to the city council meeting for Monday, May 18th, 2026.

Affectionately been referring to it as Mount St.

Helens Day.

The city is committed to providing equal access for public meetings.

Request for accommodations can be submitted to City Recorder at least 48 hours before the meeting at CityRecorder at Cornelius OR dot G O V or call 50357112.

Work session, 6 p.m.

Before we begin the interviews, I will briefly go over the process for tonight.

At the last city council meeting the council received and reviewed all completed applications and selected applicants to interview this evening.

To help keep the process fair and consistent for everyone the interviews will be conducted in a round robin format with each candidate being asked the same set of questions.

The questions were provided to the applicants ahead of time.

Each applicant will have two to three minutes to answer each question.

After the interviews are complete the council will reconvene during the regular meeting to deliberate and vote on the appointment.

Are there any questions about the interview process from the council?

Seeing none.

Are there any questions about the interview process from the applicants?

Oh council applicants sorry applicants still none.

Okay.

Let's begin tonight's City Council interviews.

We have Andrew Michael Broess.

I'm sure I'll get corrected I'm I'm sure I'm doing some of these wrong oh no microphones for them.

They'll have to come to the DIAS introduce themselves and okay.

Brenda Gonzalez Pacheco Douglas Benson Dylan Sutherland Edgar Baker and John Colgan.

Erica Drew self withdrawal and I'm trying to remember which okay so um get that thing out of here okay get the rest of this organized here.

It's okay I was able to read through the rest of the stuff.

I'm sorry which who's being who's late did you mention somebody's going to be late Douglas Benson so this will proceed on barring anything else were you ready to start questions?

Council?

You know which ones are yours based on the highlights okay I get the first one what draws you to serve on the Cornelius City Council and what is your vision for the city over the next five years.

First up Mr Broaz Yeah just quick mic check got to get a sense of how far away to keep this thing.

Alright yeah last name is Bros rhymes with cross think of it that way.

So yeah city council is something that's been on my mind for um oh a little while now back before COVID I was on the um economic development committee and uh the police advisory board and so I had some visibility to the city council at that time and I reached out to a member at the time and kind of just discussed you know what does it entail you know what's your experience like that kind of thing.

But then COVID happened and everything just fell apart right the those two uh things that I mentioned that I was involved with those both just um kind of uh disappeared for a little while and uh on the tail end of COVID I got into um a career change and so that's been my priority for a uh a while now and here I am so coming back around to it again um as far as like the next five years vision for Cornelius um I think just seeing the city continue to um prioritize the things that it's already doing well um expansion of things like high visibility pedestrian crossings right uh walking paths uh making things bike friendly um the the general idea of accessibility I think um the library is a great example of like a a big idea project that um I think is paid off big for the city right and I would hope to see more big idea projects like that kind of come to light um I have some idea of of the uh 2040 I think plan that was mentioned in uh one of the last sessions the the state of the city address that you did um but there's a lot that I'm sure I don't have visibility to that may or may not be in the works um but yeah I think just in general things that would make uh life easier for people here in terms of like accessibility right I think there's a lot of people who live here

And I would hope to see more big idea projects like that kind of come to light.

Um I have some idea of of the uh 2040, I think, plan that was mentioned in uh one of the last sessions, the the state of the city address that you did.

Um but there's a lot that I'm sure I don't have visibility to that may or may not be in the works.

Um but yeah, I think just in general, things that would make uh life easier for people here in terms of like accessibility, right?

I think there's a lot of people who live here who commute to work, so not having to commute all the time in your city for things uh would probably be a big plus for a lot of people.

So yeah, I think that's where my mind is at for now, but I'm sure you know you get more visibility to how things are are working and what's going on.

You start to get an idea of what's really possible.

So Ms.

Ms.

Pacheck Pacheco.

Correct me if I'm getting that wrong.

No, that's correct.

Yeah, Gonzalez, Gonzalez Pacheco.

Consultants Pacheco.

Okay.

Yes.

Um so I can go ahead and answer.

Yes.

Okay.

Unless you need me to repeat the question.

No, no, no, I have it in front of me.

Um what draws me to serve on the uh city council for Cornelius is I want to give back and help my community that I live in.

And I want to advocate for the needs of of our community members.

Um I think it's important that we are taking care of our our residents and that we're making them feel welcome.

And my the vision that I have for the city of Cornelius over the next five years, as it continues to grow, I want to support um support things that are bringing more programs to our youth for their growth and education.

Um that we are supporting our local businesses to grow and bringing in more businesses to create employment, and that we are also um having programs as we do now, but increasing to have our neighbors build connections with each other.

And uh the other thing that I also is very important is that we encourage our community to be more engaged with their city so they can also advocate um for their community members.

And these things are also what motivates me to serve on the city council.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh we'll skip Mr.

Benson and go to Mr.

Sutherland.

All right.

You can all hear me.

Um I'd say the um, you know, the the main reason that I'm interested in joining the city council um is you know, over the last several years I've had interest in you know, kind of what goes into my community, especially since I moved to Cornelius.

Um, you know, since I've started a family um a few years ago, um where I live and you know how things um go day to day are a lot more important to me than they used to be in the past.

Um and that's I've really found like a home I would say in Cornelius.

Um so my ultimate goal um, you know, in the in the role um going forward would be to um you know, a lot of people have said growth going forward, that's gonna be a main focus for me.

Um but of course I I would take that the main takeaway for myself and and what I see um in the future for Cornelius is keeping it a small town, but then of course still um allowing the opportunity for the community to come together.

So while there is going to be growth um, you know, with new businesses coming to the area and um you know we can revitalize um some of the buildings and things that are in the area to um you know have it be overall um you know a more welcoming place for people to come to and visit.

Um and then of course, you know, have families be brought together more.

Um so that would be one of my focuses um, you know, to have opportunities for families to get together from different parts of the neighborhood to feel welcome and get to know each other more.

So that that's a would be a big focus for me to have more opportunities for um a lot of the growing families to be able to um to raise their families and in an area that they feel comfortable um getting to know everybody.

Thank you.

Mr.

Baker.

Hi, my name is Edgar Baker.

I currently serve on the planning commission.

I previously served on the Cornelius 25 Vision Committee.

I've been attending City Council meetings for around three years and lived here my entire life.

Uh from attending Club Scouts meeting at the Lutheran church, uh my mom taking me to protest the previous mayor and attending recently attending the Mariposa Park uh ribbon cutting.

What draws me to serve on the City Council is approving our community, what we can improve and protecting our residents from being pushed out from gentrification.

My vision for the next five years is achieving what our community wants through the Cornelius 2045 plan.

It's more businesses in our downtown area, more third places, community spaces.

And this was hammered a lot when I was on the 255 vision committee and it keeping uh it's Cornelius being a small town.

And that's community base.

Thank you.

Mr.

Colgan.

Thank you, Council.

Uh I have applied for this position out of a sense of duty.

I was thrilled to see Sit Lolly in that chair appointed by the council when she was appointed.

I think that that that is the perspective and diversity that our council needs to serve its purpose well.

Um I'm disappointed that she was not able to stay with that.

Um this is an impressive group of candidates, much more impressive than we probably were expecting.

Um had I known that these five people would be here, I may not have applied.

Um, I do have a great deal of experience on council.

I served on council for a little over six years.

I was elected to that seat twice.

Um I did resign unwillingly.

Um I regret that because I'm not a quitter.

Uh I have a lot of thoughts about the future of our city.

Um, and a lot of it is work that we started five, six, seven, eight years ago when I was on budget committee.

Um the work that we did through the urban renewal district is nowhere near complete.

Our vision for our downtown center is still in the beginning stages.

Um if you talk to somebody who lives on either side of us in Hillsborough and Forest Grove, they will tell you about all the new fast food restaurants that is Cornelius.

Um I think that we are in danger of losing the things that made our city special.

And that's why I started volunteering in our old library in this building.

That's why I volunteered for the budget committee.

That's why I ran for election and became a city councilor is to maintain the identity of this city that I moved here to be part of.

I intentionally chose to be here.

Um so I am here to make sure that the City of Cornelius has a good option until December when this term expires, and the next duly elected councilman or councilperson takes the turn.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So the city council work requires collaboration and compromise.

And so can you give an example of how you can have successfully worked as part of a team and how you would approach working with colleagues who have different perspectives.

And we'll start with Brenda.

Yes.

Um the way I uh approach working with colleagues of different with different perspectives is um I listen to them in a respectful manner.

Um it's important to me that they know how much I value their their perspective.

Um it's also an opportunity for my perspective to to be challenged.

And it also helps me um it makes me a better leader because it it shows me to understand the other person and be and be more um empathetic.

The other um approach that I use is understanding what the goal is and then working with my colleagues to use our different views and um and build a path to reach that goal.

Uh one of the examples, um an example that I have of how I successfully work um on a on a team is um currently working on a project with another department, and uh issue recently came up that affected um my team.

It created more of a manual work for them uh than it typically would.

So I brought that to their attention, and when I did, um their first response was well, it's a very minimal error, and the impact is very minimal on their side of the of the project.

But it wasn't, but it was the opposite for my team.

And in that moment I realized that we had to have a deeper conversation and I and bring content more context from my perspective to show them how it was impacting my team and their team and the overall goal.

And um I had to present data to them to show that.

And through those conversations, um we were able to to make adjustments because they were we were able to see the bigger picture that um it wasn't just about how it was affecting my team, it was about how it was affecting us reaching reaching that goal, and that just goes to show the important importance of listening to other different perspectives and views and collaborating to ensure that we are on the same path to the same goal.

Okay, thank you.

Um Douglas isn't here.

Dylan.

All right.

Yeah, can you repeat the question for me one more time, please?

Yes, of course.

So um the city council work just requires collaboration and compromise.

So can you give an example of how you've successfully worked as part of a team and how you would approach working with colleagues who have those different perspectives?

Um yeah, actually, yeah.

So I work for a large insurance company.

Um and uh a more recent um situation that came up was that I was I noticed that a lot of our insureds with the methods that they were being contacted weren't necessarily as consistent um across the board um as they should be.

Um so what I did is I gathered um a team of people in order to do a more broad review um of different claim files in order to kind of identify the essential, you know, the root cause of where um the concern was coming from and and where the areas of opportunity um you know could be pushed forward into a more positive light for um for our customers.

Um so what I did is I brought everybody together.

Um we sat down and we went over um our opinions on you know the situation at hand with um the consistency and the methods that we were contacting, um, the individuals, so that's phone, email, letter, um, primarily.

Um there were some different opinions with um you know, maybe um digital you know communication might be best versus some other folks um lean more towards um old-fashioned communication, you know, like telephone, um even sending a letter.

Um so what we did, um, you know, I set it set it aside and I I drew everything out essentially for everybody.

Um and at the end of the day, what we um came up with was a plan to um essentially streamline um how we contact everybody going forward.

Um so setting a plan that you know we're gonna be able to contact them via phone um the let uh via letter and email um in order to best reach our customers every single time rather than um focusing on one method because we can't you know have an assumption that somebody would prefer a text message versus a letter.

Um so by heading all those methods and then asking the customer um going forward allowed for a better outcome ultimately.

So what you know, what we did was you know confirm once we did have those initial contacts with people how they wanted to be contacted going forward, um, which then um led to best or better customer service going forward.

Thank you.

Um Edgar.

Um I work in the warehouse uh sorry packages for the post office.

Uh I trained my colleagues in different roles in the building that I I'm trained for, not everyone is trained for those roles in the building like unloading trailers.

I also have to um not have to, but I work with people with um ego my way or the highway perspectives or uh someone who wants uh do a big uh vision or may and may not understand uh individual roles and what they do.

Um my manager came up to me seeking my hope to unload a trailer.

I am not trained for that role.

Um my manager perspective is because I train other colleagues.

It's means I'm trained for everything.

Uh I am not.

I point out another colleague, uh trying to work for with them.

Uh I point someone out, told them, hey, I think they're trained for this role.

I'm happy to replace them.

I'm trained for the role they're working on.

Um because we have different views on my role and what I should be doing, doesn't mean we aren't part of the team and aren't seeking the same goals for a successful safe uh work environment.

Thank you.

John Mueller Thank you.

I'm a middle school science teacher.

And depending on what group of people I'm working with, I need to take a different approach basically 12 times a day.

If I am working with other teachers, other educators, then I need to understand their expertise, and I need to listen and accept and use and share equally with all of them.

And we need to kind of contribute to sort of a tapestry together and then support that decision as a group.

And then of course, if I'm working with the administrators, then depending on the capacity I'm working with them, and if it's in a capacity as leadership or just a teacher, then it's much more of a suggestions from me and orders from them.

And being able to shift through those roles is important.

And in the six years I served on council, we almost always came to unanimous decisions because the processes we went through ahead of anything coming to a vote, usually we were fairly well aligned as far as the needs of the city were concerned.

And we need to represent those ideas and those positions fairly.

Thank you, Andrew.

Thank you.

So in my professional life, I do a lot of project work.

Some of them are with uh a lot of cross-functional teams that come together to work on something for a couple of years, right?

Um other things are smaller projects that have maybe just one or two teams, um, a lot smaller in scope.

Um and that's been the story of my I guess my career life uh for a while now, or going over a decade, um, a lot of that kind of work.

Um as far as like differing opinions, um, I mean you're gonna have that everywhere, right?

Um different from what you might encounter with opinions on uh city budgets and that kind of thing, but um still opportunity for people to have strong opinions about things all the same, right?

Like if you run into an issue, um there might be some debate over what root causes of the issue, right?

That kind of thing, and people have strong positions and stuff.

So when you run into situations like that, um I just try to keep a level head about it and understand that ultimately we're working toward the same thing.

Um and the most productive way forward is to stay collected and measured and and look at things, you know, put your put your analytical hat on and hash it out together, right?

And uh if you can manage that, then you'll probably see your way through that and move forward to your next objective.

Thank you.

Okay, moving on to the third question.

How would you describe your leadership and conflict resolution styles?

And how do you see them contributing to a productive and effective council?

And for this one, we'll start.

Well, Douglas is not here yet.

Uh Dylan.

All right.

Um yeah, so I would say my leadership style um just you know, my professional career as well as personally, it really comes down to a mutual understanding between the person that you're working with, because you know, we all come from different walks of life, everyone has a different opinion.

Everyone has a different opinion.

Um what might mean something to somebody might mean something completely different to somebody else.

Um that really ties down to me to first understanding the the person or people that I'm talking to.

So to get a better under a better understanding and sense of who they are as a person, um, a little bit about where they came from, um, that way I can tailor um my future communications with them more properly, that way I can have an open line of communication and know how they want to be communicated with because as the leader um, you know, uh you're you're working with somebody where in a lot of instances um you know you might have to um to tailor your specific communication style in order to best um help and understand the person you're working with to have a better outcome, um, you know, ultimately to you know to have a better relationship with them.

Edgar Um I describe my leadership style as servant, uh fostering environment of growth, empathy, and active listening.

Uh at my work, there was a colleague who came up to me during break uh crying.

Um she called um HR, they couldn't help her.

She was having trouble getting paid, as in she wasn't getting paid.

Um I listened.

I uh made sure I worked her through uh checking if all her information um was correct.

Um she wasn't uh logging in correctly, so I helped her fix that and uh made sure to um interact to her to the correct HR who was able to speak Spanish because that was not only her preferred language, but um she uh didn't quite understand English and I did that in Spanish.

Uh she eventually got the situation fixed the next time I saw her.

Which was I was very happy about.

Um it's also about I also consider um servant about respect and standing up for others.

Um Nunez Titlanny Nunez Barragon was um first meeting, uh someone felt differently about her selection and used my name uh to support it.

Um not a first time.

I have three older brothers.

I'm Hispanic.

My name gets thrown around for their support a lot and it's quite um in different strange ways.

Um I um stood up for her because not only I believe those are wrong, but everyone deserved to have someone in their corner that believes in them.

Um I was always um very happy and grateful that she was selected and sad that she left.

I uh to message her and see uh to check up on her.

Uh my conflict resolution style is uh compromised, um finding uh middle ground.

Uh we uh as I shown uh told earlier, I may not have the same perspective as another person.

Doesn't mean we can't uh and I may not be able to fix their problem by concern to uh make sure their problem gets fixed and we can find a solution.

John Uh thank you.

So my leadership style is um to lead from the front.

I would never ask anybody else to do something that I would not do.

Um if I am collaborating with a group, I make sure that I am at least carrying my share of the load and that I am um setting the sort of example for others that I would like them to live up to.

Um leadership is difficult.

Um I don't think anybody in a position of leadership should be so confident to think that every choice they're making is the correct one.

Um if I was in charge, I don't know that I would agree with every decision that I made.

So I think it's important to be listening for feedback, but once a decision is made, you're committed to it until the data changes or the job is done.

Um as far as conflict resolution goes, um conflict resolution is something that I get to do often during my days.

Um often people just need to get something off their chest.

Sometimes people need to vent.

Sometimes people just need to say what's bothering them.

And that being that safety valve, being able to listen to people who are upset is important.

And if you can listen to each of the upset parties and then kind of help them see that there's common ground for them and that compromise is possible.

Or sometimes it's just a misunderstanding.

If I am conflicting with someone else, then obviously I can't be the vent for them or for myself.

So I tend to take a deep breath, let it be for a while if possible, um, and then come back and start slowly.

Um it's really important if you're having some kind of interpersonal conflict that you treat that other person respectfully.

You try to empathize and understand their position and their opinion and look for the common ground.

Because no matter how different two people are, there's always going to be some common ground there.

And I think that that finding that for yourself and understanding the other person, even if you can never come to agreement can lead to the ability to work together.

Andrew.

Thank you.

Yeah, so uh I guess my leadership style um I feel like you can't really be a great leader without being a good listener, right?

Um all the best leaders are good listeners, I think.

Um especially for something like this, you want to be able to um have people feel like they can talk to you, like they can, you know, come to you with you know their needs, their wants, their hopes, that kind of thing, uh, so that you can come and represent, right?

So uh want to seem approachable that way.

Um as far as you know, outside of this and my own personal experience um with leadership, I have led teams before, I've had direct reports in my professional life.

Um and what I always try to do there is I like to identify the strengths that the people on my teams have and lean into that.

Um I feel like if you are able, or really, I think I think the strongest teams are able to identify what they're good at uh and then capitalize on opportunities that will come along because of those strengths that they have, right?

So that's something I always try to keep in mind.

Um I take joy in helping people develop in seeing you know people grow.

I try to grow that way myself, right?

I'm always trying to grow.

Um and that's another part of being a good leader, I think, is um being able to take in new information, uh hear different things, learn things, want to learn things, right?

Um and so that's kind of the I think the North Star for me.

Um as far as conflict resolution, um, you know, I think you just have to start from a position of good faith uh and build on that foundation because if people feel like you're judging them or uh you know you're coming off insulting, that's you know not going to be productive, it's not a great place to start anything from.

So if you want to get something resolved, it's got to uh come from a place of like uh really good faith and and and wanting to I think honestly reach a resolution and and have that come through in the way that you're communicating with the uh with the parties that are involved that are in conflict, right?

And hopefully they get that and follow that lead and come along with you.

Thanks.

Brenda, uh yes, um my leadership style, I would describe it as um me being a good listener and also focusing on the goal.

Um with my team, what I do is I I have to listen to what their needs are when we are working toward a goal, and but also to listen to my managers and the organization that is setting those uh priorities and the people that are being impacted uh by that goal.

And part of that is first listening to my uh team to understand what is that they need to to be able to do that work to get to that goal, uh, what obstacles are in their way and how do I remove those obstacles?

What do what do I have to do to facilitate um this process uh for them?

And with being goal-oriented, I also have to track the progress and address any issues that write that come up and and determine the the urgency of that issue if it's something that needs to be addressed right away or if it's something that can um can be planned for later and then adjust.

is that they need to to to be able to do that work to get to that goal uh what obstacles are in their way and how do I remove those obstacles what do what do I have to do to facilitate um this process uh for them and with being goal oriented I also have to track the progress and address any issues that write that come up and and determine the the urgency of that issue if it's something that needs to be addressed right away or if it's something that can um can be planned for later and then adjust uh the now the way I uh handle conflict resolution is I always listen to the other person's perspective and understand what that what is that issue and ask them what is that they want to see the resolution what is the solution they see and then based on our views find common ground to to build um as I mentioned before that pathway to achieving what um achieving that goal and the way I see this um contributing to city council um part of your jobs is to meet your community's uh needs and making decisions and part of that you have to have dialogue and hear each other's perspectives and and make compromise and figure out how you're gonna take each other's ideas and and find that common ground and that's how I see my styles um being applied and contributing to to the city council thank you thank you all right we're on question four here we're gonna start uh with excuse me with Dylan uh serving on a city council often requires learning new skills and staying informed how do you motivate yourself to grow personally and professionally and what areas would you like to develop while serving um yeah I would definitely say a big focus for me um especially um later in life you know as I've gotten older is you know like personal development um especially in my career and as well as you know just in in my personal life with with how I handle my myself um you know on the day to day um and one thing that I would say that I would be would be looking to do um going forward is just to continue putting those efforts forward um into the city council so like for example um I'm very consistent on staying active in self-improvement um so that's a big focus for myself um in order to be able to help myself help my family and then also help my community as well um so that's one of the reasons I'm here today is just to put that forward in in a more formal stance um so it's not just about myself and my family it's more formally of course um you know on the city council helping my community as a whole which is important to me um since moving to Cornelius this is you know been the place that I've I found that I really love to live um so you know I figured you know what what better time to to do that than now since the opportunity is here all right thank you Edgar This is for question four correct thank you um I believe in the quote be curious not judgmental is from Walt Woodman you probably know it better from Ted Lassell um professionally uh I work in an environment with changing information not all managers know what's going on and since I was in that trained colleagues uh they will seek uh for me for new information uh changing of work environment and new rules um you kind of have to learn who to ask and um I uh I learned that very quickly uh not everyone knows but it's important if someone uh looks up to you uh and seek you for information is important for you to meet them where they are uh in my personal life I love learning I believe I have a growth mindset I love the local science uh it's where I'm it's the degree I'm studying in it's also what the saddest most complex uh items that you can learn especially if you're a lobbyist or someone who believes in something that wants to get past I uh you have to learn new skills I had to learn Excel um it almost killed me I I had um and um you also have to learn how to communicate correctly um professionally and how to figure out how the state works to be the most effective you can be and what groups will help you achieve those goals um areas I would like to devote more um is budgetary and lobbying um a lot of um a lot of it is uh uh relationship-based improvements and uh numbers thank you uh John

And what groups will help you achieve those goals.

Areas I would like to develop more.

Is budgetary.

And lobbying.

A lot of it is relationship-based improvement and numbers.

Thank you.

John.

Thank you.

Learning new skills is something that I have obviously we all have been doing our whole lives, but it is something that I am passionate about.

I am constantly pursuing something.

So I went and enrolled at a second college at the same time, so they didn't know about it.

So since then, I have continued to build skills both professionally and outside of my profession.

In the fall of last year, I passed the stamp test and am now certified to teach in Spanish as well as English.

So you may have gotten pens in the past as gifts.

I'm working on 3D prints next.

Not always the things you would want them to be, but pretty good at things.

One of the difficulties in being a lifelong learner and always learning is asking for help and knowing when you can figure something out on your own and knowing when you're going to be best served by turning to somebody that knows more about it than you.

And sometimes the person that knows more about it than you is not going to be somebody that you consider an expert in anything else.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided that I was going to start learning how to play chess, which I kind of knew the rules from when I was like an eight-year-old kid, but I hadn't played at all.

So I had a 3D printed a chessboard in my classroom, and now my eighth graders routinely kick my butt around on the chessboard because our chess club just went to the state tournament.

And I'm way behind.

But I'm learning, and I hope that by the end of the year I can even that out.

So whether I'm here, whether I'm somewhere else, I'm gonna be learning something.

It's just a matter of kind of giving myself a direction and figuring out what that's gonna be.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So yeah, I like to try and stay informed on things.

Um everything on up to state and federal.

I I very much pay attention to politics sometimes to my own detriment.

Um I think I saw on a t-shirt once uh it said politics is dumb but important, and I thought that's really spot on because yeah, sometimes like it does seem like it is really um like unreal, right?

Um but it impacts our lives in in such a you know profound way.

Uh, even things that seem like they don't matter can really matter.

So as I get older, yeah, I try to stay uh more informed on things.

I'd I've always been kind of um tuned into politics, both local and larger.

Um and one of my bigger regrets is that I didn't get involved when I was younger.

Um I guess I just had other reasons, you know chasing careers and things like that, right?

Um but I'm here now, so um, you know, it's part of the growing journey.

I try to um grow, I think the the question was how do I grow personally and professionally also, right?

Yeah, I mean that's all just so that's life journey stuff, man.

You know, you go to your career, you get better at that, you advance, you learn things along the way, you meet new people, you go places, you meet people, you grow everywhere you go if if you're trying, if you're looking for it, you know.

Um and so that's the mindset I try to take with me everywhere I go, you know.

I I love to travel and experience different cultures and stuff and see what's out there in the world, and that right there can uh or has really taught me, you know some of the things that I I envy about these other places that we wish I wish we had over here, right?

Um that kind of thing.

Um just uh just getting experiences and uh growing from there and and being hungry for new experiences and new information and wanting to take that stuff on and uh then ultimately, yeah, getting to the point where maybe you want to you want to try and make an impact and maybe join city council or something.

So yeah, I hope that was uh I hope enough of that made sense.

Yeah, thank you.

Uh Brenda.

Uh yes.

Um so what motivates me to grow personally is um my commitment to my well-being and um to be able to advocate for myself and for others.

Um what motivates me professionally is to um be a stronger leader and inspire others um to do the same.

And that's those are the things that drive me to to do to learn to read and research to keep developing um myself.

And the things that um areas that I would like to develop while serving, I would like to understand how uh state laws uh affect the decision making of city council, and I also want to learn and understand how I can advocate for our city at the state level.

Thank you.

Edgar, your first step.

This is so Cornelius coded.

Um I've been in this community for such a long time.

I before even the library, the new library, I remember seeing the sign saying, we're we're at this funding.

And then uh so I um there's several different levels of government, and most will pass laws that would affect our community.

Um for a state level, uh the federal government uh constitution believes that a city and counties are a part of the state.

Um for a state, it does give us the cities uh home rule, but with asterisks and they do uh do the uh redefine that role um be um so we uh there's a lot of things while I'm on the planning commission that uh gets passed and you kind of give it a side eye on language and how proud it is, but uh it's um you kind of have to uh implement it.

Um I remember attending the first one of the first uh community meetings on uh try and get ideas of what uh community center will look like.

It was hosted at the Cornelius Elementary School across the street.

There was a lot of great ideas and different interest and different funding levels for each one.

That I do remember.

Just looking at the final plans, I couldn't be happy that the community is gained it.

But these large projects takes time, takes funding that we may not have, but looking at the library, we will eventually get it.

And like the Mariposa Parkway, it can take a while, but it will happen.

Thank you.

John Mueller I think that when we make difficult decisions, we need to look at how it affects the least of us.

Child care or work or financial uh finances or legal status or any of the realities of why this room is often empty.

I think reflects on the rest of us all the time.

And I think that we've done a fairly decent job of doing that within the resources that we have available.

I think that our water bill assistance program that we implemented was a good example of that.

I think that our investment in a community center is a good reflection of that.

And of course, as many other people are going to mention the library, which was a project that was started before I was even here and I got to be there for the big ribbon cutting.

And so I think that asking ourselves, what would you want done for you if you were in the toughest position that our community faces?

Because that's where we need to start.

And you know, it's a rising tide lifts all boats, right?

So if what's good for the bottom is is good for everyone.

Um I think that that's just the the filter that we need to to put on those decisions.

Andrew Thank you.

So when you're faced with tough decisions, um and you have to try to do uh the the most good that you can do, I guess.

I think it just comes down to thorough analysis of your options.

Um for example, if you've got hypothetically, you've got three projects, let's say, and the first project is going to be very expensive, the second one less so, and the third one even less so.

Um and you can't afford all three, so you're left looking at it like, well, something's gonna get left out.

So I think in that scenario, you're looking at project one, the big uh excuse me, the big expensive one, and you're saying, is this worth taking the bulk of the budget, right?

Or do you look at two and three, and can you afford both of those together and would them together then um you know be more attractive than option one if you could do those two together, right?

So just that kind of decision making that kind of analysis and then also looking at who's impacted.

Um just taking a long consideration of okay, you know, and I don't have like a I don't have a clear example here or like a great uh thing to use as like a literal real world example, but I think it just comes down to um understanding your options really thoroughly and knowing who it will impact and making your decision there and trying to do the most good.

I think it just comes down to that.

You do the best you can.

Thanks.

Brenda?

The way I uh approach making difficult decisions is um understanding first what we are trying to achieve, and then asking questions to understand what are the challenges that we are having and to also find out what are the positive and negative impacts of what um of the different perspectives that are being shared to achieve this goal.

And to also find out what are the positive and negative impacts of what of the different perspectives that are being shared to achieve this goal.

And then when we are ready to make a decision, it that decision has to be what would be for the greater good of the of the community.

And I I do know that not everybody will agree with what those decisions um with the decisions that are being made.

And for me it's important, especially when it's coming from a community member that we acknowledge that we acknowledge and value their perspective and that we give them an explanation and a a reason as to why we made the decision we didn't and encourage them to continue sharing and advocating for themselves.

Thank you.

Douglas still absent.

Dylan.

All right.

Um yeah, I would a big factor for me that I think is important is that um in any community there's going to be a lot of different opinions on what could be the best outcome for any particular situation.

Um of course that's going to come from listening to you know the folks that are actually in the community and and what they're saying directly to you.

And as far as um like a budget would go um for that, um, I've always been a firm believer in not you know casting anybody's opinion completely out if something is just not going to be in the cards, um, provide a reason why, and then also provide an alternative as to here's maybe what we're not doing.

Um however, we are going to be doing X, Y, and Z as a result, which is also going to play in part um into where um your opinions lie currently um budget-wise as well.

Um, like if there's you know two options on the table, um there's some executive you know decision making that comes in with you know with any city or government um that may play a part, um, but ultimately which one is gonna benefit um the community as a whole, especially within a small community like Cornelius, um, you know, what what is going to give us the most you know bang for our buck essentially um for everybody in the community?

So who's gonna benefit the most from the change, which would in a lot of cases be um potentially a better option to put more money into something like that sooner, um, and then but perhaps um you know staggering funds for other options that might not be as urgent.

Thank you.

So the last question, the toughest question of them all.

Do you all have any questions for us as city council?

And I'll just go down the line, John.

I do, yeah.

Um as our city leadership, are we okay with setting the precedent that if a group of people decide to make lots of noise that we will capitulate and immediately flip and give them what they want?

What's the next call in gonna be?

Latino Heritage Month, Black History Month, a proclamation about something else.

We set the precedent back in September when I was told to resign or be forced out.

That very rapidly calling in and complaining, valid or not, hypocritical or not, without looking at the merits at all, will get results.

Are we okay with that?

We can't take it back.

It's too late.

I don't expect to be back in that chair.

Honestly, I don't really want to be.

I would serve if called, but I'd rather donate blow bone marrow than be here right now.

This is awful.

Are we okay with it?

I'm not.

I don't like the way that that happened.

I don't think that resigning in that situation was the right choice for the city.

I don't think that it sent the right message to anybody.

And I I'm honestly kind of shocked at how quickly it happened.

Um are you okay with that being the president?

And whoever ends up serving in that chair, what are they not gonna say because they're worried that some group of people is gonna go after them.

That's it.

Do we want to answer that or you have something to say on that point?

I mean, I do.

I think I've made my stance very clear on the matter, which is that I also was not a fan of the way that things went down.

Um I appreciate the fact that you are here, and but I also um it's hard to hear when you say you'd rather not be here, um, but you are here.

Um I appreciate all the work that you did for our council.

I don't like the way that things ended, but I know that that was just a very difficult time.

I think that it I feel like as a council or I've learned a lot.

I don't know about you all, but I feel that I would have definitely approached that differently, and I know the mayor and I have talked about that as well.

And so I do, I am sorry that that is how things went down.

I would second that, I think.

Um last uh year or so have been um times where I think we needed leadership to stand our ground and not give in as quickly, maybe ponder a little bit longer, uh not make as decisive uh decisions.

Um that's all I'll say on that.

I'll take a turn.

Um yeah, I I mean I would echo what my my peers up here say too.

I think the the outcome of that last September, I think was what anybody necessarily wanted.

Um I will say from having served up here with John with John.

Um, you know, I think you were an excellent counselor, and I think you uh always supported the city well.

Um I will say that I think we all have our right to free speech and being able to say we want in our personal lives.

Um regardless of our uh my personal feelings of it, I think it was uh uh a bad look.

Um maybe we uh as a group were too quick to run to decisions, and I think that that was our hands were forced in some ways to do to act.

Um, I think we've all learned a lot since then, and I think uh being able um be able to take a step back and pause things a little bit uh might have had a different outcome.

Um it was uh a learning experience, I think, for all of us.

Uh to answer your question specifically, uh I think there's too many variables to say that that's a specific precedent we're setting, but I hear you.

Uh I hear you.

I think having uh, you know, a call to arms, as it were, uh you know, from social media warriors.

Um yeah, I mean it does it does kind of send a message that says, well, if they're gonna pay that ransom, then what's the next one we can get?

So I hear you.

Take the last here.

Twenty-three years I've been up here, and that was an unprecedented occurrence.

Nothing lit this place up like the response to what you said.

And in response to that, I came and met with you.

And I know you were going through a lot of things that day.

The school district, not the least of which, you know, calls, and was it our greatest moment?

Probably not.

But I'll tell you that was unprecedented.

You know, when we send the staff home because of the threats.

That we basically secure the building because of the threats.

Never happened like that before.

Not even under the key three that were uh the mayor and the city council before I came in as mayor.

I mean, we packed the the room for discussions, but never were there such threats of violence or concerns about the threats of violence.

I was in contact with the administrators administration from the schools because they were getting threats of violence towards you, and then we got some too.

Um we did what we thought was right.

Um I think you're stepping down at that time, provided a pressure relief on the city.

And if you felt like I was forcing you to do that, that was not my intent.

But um I can see where my presence there at that time when you're already getting all hammered from the school and the school board and everybody else.

Um I want to thank you for taking and making that decision to step down at that time because I think it did take the blinding light off the city and allow us to return to more normal situation more quickly that may not have occurred.

We'll never know.

Can't I never hope to ever have to play that scenario out again?

But um I did see the results of what that decision made.

And I think it did allow us to return to business as normal as soon as possible.

So thank you for taking that light off the city at that time.

Thanks, John.

And I will just add one more thing.

You know, I know that I made a statement, but I do want to make sure that people know and don't overshadow everything that you did for the city because you did a lot, you've served for a long time, and you've done you always brought perspectives that I think a lot of us didn't bring.

And that's what council is about showing up and advocating for your community, and you're very in a very unique position working with um children and working in the school districts.

You see a lot of different things that we may not see, and I think that was very valuable feedback to have to to advocate for everyone.

So I have as a counselor, you were a great colleague to have.

I have nothing bad to say about you there.

I am sorry the way that things ended, though.

Next would be Andrew No questions, thank you.

Brenda.

Yes, I have a couple questions.

Um would you be able to share one rewarding experience you have had as a city council member?

And the second one is um what is something you find challenging as a city council member.

I think I got to experience a little bit of that right now.

But um if you can share.

I mean, I can start.

I think for me, rewarding personally, um I grew up uh I think the you know, a lot of times we don't think about politics and how it impacts our day-to-day lives until something happens where you realize you know how it's all interconnected, and also city government can't remember the last time I learned about that in school.

Maybe it was you know, when I was in middle school, quick little lesson, and then you move on from there, and uh for me, there was a lot of things that my family would complain about growing up that they didn't know.

I later learned becoming a city counselor and educating myself that they had rights, they had three minutes that they could come up or advocate for themselves, and they could there were so many things that the that they could have said to make differences in the outcomes for our communities that they just didn't know because of all the barriers that existed.

And so I think for me, one of the most rewarding things is been able to break down those barriers and have those conversations and know that I can show up and advocate for my community in a very unique and different way.

Um, in terms of challenges, I mean that comes with this challenges on its own, right?

Because you come in and you want to make all of these changes, but the reality is that bureaucracy moves slower, and you could have your lovely four-year plan and only get one thing done in that plan.

And it can be very crushing when you know that these changes are for the better for your community, but to try to make it happen, it's not always something the city can control.

Something sometimes it's a state thing, a federal thing, a county thing.

So there's so many different levels of government, and the way that they're all interconnected um can be very frustrating sometimes.

And so I would say for me, I've noticed that that is one of the most challenging things because especially in the work that I do every day, I see how it impacts our community, and it's hard not to wish that you could just m wave a magic wand and make things work differently.

Uh for me, I think rewarding.

Um there's a lot of stuff that's rewarding.

Uh just last week we got to see some middle schools come out, some middle school kids come out and perform for us at our State of the Union.

We got to discuss a little bit of the projects, everything that's going on around the city.

There's a lot of impact that you can get to make from this position, and that you get to bring your own personal perspective.

For me, being a longtime resident as a Latino Mail, that's very important.

Um, you know, and making sure that uh there's access for everybody in our community.

So it's very rewarding.

All different uh sections, uh different committees that you get to volunteer in.

There's a lot of impactful work, and it feels really good.

And you get to hear from community what the needs are and how you might help out with that.

So it's very rewarding.

Challenging.

Um I have uh two uh beautiful girls, and so it's hard balancing that out, your personal life, your goals, things you want to do, because this is this can be time consuming if uh if it's not if you don't balance it out well, because you know, you'll be asked to join committees, boards, uh so that's the challenging part for me.

It's just balancing everything out and finding the time to do everything you want to do uh and feeling like it's like you're making a good impact in your personal life.

Yeah, for me, I think I have uh uh a couple of points from the rewarding.

I think my peers up here have shared some already.

But uh as a lot of you said, I'm uh I'm uh uh a lifelong learner also.

And uh honestly, when I approached uh the council and I was actually up for appointment before I won an election.

Um, uh I came at it from uh a 50-50, like selfish aspect.

I wanted to learn about it.

I wanted to learn how things kind of worked.

Um much like you, Andrew, you know, always kind of wondered what it was, and you know, it took a little while to get my foot in the, you know, in front of me to take that first step.

But uh it would for me is about learning how everything worked.

Um so I think that's really rewarding as a as a learner to to kind of understand how things are functioning.

And you know, I started on our uh planning committee and our in our budget committee and and learning how those processes work before coming up to the council.

Um another rewarding thing is exposure, uh being able to uh be a part of things that I don't know that I ne would have necessarily even been aware of have I not been involved with the city the way that I was.

Uh things like dedicating our new fire engines or cutting ribbons at the Mary Posic uh park causeway.

Um just being able to have that exposure of the stuff going on around you is is really warning, uh rewarding being a part of it.

Um and for me personally too, I think um just having a sense of purpose.

Um I have worked for nonprofits or uh not for profit organizations that were very community-based uh for most of my career, and then I kind of realized that in all parts of my life I've kind of gravitated towards those kind of things.

So um just having that kind of sense of purpose and belonging and understanding that you have a way of impacting things for me is really rewarding.

Um for challenges, I think there's a lot of challenges, some of it was already touched on, but uh, you know, we see different organizations come before the council saying, hey, we need to raise prices, and knowing what that's gonna do to your community um and having to hear it and not really be able to you can voice concern, but they're gonna be doing it anyway, you know, whether that's clean water services or um yeah, that's the the top of mind one right now.

Um, you know, those organizations just coming forward and saying we you know we have to raise prices on things and and knowing that how that's gonna impact the community when we already see folks struggling with paying their their utility bills locally.

So um that that's challenging.

And then um, you know, to one of the questions that we had in the interview process, and I think another thing that's challenging is when we have an issue before us where we have to make a decision on, say, a piece of property within the city, you know, what are we gonna do with this piece of property?

You have a room full of people and they're being very vocal about how they feel about it.

And your hands are almost tied in some ways by some of the federal or state rules about well, you you don't get a personally choose what you're doing with that.

All you have to do is decide does it meet the rules?

If it meets the rules, they get to do it, even though nobody in the room wants it to happen.

Having to make those decisions in front of a group of people that is very vocal against it is is difficult.

So I think that's one of the the challenging things that I've come to learn here being on council.

Van energy going last as I get to take more notes.

Um rewarding.

Um a few of them, right?

Um the day we opened Virginia Garcia Medical Center, right?

Uh over 12 million dollar investment from the feds in our community.

Um I talked that day about that's um an awesome opportunity and terrible that we have to have it, right?

Because the story of Virginia Garcia, how basically a little girl died, you know, from a very treatable disease because we couldn't get the community outreach, the people in the right place connect all the dots, right?

Um obviously opening the library, right?

That's been a high point of my time in council being there for the grand opening, the the grand opening more so than the shovel in the dirt.

Right?

The shoveling dirt is very symbolic, but uh the day you get to gr have the opening and you invite everybody in and tour them around, um, and ongoing, right?

Continuing to have people come over and see our beautiful library.

Um great.

Um the affordable housing above it.

While we've had challenges and uh we learned the importance of um wet water separation between us and the neighbors upstairs about eight times so far.

Um I still think that putting senior affordable housing above the library um was a great decision and a very good one for our community and gave us um that senior housing in our community that only naturally occurred in manufactured homes or some of the smaller you know lower homes.

Um rewarding the community events.

I love our community events.

The Thanksgiving dinner, the the lighting the Christmas tree.

You've you've come to that a couple times, several of you have been there.

Um those are some of the best events.

Being able to go when we had Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts and introducing them for concerts in the park.

Those are some of the the great highlights and very rewarding and just seeing us accomplish things in general, right?

Us moving forward.

I mean, this was our old library, right?

We took down the old fire station to build the new library, which then put us in, and and and those are you know, you talk about rewarding um that we were able to just reach out to Virginia Garcia, not Virginia Garcia, uh Centro and go, hey, our city council is homeless.

Could we have city council here at you know, Centro until we have uh the library remodeled, then we can move in here.

Because this was the library while that was being built.

And that they were like, sure, okay.

First and third Mondays, great, great partners, right?

Those are some of the the rewarding things.

Challenges.

Um the evening we were contacted about the four deaths.

That's that's a low point.

I it touched us all, it touched our community, and we're still trying to move through that.

Um Counselor Lopez, you hit on one family time, right?

Um this isn't the only thing I do, but this takes a tremendous time for my family, and it has taken time from my career, my entire time.

I take time out of work and take the impact of that to do JPACT, Washington County Coordinating Committee, MPAC, Mayor's things.

Um to your point, you know, is you think it's one thing as a counselor.

I didn't think there would be a much adjustment to being the mayor from being a counselor because I'd been council president for a while.

And um when you're the mayor, somebody would like you somewhere breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day.

There's somebody that would like you somewhere talking about something.

So there you have to learn to say no occasionally.

We already spoke about it.

John's event, unprecedented, right?

Nothing, nothing like that in my time on council.

Um to yours, I I chime in on raising prices.

Every time we have to go through a budget cycle, and the garbage rates go up, the water rates go up, any of it goes up.

Um we've pushed back.

We had the guy remember the garbage company um wanted to raise rates and we said no.

And the reason they wanted to do it was because of the new garbage cans.

And they'd bought the garbage cans.

Ellie probably remembers this.

They bought the garbage cans without our approval.

And then they were just gonna push that on the community.

And then there's at the garbage cans for a long time down at Cornea's disposal because we refused to let them raise the rates just because they chose to buy new garbage cans.

Um the state that we thought the state was so wrong in their legal judgments that we joined other cities to sue the state.

They were so tone-deaf, so lost in the decision about disallowing home rule for parking and development that we had to do that.

To me, that's one of those low points.

And furthermore, that we got really no hearing, it was dismissed by the judge, the Oregon State judge for um no standing, because we hadn't actually suffered any actual damage at that point.

So those are some of the rewards and some of the challenges.

Thank you.

Thank you for sharing.

Dylan.

Yeah, some really great points so far.

Um one question that I have for everybody is um going forward for everyone, what is you know, one thing that you're really looking forward to over the next year and forward.

Well, I know for me, the community center, we've been working really hard on getting that up and going.

And I mean, we've you've heard it today.

Um the library took a long time to get up and going.

I know that can't tell you how long it'll take us to get that community center, but we are so grateful to the district for having the partnership and um for our legislators for helping us get some funding, but we're still missing a lot more to really get those renovations where we want them to be.

In the meantime, we do have the keys to the building, so that's exciting.

But um, I think that's something I really look forward to because we know how much uh our community could really benefit from having a recreational center.

Uh for me it's the urban renewal, um, just the whole center around Cornelius, how we're trying to develop it.

Uh, I think uh John, you hit on it earlier, we're just at the initial states of it, so it's exciting of all the possibilities uh that are gonna come our way, the opportunities, and uh just uh help the city guide that.

Thank you.

Yeah, and and for me, I think uh it's one of the the battles that the city has that um is kind of being fought silently and uh doesn't ever really seem like we make progress, but we're a bit landlocked and we don't we don't have any any land to expand any of our industrial base anymore.

Um and without that, we are also kind of tax locked.

And so in order for the city to keep pace with the things that are raising our expenses, we need to generate more income, and we don't have the ability to do that through residential property tax.

We need you know, businesses to move here.

Um, but without having the land to offer businesses to build things.

So it's one of these battles that the city has with uh with uh Metro on being able to allow us to expand.

Um it's it's who knows if it's ever gonna happen, but it's something that's in the back of everybody's mind up here on how do we I mean that's the keys to our future, really, is is how can we sustain um without more land?

And so it's kind of like said the silent battle is kind of always happening, but there's never any movement on it, it seems like.

So that's what I would like to see, you know.

I don't really, you know, most specifically to your question in the next year, that's not gonna happen.

Uh, if we're gonna focus a little bit more narrow, I think, yeah, the the community center and also um related to to Councillor Lopez's, you know, across the the road at the Grande Food slot, right?

Being able to do something with that to kind of expand our our city core um will be awesome with the property across at the school too.

So forward to community center is probably the only thing in the next year.

But beyond that, um I've been active with the TV Highway Project.

I as we talked about today for like 10 years I've been working on that project.

Um actually getting just the improved bus stops so that the people of our community can stand in a more hospitable location.

They can sit down at a covered bus stop that so that we've that to me I think will be a big deal.

And we're still looking at like 2028 before that happens.

Um the Grande Foods redevelopment, that's not in the next year, but I'm looking forward to that and working with the developers and coming to some of the the great possibilities that we've looked through.

And you look at what we did with the library.

It took us 20 years to get there, but worth it, worth it.

Um the industrial land and uh the folks that stand against us.

It's funny, our our Metro government is one of those things that stands against us.

Uh Thousand Friends and the Farm Bureau.

And I'll end on as I drove back from Esticada yesterday and from Salem the day before and Eugene um thousands upon thousands upon thousands of acres of farmland setting feral or growing grass seed to be exported, and we here sit and struggle to get the 500 acres north of town that has been in and out of the urban growth boundary since the 70s.

Basically, my entire life we've been struggling to get that 500 acres less than one half of one percent of the rural reserves in Washington County alone.

Yeah, we have to fight Metro the Thousand Friends and the Farm Bureau for getting jobs in Cornelius with industrial land.

So that's what I've been looking forward to is breaking that stalemate.

All right, Edgar, do you have any questions?

Well most of my questions got answered the first round attending a city council for so long.

But this is a question I've been curious about.

What's your favorite movie?

We just talked about our entry music the other night.

That would have been easier because at least we talked about that.

Favorite movie is only one.

I mean, I that's my weak point.

I gather, I g I have hundreds of movies.

I collect movies because then in the media format.

So Big Trouble in a Little China has got to be on the top of the list.

Original Star Wars, Lawrence of Arabia.

Those are on my short list.

Oh, wait.

Big Lebowski.

Right?

Those are those are all just kind of in the top.

Those are on repeat.

So that's mine.

I'll go next.

Um I just saw Project Hail Mary.

So I'm gonna go with Rocky.

Rocky's actually one of my favorite movies uh growing up.

Yeah.

Thank you.

I think for me it's gotta be space balls.

I actually 3D printed a space balls, the license plate frame, and it's on the back of my Winnebago.

Uh I'm a huge fan of anything studio Ghibli.

Um, so I can't narrow it down, but they're all great.

I think maybe spirited away is one of my favorites.

Yeah.

And with that, unless you all have any other questions, I think that's it for us.

Yeah, we have uh regular council here at 7:30 as far as the process.

Do you want was your intent for me to go over at this point?

Or what was your intent?

During regular meeting.

Okay.

Okay.

Well, we're we got like two minutes to regular council.

Thank you all for making application.

Thank you for the time.

Um, and at least one of you, this could be just the start of it.

Regular session, looks like about 732.

Uh, first up is uh Pledge of Allegiance.

Please join us.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

And Zero Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God and advisable with liberty and justice for all.

Staff roll call, please.

Councilor Lopez.

Present.

Councillor Vaughan.

Present.

Council President Godinez Valencia.

Present.

Mayor Delane.

Present.

All present.

Thank you.

Uh, first up is our announcements.

Hey, if you haven't already, go home tonight and vote.

Election day is tomorrow.

Those got to be turned in by 8 o'clock or postmarked by 8 o'clock.

And I think the word from the postmaster is don't just drop them in the box because they won't pick them up till the next day, and then they'll be postmarked late.

So if you're so, and by the way, we got a little box right out here.

So it's right outside.

Matter of fact, I was trying to park before the meeting, and somebody was trying voting, so I had to wait until they got done voting.

So we are not Florida though.

Do not vote early, do not vote often.

Vote once.

Monday the 25th, city facilities closed in observation and memorial day.

Monday, June 1st at 6 p.m., we'll have a city council work session.

Monday, June 1st at 7, we'll have a city city council regular session.

And then Friday, oh wait, Fridays, June through August from 4 to 8 p.m.

We'll have the community market at the old elementary school parking lot out there in front.

So come join us.

That'll be an awesome time.

Do we have any public comment cards?

Staff, anything filled out?

Anyone wishing to make comment?

There should be yellow cards on the back table.

You can do that.

If you plan to speak virtually, uh, I need to contact the city recorder by email at CityRecorder at CorneliusOR.gov no later than 3 p.m.

on the day of the city council meeting.

Provide your name, address, and when possible the topic of testimony.

Those attending virtually will not be able to turn on their cameras during the meeting or share their screen.

Presentation materials may be submitted as written testimony via email or in person at City Hall.

Oh, I didn't talk about Wordley.

Right?

We've got Wordley going also.

So there's uh Urals in the back, they're online, they're on the agenda, and allow us to get live translation.

So if you don't, if you need that, Wordley's there.

We're also on TV C TV, and we're live currently on Zoom webinar.

Okay.

Nothing on consent, nothing on recognition.

Presentations and appointments.

Clean water services and cornea sewer and stormwater system rates.

Ms.

Jones.

Thank you, Mayor.

So as you know, Clean Water Services attended our last city council meeting and gave a presentation on uh sanitary sewer and stormwater fees.

Um during that meeting, um staff felt that they seemed to focus on the regional um portion of the fees, and didn't really discuss the local portion.

So we wanted to come back just so it's uh very transparent on what the fees actually are within the city of Cornelius.

Um hopefully this will um add a little bit of context.

So clean water services sets uh rates that include a regional and a local rate.

What you see on your utility bill is the two combined.

So what I've done here is I've broken it out.

This is um based on a 6,000 gallon gallon a month um customer usage.

So these are the current fees that you would see on your bill.

You have the CWS base, regional, and local together, those total um, I believe three, six something.

Um the intent behind the local portion is that that stays with the city to cover city expenses.

So although clean water services is setting the rates, we do get a portion of that fee.

That fee is not enough to cover the actual city expenses, which is why we had to implement the city sewer fee.

So on your bill, you see CWS base, you see CWS average, and you see city sewer.

In total, someone using 6,000 gallons a month would pay $71.80 just for the sewer portion of the bill.

The fees that clean water services discussed did not include any of the local or the city sewer fees.

So we just want you to see these are the actual fees that are billed.

So it's the same with the stormwater.

Again, they set the local and the regional fees.

Um the local stays with the city.

Um the storm is about 75%, and again, it still doesn't cover the actual cost of the city's expenses.

So we have added a city storm fee.

So what was presented to you was the regional fee, which as you can see is 282, but in total, a customer pays $16.30 for stormwater on a monthly basis.

So in Clean Water Services proposal, um, they do take care of some local facilities.

We are one of the cities that do our own local.

So they were proposing the local portion to go up 21% on the sewer and 5% on the stormwater.

We can choose to accept those local rates, which is what we've done in the past, and then chosen to also modify the city uh rates in addition to that.

The proposal for this upcoming July 1, the city would not like to go with 21% and 5%.

We'd like to keep it at 4% across the board.

Um and our plans, next steps.

Um last utility rate study was done, I believe, in 2019.

Um typically you do those about every five years.

We knew a lot of housing was coming, um, both residential and some commercial.

So the plan is this fall to conduct a new utility rate study that's going to capture all the new development.

Um we've just completed a facility study.

We have utility um mastery plans taking place.

So the hope is that we can capture all of those items and come up with our own city rate.

Thus we will still have the CWS fee and the local fee will sh we would expect to shift that into the city fee.

With the goal of what you would see in the future on the bill would be CWS, what they keep 100%, and then a city fee that includes both that local and the city need, so it would be more transparent as to what's actually being billed by both entities.

So going into hopefully that's big enough.

Um what we'll be proposing at the June 1st meeting that would be going into place July 1st of 2026 is a 2% increase to water based and consumption, 4% to all of the sewer fees, 4% to all of the storm except the city.

So the one that's $5, we're proposing no change to that.

Um then as we've discussed the 50 cents to the general services fee.

Um so in total, someone using about 6,000 gallons would see an additional 489 on the bill.

Customers using less would see less of an increase.

Customers using more, obviously a higher increase.

Um what I show in the fourth column, the dollar change, as you can see per fee, it's pretty minimal.

In total, the average is about uh 3.2% of a total bill.

Um and then I just to the the last column is the percentage of each, the water, sewer, storm, and general services fee, the percentage portion of those fees in total on the bill.

So we just wanted to bring this to you so you better understand all of the fees in detail and to answer any questions that you might have.

Council, any questions?

Yes, Councilor Vaughn.

I think what was confusing to me after their presentation and then the conversation that followed was around those the local fees.

And from what you're telling us now, so the local fee, even though CWS is is billing for that, it's it's blind to the user, right?

It's it's kind of wrapped up into the regional fee.

Um but that local fee that entirely stays in Cornelius?

Yes.

So clearly what you'd see, you'd see the 3041 and the 596 combined as one fee on the bill.

And then at the end of the month, um I have a form that I have to complete, and we keep about 16% of that total, which would equal to the 596.

Okay.

Yeah, because I was thinking if they were billing our our residents for that local fee and then sending that money to a LoA, I'd have an issue with that.

But if they're billing our our residence and that money is staying here to support our own local um sewer, then yeah, I'd I get it then.

But it was a little concerning having our conversation that we did following their presentation at the last meeting.

So yeah, thank you for for clarifying.

Yeah.

So moving ahead, the goal would be you would see the the local and the city base fee, so you would see that 596 added to the 1610.

So you it would be really transparent what is clean water services getting and what the city is keeping.

But just to clarify, I think from the regional side, ALOA, for example, would still get some of that regional, but the local stays local.

So in a sense, it's still not ideal in that way.

Yeah, well um what ALOA has for effect on the region, we still suffer from.

I mean everybody, right?

If it's Hillsborough or Beaverton's development that causes a regional increase, but Cornelius didn't have any contribution to that really because we haven't had any subsidiary industrial or commercial development, then we're kind of getting the short end of that stick because we're paying for regional capacity increases or repairs or upgrades that we didn't drive.

So to me, it's um I'm sure there's some economy of scale, there's some benefit, but I still don't feel like I can stand in front of somebody in the community and go, this is exactly what you're getting and what you're paying for it.

Um, especially when, as you can see, um it is the most expensive part of your bill, right?

Forty uh 45 and a quarter percent.

Is that what you're trying to display there?

The total uh CWS and city combined.

45%.

Almost half of your bill is the sewer charges.

And it to some point that makes sense, right?

Because it's some of the toughest water to have to work with, right?

The the the clean water, you know, you're just taking water off of you know the various water sources and making sure it's up to federal drinking standards.

The sewer water, we have to turn back into federal clean water standards before they can discharge it.

Matter of fact, it has temperature requirements that the drinking water doesn't have.

So it's actually more stringent requirements on the sewer water than it is the drinking water.

And the storm water is well.

We kind of just make sure that moves around the right way.

So I understand it being a small portion.

I still don't think I can wrap my head around all the the differentials of who's what where for how many jelly beans.

Um but I find it interesting that their recommendation was a 21% and we're fine with four.

That makes me wonder um how efficient, how effective, or how um you used to say Cadillac, but it's McLaren level um expense is being spent on local services and other areas, right?

Are they really the most efficient and effective people to do it if they need a 21% increase?

So not something I know you can answer, but it's uh makes me concerned.

Other questions?

Councilor Lopez, do you have anything else?

I had comments, but I'm just gonna keep them to myself.

You're probably the smarter person for yeah, Councillor Vaughn, you'll take the second pass.

Yeah.

Um so what kind of influence does the city have over these rate adjustments?

Do we only have influence over the the local rate that that they're adding and uh how how loud the mayor here yells, do we get any influence over the regional rates?

Uh I'm thinking not, but I just have to ask a question.

Yeah, I I think we only have influence on uh the local.

Um, you know, in the past, as I've stated, they've increased the same percentage, and we've accepted that with also having to modify the city suit fee.

Um we didn't feel 21% for the local was um we just didn't feel we should do that without going out to do an own utility study.

Thank you.

Um to your question, um I I need your support in my proposed change.

I think having the county board running clean water services is the wrong answer.

And I've proposed to multiple members of the county board that they should step down and it should be a Congress of the cities.

We're the ones that actually deal with this, right?

And I think the board of the Clean Water Services should be made up of cities.

The county, the counties game in all this is the urban unincorporated, which is Aloha and Bethany.

The uh out of the 600, what is it, 600,000, I think, in Washington County.

Is it more than half of that?

Maybe almost 400,000 cities.

I'd have to look it up and see where the new numbers are.

At least half is urban.

And part of that is because Aloha is urban unincorporated, but not in a city.

So if you look at the populations of the cities, we're the majority of the population.

Um that's something I proposed to them if you guys could help support that, that they should I I actually with the debacle we've had in their control and finance and other problems they've been starring in the papers.

I told them they should step down.

They should step down and let the the cities come up with a Congress of representatives, because obviously they can't do it.

So that's my two cents on how do we actually adjust this is actually put the customers back in charge of that.

Um we were in charge of it.

We used to have our own digester.

We did our own stuff, but we saw where it could be more cost effective back then to join in with clean water services than having our own service.

So I think they just need they need I think they need oversight.

So that would be my two cents.

Okay.

Um actions?

No.

We just wanted to provide additional information.

Thank you as always for being very clear about that stuff.

Uh we have no public hearings, we have no unfinished business.

Um our new business is resolution number 2026-30, a city council appointment.

Statement.

Spateman.

You want me to just go through the appointment sheet?

I can open up really quickly.

Okay.

Yeah, deliberations, deliberations.

They need to be deliberate.

I was actually kind of throwing scores next to the answers as they were interviewing.

So to me, um that that's kind of what I is is those answers.

I read through the resumes, I looked at their history and their service to the city, and then like I said, adding to the scores of this evening.

So to me, I've got a couple of people that kind of come to the top for me.

I don't know what the others have, if how you're doing it, or you've you you just got um the warm light of the Lord and came to you and you have a recommendation based on that, or what what do you what what do you folks have as what what's leading you to uh to an answer or suggestion, or at least um but to me there's a couple of clear names on the list.

So what do you what do you guys have?

Well, please, Councilor Lopez.

Yeah, uh thank you, Mayor.

Uh similar, similar, I think, based on uh reading the resume, not the rest, but the questions that they were uh were provided to us uh previous and then going through the interview process.

Um I think um I'm I'm down to two candidates on my end based on that information that uh we received previous to this meeting and then during the interview.

Okay.

I'm gonna just throw the microphone at you, Counselor Dinner.

No, it's Sam similarly to you all, but I have three candidates.

Well, I have four.

No.

You know, I I just wanted to comment that you know, from the the last appointment round that we had, and and we had the conversation about how it was one of the harder decisions, right?

Because of the candidates were the way they interviewed and and their I'm probably not close enough, and the way that their um you know applications read.

It was a hard choice, and I think this one is harder.

Um yeah, but I I think I've kind of bubbled to my top two as well.

Okay, and and um not I didn't mean to say that we didn't have good, we had a group of good candidates.

That was the good thing.

So I was actually looking at, you know, well, what's differentiating these folks?

What's what's bringing these to light?

Um I I do value um people that have gone through the process, they've and shown their investment in the community, then they've um established themselves over time.

So I if I had to draw a line somewhere, I'm I'm leaning towards Edgar as my number one.

But um I've also got Brenda as a very high uh recommendation.

So those are kind of my top two.

I don't know if anybody else wants to peek behind the curtains or let that out or uh yeah.

I'll um I'll say before I I do that that um I do want to mention that this is a short appointment.

This is just for the remainder of this year.

And before the year ends, there will be uh two positions that are up for uh re-election.

So like Councillor Bomb mentioned earlier.

This is this is tough.

We had all the candidates were great uh tonight.

Uh I'm happy for the city that we have folks that are willing to come in participate and be part of the city, and I encourage you to continue to do that.

Um with that said, I think for me the top two in this order uh were Andrew and Brenda.

Those are my top two.

Okay.

Um I think what we don't know, anybody else want to talk about theirs or anything?

Or we can go to the ballot and the voting.

So we get uh nominations.

We also can go to nominations.

So deliberation, we've been deliberate.

Um, as it says in here, I'm gonna vote for John Doe because whatever reasons, long history service, so the things like that.

Um each counselor may name a nomination, may briefly speak about their nomination, um counselor to be named, would like to share any comments regarding their nomination.

Um that's it.

So if any more about nominations, so we got Brenda and Andrew, I've got Edgar and Brenda.

Uh do you want to talk any more?

Yeah, um I had three as well.

Um Brenda Um and Edgar and John.

And similarly to the reasons that you all have said before, and I'll just be honest to say that um, I mean, we've talked about this before.

Wasn't I didn't approve with the way that um you know we asked John to step down and was actually hoping to see him as mayor one day, and I think he has a lot of great insights and a lot of a lot more to give to the city, whether or not um that's something he wants to do, but I also recognize that we have other amazing candidates.

Um Edgar shows up to every single one of our city council meetings.

He is so I just love talking to him every single time.

I love his passion, I love what he has to offer, and not just that, but we always mention or I always mention how I would love to see younger folks in here because I think that in reality we need to make sure that we're covering all parts of our community, and so having that's why I'd also wish we had YAC members on the council, right?

I know that's a little more extreme, but I think there's the importance of having different points of view, um, especially with people from different experiences, different backgrounds of life.

Um, so I was gonna say something else, but of course my EDHD, I forgot.

So if I remember, I will um Oh, with Brenda, she's been on the um she's on our board.

Um my gosh, what was I gonna say, Brenda?

I swear there was so much I was gonna say that I'm like, where is my mind right now?

But I just appreciate everything that she said in terms of advocating for the community and the different points that she would bring as well.

So I think we have very and that's not to diminish all the other candidates as well.

They were very strong.

So I am also equally this is a tough decision, but I also believe that I strongly believe that whoever we pick will be a great candidate.

I think we have really strong choices in front of us.

So I I actually had John on my list too, but uh I think his statements and the thing, you know, he'd serve if chosen, but I think we also have um good strong candidates.

Um if we had if we didn't have the candidates we have tonight, I I would probably reach out and ask John to please serve again.

But I I know there's um that's tough for him.

I think he gave us clear descriptions of that.

And uh since we do have high qu high quality good candidates, um I'm not recommending John come back and serve at this time.

But I I agree with you, I can see him doing it again in the future.

Maybe there's a point where um his wounds with the city heal, and he feels like that this it's time to return.

So cool.

Well, we've gone through that.

Uh ballot voting when deliberations, I'm assuming we're done deliberating.

Okay.

Uh the mayor will declare a council ready for a vote.

Each counselor will vote for a candidate.

Uh city record will either pass out paper ballots.

I think uh was the intention we just put a name and we'll say this because we don't know where it's gonna go.

Do we name it call it pass one and we'll all pass in our four votes and we'll see if there's a clear answer.

This is like the primaries, I feel like.

I want to I want to go back a little bit.

We did skip the nomination process.

Um, the step one.

Each member can either nominate or second one person.

Sorry, skipped right to the exciting stuff.

Uh, because they're only uh four city council members, only two applicants may succeed, uh, may uh successfully be nominated.

So counselors can indicate that they are ready to nominate by raising their hand.

Once someone is nominated, the mayor will wait to see if there's a second.

If no one seconds the nominee, they do not move forward.

Sorry, I skipped that part.

So we can only go, we're gonna we're gonna get two and then we're gonna vote off on those two, is what I'm hearing.

You see it's that's why you're here is to make sure I don't skip these steps in here because I'm so excited to get to the nominating someone.

Okay, well, I would like to nominate Edgar.

Second.

I would like to nominate uh Brenda.

Second.

Well, look at that.

The process got us to an answer.

Okay.

So with that, um, we've already been deliberating our brains out.

Is there further deliberation required?

Council.

Okay.

So I then we uh Michelle, can we go to vote voting?

Can we get to the fun part?

Yes, that's what the little paper in front of you is for.

Um please write your name and your vote, and I'm going to read them aloud.

But you pass them to me.

I will come over and grab it from you.

I feel like we should have music or something or drum rolls.

Do too do do the entryopardy.

Do do do do do to do to do do do do do do counselor Lopez hands in the last vote.

Yeah, I already read.

We'll proceed to vote.

The nominees, we had Edgar and Brenda.

Uh each counselor will cast their vote.

Please write on there.

Staff, do we have a clear answer or are we stalemated?

I have a majority, but not all unanimous.

Um council President Godinas Valenteb, a vote for Edgar Baker.

Mayor Delane, a vote for Edgar Baker.

Counselor Vaughn, a vote for Edgar Baker, and Counselor Lopez, a vote for Brenda Gonzalez Pacheco.

Okay.

So we got an answer.

Once the nominee receives a majority vote, the mayor will announce the results, which you already did.

Three three to one for Edgar.

Um and that was, you know, that gets it.

So vote's been tallied.

We've received a majority of the votes, and hereby select to fill the vacancy by Edgar Baker.

Uh congratulations, Edgar.

Um, and I'll now entertain a motion to approve resolution 2025.

No, that's the wrong.

It's we're uh sorry, 20 years.

Resolution 2026-30.

You guys need to get to the right place so you can do that.

I didn't open my laptop to get thank you, Council President.

Of course.

Oh, I did until it went away.

Okay, here we go.

I make a motion to approve resolution number 2026 30, a resolution of the Cornelia City Council appointing Edgar Baker to the Cornelia City Council to fill a vacancy to serve the remainder of the unexpired term ending December 31st, 2026, and this action takes effect immediately.

Second.

I second that motion.

Second by Councilor Lopez, motion by Councilor Goodiness.

All those in favor, um we can just do simple vote, right?

We don't yes, resolution, so we don't have to all those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

Abstentions?

Passes unanimous.

Thank you very much.

Wow.

I feel like it delivered a baby or something.

It's just like it just took us a while to get there.

That was but it's good.

It's a good like a baby, it's a good thing.

Okay.

Um reports.

City council, do you have any reports?

Yes, counselor.

Yes, just same report as always.

It's getting the night the weather is nicer, and I just ask for you all to really be careful as you're out and about.

Children playing.

If you also have children, please just be careful, talk to them about um wandering into the streets, you know, just safety in general.

Um I know a lot of times people are out playing basketball.

I've also seen them playing soccer, and that's great, and I love that.

I just want to make sure that um, you know, kiddos are aware that drivers are on the road, and sometimes they could you know accidentally not see them or just be aware too as a driver that of your speed, especially because they've changed the speed of the corridor.

Uh driving um past uh coastal, so that's a 35.

Please remember that's a 35 because everybody's acting like it's a 55.

Um and it's only for construction right now, but again, just be mindful there's a lot of people walking there.

It's um it's a hazard.

We've had a lot of accidents, so just be mindful and respectful neighbors.

Thank you.

Thank you, counselor.

Anyone else have a counselor report tonight?

Yes.

Nope.

Nope.

Okay.

Uh mayor's report.

Uh I'm just gonna park it right here and just agree with you on the the traffic.

Um definitely with the bowl bouts, right?

We got a lot of ball bout work going on also, which is forcing pedestrians and bikes out into the highway or the street.

So please, please, please be very you know aware of what's going on with those.

And um I would say as I drive through Hillsborough and their bowl bouts, they didn't close the lanes, but they got stuff sticking out in the lanes, so people are kind of drifting into the next lane.

So kind of just be very observant of what's going on around you and where that construction is happening and be give a little grace to each other and the pedestrians and the the bicyclist, please.

We don't we don't need another fatality.

Um chief will probably tell us if we ask, but I know we had a heck of an accident the other night just over at uh 10th again or fourth at fourth.

Yeah, we had uh somebody pull out and get smashed there.

I saw all the kitty litter and flares, and we continue to see that stuff.

So just slow down, take it easy, watch out for each other.

I'm gonna park it there.

No city manager, does staff uh assistant city manager have a report or can I say something?

Yes, I just wanted to make a comment about our boards and commissions since um today we can see that there's a clear line from planning commission to city council.

That's not assumed.

I assume um we'll recognize that many of our applicants today are already on uh budget committee, economic development commission, a planning commission.

Um if you weren't chosen today, I do encourage you to join a border commission or get involved in other ways.

Um another thing you mentioned today about the applicants was there activity with the city going to events um this June 9.

Take care.

June 13th, take care of Cornelius Day.

Um, so please sign up and volunteer.

Yeah, and and we didn't have it on our announcements.

I that that's right, we missed the June 6th, because the safety fair is gonna be right right out here on the 6th, right?

So yeah, come by, check that out.

Uh we're uh fighting with the Rose Festival that day because that's the um Starlight, it's not the Rose Festival parade anymore, it's the Starlight Rose Festival, and uh I'm gonna I I accepted Mayor Wilson's invite, so I'm gonna take my risks and I'm gonna venture into Portland uh for the Starlight.

So I'll be in the Starlight Parade.

Um there's mayors coming from all over the adjacent cities and the state to uh support Mayor Wilson to try to continue to support the revitalization and the return of a strong Portland.

So we're we're trying to help him out there.

Yes, Councilor Gardenus.

Sorry, I just want to mention one last thing.

As it's getting drier out, and you know, we didn't have a lot of snowpack this year.

I just want us to be aware of that.

Uh you know, it I hear fireworks now, tis the season, I guess.

So but um, you know, just be aware of safety because every year this happens.

I'm sure our chief can tell us too, but there's a lot of fires, tree fires, but uh brush fires that happen because of um fireworks.

So just be mindful of that, please.

And make sure it helps to water the lawn, but also recognize water's expensive.

So yeah.

As long as you brought that up, we've got another minute here.

Um, can we clarify what months actually affect so like I I'm I remember there's a difference between the summer and the winter.

Staff, can you clarify what bill or what time can you start watering your lawn or whatever, and it won't add, will not add into your average water consumption, which then drives your sewer, average sewer consumption.

What can you specify that?

Can you help?

So the sewer average uh portion of the utility bill um takes the usage six months, November to April.

So we're now in May.

So if you're watering now, that would not count towards the outage calculation.

I and I don't know about you guys, I haven't had to start watering the lawn at all because it's been more of a like if I don't mow it every week, I I need to hay it the next weekend.

So um, but yeah, thank you for clarifying that.

So May through October.

So um you but in November that's when the water bill starts affecting your average sewer rate.

Yes.

Okay, great.

So let the watering begin.

And um, because you know it is the the almost the smallest portion bill, it's smaller than the sewer portion.

So I'm sorry, I'm not sure.

Oh, you got another one guys, it's not me tonight.

No, it's because I work with kids and I'm just thinking about all the things, and again, like the weather's been really nice, and people have been going out um to Sabies to Hag Lake, wherever that may be, but I just want to remind you guys the water is still really cold, and so there's a lot of shock that can happen.

I saw it the other day, and so just be mindful that even though it is getting hotter, it's really nice, it might feel like a great day to get into the water, just be safe with that because water shock is real, and I don't want anybody to get hurt or drown themselves.

So please use life vests if you're gonna do that.

Okay, uh great.

Anything else from council staff?

Do I have a motion to adjourn?

I motion to adjourn.

Motion by Councillor Garninus.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Second by Councillor Vaughn.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

Abstentions?

We are adjourned.