Forest Grove City Council Meeting - September 8, 2025
Forest Grove City Council Meeting - September 8, 2025
The Forest Grove City Council met on September 8, 2025, at 7:13 PM. The meeting included public comments, presentations from state legislators, a public hearing on electric rate increases, and a contentious debate over rescinding support for the City Club's Main Street program. The council approved a 3.25% electric rate increase and voted down a motion to rescind the Main Street resolution.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was approved unanimously (7-0) on a motion by Councilor Gustafson, seconded by Councilor Martinez.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jordan Miller (City Club board member) reported progress on the 2040 plan, using football yardline metaphors to describe advancement in local small business partnerships (70-yard line), Main Street vision (70-yard line), events downtown (95-yard line with six events), and volunteer/membership (70-yard line). He cited a 1:18 return on investment for Main Street programs.
- Michael Perole (resident, 3254 Ring Point) thanked the council for their support at the recent flag retirement ceremony and expressed appreciation for the city's care for veterans, shifting his previous critical stance.
- Rodney Gotzatsend (Indivisible member) thanked Councilor Gustafson and Council President Valenzuela for speaking at Indivisible rallies, emphasizing the importance of community involvement.
- Michael Gettlin (Nectar cannabis dispensary compliance/public affairs) flagged concern over oversaturation of dispensaries (from 3 to 6 since 2020) and proposed zoning amendments to limit future growth. He noted he and a colleague are on the Oregon Cannabis Industry Alliance board and offered to continue the conversation.
- Charmel Hendrix (resident) requested an art walk on Wednesdays to bring more people into the community, suggesting City Club support.
- Dale Feek (resident) commented on a New York Times article about Parkinson's and expressed concern about ICE recruitment bonuses under the Trump administration, stating that the administration is building a paramilitary police force.
Discussion Items
- Presentation: State Legislative Updates – Representative Susan McLean and Senator Janine Solman presented updates from the long session. McLean discussed the transportation package (19 months of work, 13 tours, 4-day special session in August). Key elements: 6-cent gas tax increase (from 40 to 46 cents), 0.1% payroll tax for transit (two-year sunset), DMV fee increases, and accountability measures. The 50-30-20 split of resources (state 50%, counties 30%, cities 20%) was maintained. Senator Solman highlighted bills on utility rates, domestic violence (SB 710), raising marriage age to 18, banning PFOS firefighting foam (phase-out by July 1, 2026), bottle bill modernization, banning thick plastic bags, right to repair for electronics and wheelchairs, and bill limits. Councilor Falconer thanked them for their work and noted PFOS in firefighter turnout gear. Councilor Martinez expressed concern about unemployment benefits for unions and the transportation package's impact on local levies and businesses leaving Oregon.
- Public Hearing: Resolution 2025-53 (Electric Rate Increase) – Keith, Light and Power Director, presented the rate study by FCS Bowman. The proposal: 3.25% increase for all users effective October 1, 2025, driven by a 9.1% BPA rate increase and to maintain reserves. A new rate study will be performed next summer. The increase does not reflect new large loads (e.g., data centers) until 2028, which are projected to put downward pressure on future rates. Dale Feek testified in support, noting he learned from Keith about transformers purchased by Crane and that the city is protecting ratepayers. The hearing closed; resolution passed 7-0.
- Item F2: Motion to Rescind Resolution 2024-03 (Main Street Support) – Councilor Schimmel moved to rescind the resolution and direct the city manager to contact the Oregon Main Street (OMS) director to restore Forest Grove to the connected community level. He argued the resolution was narrow and that collaboration expectations (with the chamber) were not met, citing trust issues including NDAs. Councilor Falconer requested more time and information. Councilor Gustafson opposed rescission, emphasizing the value of the Main Street program (3-year build, $18 ROI per dollar), progress made, and that the chamber had an open board seat. Council President Valenzuela worried about losing funding. Councilor Martinez urged letting ongoing efforts to build consensus play out. Councilor Marshall noted City Club is the only entity that reached out to him as a business owner. Councilor Falconer highlighted conflict-of-interest concerns with Councilor Gustafson also serving as City Club president. After debate, the motion failed 3-4 (yes: Schimmel, Valenzuela, Wensell; no: Falconer, Martinez, Marshall, Gustafson).
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved (7-0).
- Resolution 2025-53 adopting a 3.25% electric rate increase effective October 1, 2025, approved (7-0). The increase maintains reserves and covers BPA cost increases. A new rate study will be conducted next summer.
- Motion to rescind Resolution 2024-03 failed (3-4), keeping the city's support for City Club's Main Street application in place.
- Motion to skip Item G (executive session) approved by voice vote.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I'd like to call to order this meeting of the Forest Grove City Council a little bit late at 7.13 p.m. Will the city recorder please call roll? Councillor Gustafson? Here, Council President Valenzuela. Here. Councillor Shimon. Here. Councillor Falconer. Here. Councillor Martinez. Here. Councillor Marshall. Here. Mayor Wensell. Here. Forest Grove City Council meetings are located on the land of the Twilight and Calapuas, who call themselves the At Pilates. They are now part of the Confederate tribes of Grand Run. Will the audience and council please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the liar of the United States of America. Thank you. And whereas what began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Johnson was expanded by President Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15th and ending on October 15th. And whereas September 15th is the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Nicaragua, sorry. It is followed by the Independence Days of Mexico and Chile on September 16th and 18th, respectively. And whereas this year's theme, Collective Heritage, Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future celebrates the deep cultural traditions and achievements of Hispanic communities while looking forward to the creativity and promise of future generations. And whereas we recognize and honor the many ways that Hispanics have enriched the cultural education, educational, and economic vitality of Forest Grove, while also rededicating ourselves to addressing the lack of equal access to opportunity that many still face. Thank you, Council President. We're gonna move on to item B on our agenda, public comment. Time provided for anyone wishing to speak to City Council on an item not on the agenda or on the agenda, but not scheduled for a public hearing. Comments are limited to two minutes unless additional time is granted by the presiding officer. The public comment period shall not exceed 30 minutes unless a majority of counselors present vote to extend the time. Zoom attendees may use the raise hand option to be called on. So we'll begin tonight with Mr. Jordan Miller. All right, so I'm here as a board member on City Club, and I came and spoke a couple of weeks ago at uh one of the city council meetings. So I'm back and hopefully reporting a little bit of progress. Um so given two minutes, only last two minutes. You proved me wrong right away. Um I'm gonna go through a few of these on just some progress that we've made and identified kind of some targets of where we're at right now, and since football just started, I'm gonna use a few football references to uh give some parameters on the progress. So um, and this is in regard to the 2040 uh plan. So section 1.6, uh local small business partnerships. I'd say City Club right now we're at about the 70 yard line. Um section 1.8 on the 2040, the long-term vision with the main street program. I'd say we're also at the 70-yard line. We're at the point where we need to have some communication with the city or other groups to make sure visions are aligned and all the work that we're doing is going in the right direction. Um events downtown. So we have six currently. If I wanted to be uh braggy, I would say we have twelve, because one of those happens six times. Um so we are currently doing six of those.
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