Astoria City Council Regular Meeting - August 19, 2025
Astoria City Council Regular Meeting - August 19, 2025
The Astoria City Council met on August 19, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included presentations celebrating valedictorians, a 20-year service recognition, a pre-audit presentation, a review of city accomplishments, and introduction of a new police cadet. Councilors reported on regional transportation issues and community concerns. The council approved a consent calendar, an intergovernmental agreement with the school district, a debt service fund, a new financial software contract, and the updated city council work plan. Public comments addressed communication and tribal relations.
Presentations
- Valedictorians (2024-2025): Principal Lynn Jackson introduced seven valedictorians from the largest graduating class in 30 years. Students shared plans to attend University of Oregon, George Fox University, and University of Washington.
- 20-Year Service Recognition: Fire Chief Dan Crutchfield honored Engineer Jake Rummell for 20 years of service. Rummell started as an intern in 2002 and was promoted to engineer in 2008.
- Pre-Audit Presentation: Ashley Osten from Baker Tilly (formerly Moss Adams) presented the audit plan for fiscal year 2024-2025. Key risks include management override, revenue recognition, capital assets, long-term debt, and compliance. Materiality is set at 1-3% of total assets or net position. The audit will occur in September and November, with a draft financial statement in December. Councilor Davis questioned the threshold for immaterial fraud.
- City Accomplishments (Last Six Months): City Manager Scott Spence highlighted organizational culture (new core principles "ASTORIA"), fire department response to LA fires, new fire engine ($784,000), 31 recruitments and 41 new hires, library renovation (85% complete, $11 million, 5,000 new books), riverwalk lights ($600,000, 71% grant), aquatic center (58,000 visits/year), out-of-school program (46 spring, 49 summer), $81 million budget, clean audit, housing inventory (275 acres, $140 million infrastructure), 231 building permits, 420 applications under review, 484 inspections, police call increases (Goonies 34%, July 4th 95% police, 146% dispatch), wastewater treatment plant ($10 million, 40% complete), and waterline resilience project (90-95% complete).
- New Police Cadet: Chief Stacy Kelly introduced Moises Hernandez, a 2024 Ilwaco High School graduate, as the new police cadet focusing on parking enforcement and inoperable vehicles.
Reports of Councilors
- Councilor Adams reported on the Northwest Act meeting regarding ODOT's reduction in force and service level changes, an overdose awareness vigil on August 31, and the League of Oregon Cities conference.
- Councilor Mazzarella thanked staff for the riverwalk lights and promoted National Night Out on August 23 at Tapiola Park.
- Councilor Davis discussed Col-Pac meeting tensions with ODOT, concerns about DMV closures, a South Slope neighborhood meeting with frustrations about housing and permitting, and the need for better media outreach. He also acknowledged feedback on the library board room naming process and hoped for improved tribal relations.
Consent Calendar
- The council approved the May 5, 2025 meeting minutes and acceptance of three utility easements for infrastructure repairs related to the 27th and Grand landslide. Motion passed 4-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Lisa Morley (Alder Brook neighborhood) commented on the work plan, urging the council to push back on state mandates that don't fit Astoria, and criticized the lack of meaningful public engagement and communication. She encouraged town halls and dialogue.
- Todd Lawson (Clatsop-Nehalem Confederated Tribes) commented on the recent library board meeting, describing racial slurs and personal attacks against tribal members. He asked that the library room naming process not move forward without compromise and urged the council to work with the tribe as a prototype for future collaboration.
Discussion Items
- 8.a Intergovernmental Agreement with Astoria School District: The IGA eliminates fees for shared use of facilities (fields, gyms, classrooms) and establishes prioritized scheduling. The school district approved it last week. Council approved 4-0.
- 8.b 8th Street Waterline Debt Service Fund: The $490,000 project is complete. Bowline Investors LLC will make payments to the city, which will then pay the state loan. The council approved a resolution establishing debt service fund 263. (4-0)
- 8.c Caselle Contract: The city selected Caselle LLC for municipal financial software after a six-candidate RFP. The contract will replace the 14-year-old Springbrook system. Council approved and authorized the city manager to sign. (4-0)
- 8.d Adoption of Updated City Council Work Plan (2023-2028): The 2025 edition formalizes four priority goals: housing for all, thriving local economy, community resilience, and livability/quality of life. Councilors noted the ambitious scope and the need for staff to communicate priorities. The plan was adopted 4-0.
Key Outcomes
- All regular agenda items passed unanimously (4-0) with Councilor Lump absent.
- The council entered executive session at approximately 8:33 PM under ORS 192.660(2)(h) to consult with legal counsel on litigation matters. No decisions were made.
- Upcoming work session on August 25 will include a field trip to the 16th Street project and the wastewater treatment plant.
Note: The agenda and minutes list the meeting date as August 18, 2025, but the instruction indicates the meeting took place on August 19, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Well, good evening and welcome to the Monday, August 18th, 2025 meeting of the Australia City Council. For the record, the time is 6 p.m. Mr. Spence, if you could lead us in the pledge, please. To the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic, which is one nation under God. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Mr. Spence. Could we have a roll call, please? Councilor Davis. Here. Councilor Mazzarella. Here. Councilor Adams. Councillor Lump. Mayor Fitzpatrick. Here. Thank you. So we're going to start off this evening. I always enjoy doing something fun and upbeat at the beginning of our meetings. And so we're going to start out tonight celebrating the 2024-2025 school year of valedictorians. And so Principal Jackson, if you could uh step up to the lectern here, um address the council and the audience and introduce our valedictorians. So I'm gonna let them introduce themselves. Uh they are very talented speakers. I do want to recognize I have nothing prepared in a formality uh with regards to the nature of my comments, but this past year, the class of 2025 was a very accomplished graduating class. One, they're the largest graduating class we've had in probably 30 years. So it's a big class, but also very, very accomplished, whether that be in the performing arts, in athletics, but certainly in the classroom. And so I would like to recognize that this year, and I could forget some, so as I go through these, their accomplishments with regards to being recognized by post-secondary academic institutions is outstanding. We have students that were accepted to Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Columbia, St. John's, Cal Berkeley, uh Duke. We had some going to U of Dub in Sciences, which is not an easy thing to get into. It truly is a remarkable class. And today, while some of them are not here because Harvard and Yale have already opened up and they are gone. We have a number of our valedictorians here to represent that distinguished graduating class. And so I would ask that they stand and then ask if you would please explain a little bit about where you're going and what your potential plans would be. I do want to make clear what it means to be a valedictorian. It does mean that you have the highest GPA in your class, but it also means that you have tw taken at least 24 honors courses throughout the course of your high school career, as well as earned a minimum of twelve college twelve college credits upon high school graduation. So that's the bare minimum. And most of these students far surpassed that. So without further ado, if you'd please stand valedictorians. So uh principal Jackson, if they could uh come up to speak at the lectern so that it's on uh you can be first. We've got the captioning and they can be seen on Mr. Berkby, then the next row, then the next row. That would be great. Hello, my name is Thomas Burpee. Uh I will be attending the University of Oregon, and I plan on becoming a lawyer. Hello, my name is Ian McCone, and I'm going to the University of Oregon to become a music educator to become a band director. Um hi, I'm Dylan Candela. I'm going to the University of Oregon to become a pediatric physical therapist.
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