. And I know him because I directed him so many times. Um Tony. Tony. Thank you. I love Tony. Tony is really good. He is very dedicated and he has a lot of energy and that's what that place needs. Don't you agree? And he's also a guy, which I'm not saying girls are not, but he does a lot of the heavy lifting and all the heavy stuff that needs to be done um very easily, which was harder for the other older ladies. So, it's been a blessing all all the way around. Yeah. Do you have anything? I do.

Um, so the Eastern Oregon University art students, the juniors, um, have their art exhibit opening this Friday at Art Center East as well as a ceramics show. Art Center East is a nonprofit open to the public. Galleries are always free to visit. Please come. There's usually a shakuderie board and wine and waters. So come and enjoy and see art. Oh, nice. Yeah.

Uh just just a a brief comment. You know, in my profession, I I interact on almost a daily basis with individuals who are I guess you could call them transplants to our community. You know, one people who didn't weren't born here, they've moved here. Many of them in their adult lives. And and I I find myself often asking people the question, you know, what brought you to this area? And um you know regularly I hear people say you know wherever they came from they're so glad they came to our community that this has been the fulfillment of some dream. Many of them in their retirement choose to come here uh when when they have a pick of where they they can live in a little more financial freedom and um that that's encouraging to me. Uh you know we do live in a beautiful community. We certainly have our problems. We face those every time we sit up here on this dis. But um it it it has caused me also to reflect on the amount of work that goes into keeping this community a livable lovable place to be. And um you know a lot of credit goes to uh our our directors um the staff that you oversee, the people who put in the work on a day-to-day basis to make make this community a nice place to live. So, I suppose that many of our citizens probably don't think too much about all the work that goes on in the background um to make it so that they can go to work and go to school and, you know, work in their yard and play in our parks and drive our streets and go to the library and the pool and everything else. But, um I I just I think it it merits just a a public reminder um that we're grateful for the work that our directors do. you know, Anna, Steu, Chiefs, Mike, we're missing Heather's back there. We're missing Kyle and Timothy, I think, but I'm sure I'm missing a few others. Stacy, Carrie, John, all all of you. You you you put in, you know, your your jobs, you come and make our community a livable place. And so, we see from a limited view, you know, from our seats, some of the work

that you do. I know there's a lot more of it that we don't have eyes on, but so um I just I think it's it's worth a a big, you know, um a nod of gratitude to each of you. So, thanks for making this a great place to live and raise our families. Good point. Any more comments?

I have one. I am going to do the city of Grand Proclamation Arbor Month which is April 1st through April 30th of 2026. Uh now therefore I Justin Brock, mayor of the city of Lrand, do hereby proclaim the month of April as Arbor Month in the city of Lrand, Oregon, and urge all citizens to support efforts to care for and maintain our city's awardwinning urban forestry. And with that, we are going to move into an exe executive session. We are going to not be coming out. Uh, but I do have a little spiel I got to read out real quick.

We're coming out though, are we? Well, we're not coming back out to a meeting. Maybe you might not. Keep that up.

The city of Lrand City Council will meet in executive session pursuit to RS192.660 2D. This executive session has been scheduled to conduct deliberations with persons designated by the governing body to carry on labor negotiations. Pursuit to OS192.660 for representatives of the news media shall not be allowed to attend this executive session related to labor negotiations. With that, I adjourn our meeting. So loud. Wait, why was it