City Council - Regular Meeting

Okay, we're going to get started. Welcome everybody to the July 13th, 2026 city council meeting. We're really glad you're here. We have an overflowing crowd, which we're used to, but not in celebration as much as we are tonight. So we really appreciate you all being here. I would ask the city, let's see, what do we, Clerk.

I'm here. Councillor Ring is on Zoom, just so everybody knows. And now I'd ask City Councillor Tim McLaughlin to please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Please join me. Stand up and remove your hats, please.

It's been moved by Council Richardson and seconded by Council Randall to approve the agenda. Is there any discussion? All those in favor, please say aye.

Any opposed? Okay. Now we're getting to item 5A, which is why most all of you are here. It's my distinct pleasure to recognize the Dalles Junior Baseball Association Junior Hawks Championship teams. And I say teams because that's plural, because there's three of you. It's been part of my goal as mayor to recognize youth who have achieved a statewide recognition or achievement. And this certainly has happened here with families. Three teams at the 10 and under level, 12 and under level, and 14 and under level, all taking statewide championships and tournaments. And you guys deserve a lot of cre

Okay. Does anybody have any questions for Patrick? Okay. Thanks very much. Okay, what I'm going to do now is we're going to start, I'm going to read the names of the kids. And when I call your name, please stand up and be recognized. All you 10 and unders are here, right? I know there's some kids out in the hall. So is there kids out in the hall? Oh, there's not? Okay, well, good. We can do all three.

Yes, please remain standing after I call your name. And then we're going to call you up and have your picture taken with the mayor. Wow, what an honor. And then and then we'll call the 12 and unders up first. Okay, up a second. Okay, so Brody Whitemeyer. There he is. Dan and Kate's. Sally. Dawson. Mason reducer. Did I pronounce that right, Brayden, or Mason? Did I pronounce your nice name? Good, okay. Will McCabe? Zeke Zestal? Hunter Hall? Corbin Wood? Hunter Libretton? Jax Callaway? Walton Lawrence. Marcus Gonzalez. And there's three coaches we'd like to recognize today and we'd like them to

I'd like to read what the certificate says that we're giving each head coach. City of the Dalles Certificate of Recognition presented to the Dalles Junior Baseball Association Junior Hawks. In recognition of your outstanding achievement during the 2026 junior baseball season, your dedication, teamwork, sportsmanship, and commitment to excellence have brought pride to our community. Congratulations on winning the, and in this case, the tournaments were held in Gladstone.

for 10 and under, Reedsville for the 12 and unders, and West Albany for the 14 and unders. Your hard work and determination have made the Dallas proud and serve as an inspiration to the young athletes throughout our community. Presented by the City Council, July 13th, 2026. So with that, we'll go to the 12 and unders. Please stand when your name is called, Adrian Lugo. Alton Matz, Brady Weber, Talon Glasgow, Tyler Selby, Mason Guzman, Nolan Elledge, Nolan Murners, Olin Johnson. Phoenix Rodriguez. Vinnie Lugo. And Wyatt Branham. I have two coaches here we'd like to honor, Brian Elledge and Jaso

Please stand when I call your name. Caleb Tan. Colleen Arman. Holt Miller. Damian Chavez. Davian Castro. Isaac Bikini. Jason Ritchie. Nicholas Damon. Parker Lineberger. Porter Elledge. Sam Perez. Thomas Bartels. Zeke Cervantes. And Jacob Reuter. Okay, the two coaches we'd like to recognize are Rocky Leinberger and David Chavez. There's Rocky. I knew you'd show up, Rocky. Rocky coached my grandson. He did a really good job. All right, why don't you guys come forward and get your picture taken.

I trust that most of you probably aren't going to want to stick around for a discussion of the city's audit, or our hearings officer procedures, or dealing with legal sufficiencies in the Dalles Municipal Code, all three exciting subjects. So for those of you that would like to leave, we're going to take a five-minute break. And for those of you that would like to leave, you can. And for those of you who want to stay for the rest of the excitement, you're welcome to stick around. This is a public meeting. And once again, how about another hand for you guys? Thank you.

Thank you, Abby. Good job, Abby. Don't be shy. You made it happen.

Item 5B is a presentation by our auditor, Soren CPA. Mr. Andrew Sherwood is here online or on Zoom to fill us in on a fiscal year 2024-25 audit, city's audit. Mr. Sherwood.

For sure. We'd appreciate it if you could speak as loud as you can. We're having a little bit of a problem hearing you. Thank you.

Okay, you were saying something about page 107?

Did you just ask if we had any questions? Did I hear that? or comments on?

OK. Yeah, any questions for Mr. Sherwood for anything that has been discussed thus far?

Anybody have any questions for Mr. Sherwood?

Yeah, we've had different auditors. What is it, our second year, third year?

Well, he mentioned page 107, and I believe- I heard that one. That was the last one I heard. 108 was another one, right? Page 108?

Okay. Okay. Any other questions or comments? Okay. Thank you, Mr. Sherwood. We are going to be taking this up under an action item later on in the meeting. So thanks for bearing with us. Thank you. Okay, item six is audience participation. During this portion of the meeting, anyone may speak on any subject which does not later appear on the agenda. Interested citizens are required to sign up in advance and be recognized. Up to three minutes per person will be allowed. Citizens are encouraged to ask questions with the understanding that the city can either answer that question tonight or refer

Thank you. Did the people that wanted to go to Walgreens, was that for medication?

Thank you. Does anybody else have a question for Ms. March? Okay. Thank you, Carlos.

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see your hand, Ben. Go ahead.

I'd like to have Mr. Cleave's comment. And then after that, if you'd like to make another comment, Carlos, please come.

Thank you very much for all your help and your participation with this to make it all possible. That's appreciated.

Anybody got any questions for Tom? Are you on the Main Street Board?

Thank you. Thanks, Tom. Okay, Richard Wolff.

There's one here that... Amy, why don't you start the clock again? There we go. Okay.

Thank you. Well, our staff has copies of this, and if you get your toner situation resolved, please see the city clerk, okay?

Okay. Thank you. Okay. Mr. Mayor. Sorry. Council Runyon.

Thank you. Okay, item seven, city manager's report, Mr. Cleaves.

Good suggestion. Okay. Item eight is councilor reports, city council reports. We'll start with councilor Ring.

Sorry, what? Could you just repeat the first, the very first item you brought up? You were cutting out.

Thank you, Councillor. As far as my report goes, I'd like to thank Councillor McLaughlin for standing in for me or sitting in for me, presiding over the June 22nd City Council meeting. Thank you, Tim. You're welcome. On June 12th, I met with some city staff with Leslie Navarone regarding some homeless issues. I was on coffee break with Al Winn and Councilor McLaughlin on June 16th. I did an interview with KCI Radio with Mark Bailey on the 18th. Every Father's Day, I'm invited to go to the Springs Nursing Home and participate in a Father's Day breakfast with some of the residents of that facili

Mm-hmm. Okay, item nine is the consent agenda. Items of a routine and non-controversial nature are placed on the consent agenda to allow the city to spend its time and energy on the more important items and issues. Any counselor may request an item be pulled from the consent agenda and be considered separately. Items pulled from the consent agenda will be placed on the agenda at the end of the action items section. Tonight, we have six items on the consent agenda. First is the approval of the June 22nd city council meeting minutes. Second is approval of the June 29th special city council meeti

Moved by Councillor Randall and seconded by Councillor McLaughlin to approve the consent agenda. Is there any discussion? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you very much. Item 10 is a public hearing. Consideration of an ordinance amending the Dalles Municipal Code and clarifying and conforming procedures related to the adopted hearings officer process and making associated technical amendments. Now's the time for the council to conduct a legislative public hearing to consider zoning ordinance amendment number 112-26, city of the Dalles and general ordina

Okay, nobody has come forward and I see a lot of shaking of the heads. Okay, now we will go to the staff report. Mr. Chandler, would you like to give the staff report, please?

Any questions for Mr. Chandler? Seeing and hearing none, We'll go to the public testimony portion of the public hearing. Does anyone from the public wish to offer a relevant testimony or ask relevant questions on this matter for up to three minutes? If so, please state your name and mailing address for the record. Anybody? Let the record show that no one has come forward. Does the City Council have any final questions for the staff Okay. Does the city council feel they have enough information to make a decision?

Is the council ready for deliberations? If so, the public testimony portion of the hearing is now closed and the council will now deliberate. Any comments or questions?

Is the council ready to have the ordinance read and receive a motion? By title only. That was my next question. That's what my script says. Okay, and not hearing anything, will the city clerk please read general ordinance number 26-1430 by title only.

It's been moved by Council Richardson and seconded by Council Randall to approve the ordinance 26-14-30. Is there any more discussion? All those in favor, please say aye. Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Thank you very much.

We now move to action items. 11A is adoption of the fiscal year 2025 audit. Ms. Meyer.

Anyway, just a thought. Well, to follow up on that, you're confident that these will all be addressed and there won't be any issues next year? Yeah.

I think one of the things that's been overlooked, at least a little bit, has been not only did we lose our finance director, we also, as the city manager just pointed out, lost the second command. With very short notice, I might add, after being with us for many years, which I had a problem with, but that's another story. So anyway, I think that the finance department, it's been a challenge for them to kind of recover from that. And we wish you a lot of luck in the year going forward. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Okay. Thank you.

Yeah, we're looking. Nobody's made a motion yet, right? No.

I'm looking for a motion for the adoption of the plan of action.

It's been moved by Councillor McLaughlin and seconded by Councillor Richardson to adopt the audit plan of action. Is there any more discussion or questions? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries five to nothing. Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay. Action item 11B is consideration of an ordinance amending

Thanks, Woodley. The clock on this guy. Maybe we should have that executive session.

You're proposing this is section 12, paragraph B. Yard debris open burning is allowed only from March 1st. April 1st. April 1st.

I would suggest that perhaps this might be considered by some people more than a minor tightening and that it come back before the city council

This is super petty and technical, but you're suggesting March 30th and not the 31st?

We're not there yet. We're still on 11B.

There hasn't been a motion. Where are we?

It's okay. Anybody like to make a motion on item 11B, the ordinance amending our code for a legal sufficiency?

Moved by Councilor Randall and seconded by Councilor McLaughlin to adopt ordinance 261429. to amend our municipal code for legal sufficiency. Is there any more discussion? All those in favor, please say aye or raise your hand. It's quick. Mr. Mayor? Oh, sorry. Read it by title.

Council Richardson was asking for some opinions to form some sort of consensus, and I don't think he.

Okay, my apologies. I had it right here in front of me. Is there anyone here on the council that would like to have the ordinance read in its entirety? No. Would the city clerk please read the ordinance by title only?

Motion has been made. However, before we vote, I would like to ask any member of the public to come forward if they have any opinions about this particular ordinance. Would anybody like to comment to the city council about it? Seeing nobody. Okay. Is there a last chance for any discussion or any questions? All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye. Any opposed motion carries unanimously. Thank you all very much. Thank you all. 11 C an ordinance considering an ordinance to amend the city's municipal code by creating a new chapter. and superseding inconsistent provisions of the city facility management and trespass policy.

Thank you. Any questions for the city attorney?

Any other questions for the staff? Okay, before I ask for a motion, is there anyone here who would like to have the ordinance read in its entirety?

With that, would the city clerk please read the ordinance by title only?

It's been moved by Councilor McLaughlin and seconded by Councilor Randall to adopt General Ordinance 261429. 1430? One. 1431. Oh, I'm sorry, 31, right?

Any other discussion? All those in favor, please say aye or raise your hand. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously.

Thank you. Finally, item 12. Strategic plan update, Mr. Cleaves.

Any comments from the city councilor? Red flags only. Would anybody like to have the city manager read the entire strategic plan in its entirety?

No. Okay. I personally do like the format. I think it's great. Easy to understand. Right. Any other comments?

Thank you. Any comments or questions from the council for our city manager? Just a comment from me. I would characterize this whole thing as very ambitious. And I think we certainly, you know, certainly the council's had a lot of input, but we wish you a lot of luck in getting most of all of this achieved through the next year.

Yeah. Sorry. Three years. I forgot about the format, which I was just complimenting you on the format, which was very clear about a three-year plan. Okay. Any other comments?

Okay. Any other comments about the strategic plan? Is there any other business come before this?