OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Forest Grove City Council Meeting - November 10, 2025: Emergency Declaration and Department Updates

City Council — Monday, November 10, 2025
BodyForest Grove, Oregon
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, November 10, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:15:43

Transcript — Verbatim
0:09

Good evening.

0:10

Let me get this a little closer.

0:12

I'd like to call to order this meeting of the Forest Grove City Council.

0:15

The time is 7:15.

0:17

Will our city recorder please call roll?

0:23

You're good.

0:25

Councillor Guserson?

0:26

Here.

0:26

Council President Valenzuela.

0:28

Here.

0:28

Councillor Schimmel.

0:29

Here.

0:29

Councillor Falconer.

0:31

Here.

0:31

Councillor Martinez?

0:32

Here.

0:32

Councillor Marshall.

0:33

Here.

0:34

Mayor Wenzel.

0:35

Here.

0:35

Forest Grove City Council meetings are located on the land of the Tewallaton Calapuas, who call themselves the At Pilates.

0:42

They are now part of the Confederate tribes of Grand Ron.

0:45

Will the council and the audience please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

0:51

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

0:57

And to the Republic for which it says one nation, God, indivisible liberty and justice for all.

1:06

Thank you.

1:13

Okay.

1:14

We're gonna move on to item B on our agenda, which is public comment.

1:20

Public comment.

1:21

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.

1:29

Comments are limited limited to two minutes unless additional time is granted by the presiding officer.

1:36

The public comment period shall not exceed 30 minutes unless a majority of counselors present vote to extend the time.

1:42

Zoom attendees may use a raise hand option to be called on.

1:46

We will do in-person public comment and then I will check Zoom.

1:49

Um I'm gonna just go over a couple ground rules quickly.

1:54

Public comment is an opportunity for public testimony.

1:57

The council does not respond to public comment.

2:00

We thank you for your public comment.

2:03

If you are excited or uh in agreement with words, someone has spoken.

2:08

I ask that you please snap if you want to show um support, because I understand that's important, but it's also very important that we hear each other's words.

2:20

If you are planning on showing a sign or holding up something, I ask you to do that in the back of the room so other people so we as a council can see the community.

2:32

Um again, council comments will be two minutes, and I think I'm gonna call people up two at a time, so you can just like be sitting, just maybe to help it run a little smoother.

2:46

Okay, so our first person signed up is Fernando Guterres.

2:52

Fernando, come on up to the table in the front, sir.

2:55

There's a microphone.

2:57

Just state your name for the record, and then your two minutes will start.

3:01

The next up will be Dale Feek.

3:04

Yes, please, sir.

3:11

Okay, whenever you're ready, Fernando.

3:12

Okay, I'm ready.

3:13

Okay, go for it.

3:14

I just uh you know, I've uh I came to Forest Grove back in 1964.

3:19

I think I was like 13 years old.

3:22

I've lived here for quite a long time.

3:25

So I'm kind of interested in how did the ICE system find out about Forest Grove?

3:31

Why are why are we here?

3:33

Why are they here?

3:40

And you know, that's that's basically we're way out here in the middle of nowhere.

3:46

How did they, you know, come and uh you know start harassing us or you know the way they're acting.

3:53

Yeah, I'm sorry, I can't answer your question.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety████████████████████████████28%
Immigration Enforcement██████████████████████████26%
Parks and Recreation███████████11%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████8%
Procedural███████7%
Public Engagement██████6%
Emergency Management████4%
Technology and Innovation██2%
Public Health█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Forest Grove City Council Meeting - November 10, 2025

The Forest Grove City Council met on November 10, 2025, at 7:15 PM. The meeting included extensive public testimony on immigration enforcement, annual department updates, and culminated in the unanimous adoption of a resolution declaring a state of emergency and allocating $50,000 to support community organizations aiding those impacted by federal immigration activities.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda, consisting of routine items, was approved by a vote of 7–0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Fernando Guterres and Dale Feek expressed concerns about ICE presence in Forest Grove, with Feek highlighting a Washington County emergency declaration and urging council action.
  • Kristen Ludwig shared a story of a documented community leader too afraid to testify; she called for voluntary notaries and parent support.
  • Peter Terex, former councilor and current school board member, urged a public hearing on any emergency resolution and stressed student safety.
  • Beth Genley (Indivisible Forest Grove) reported on community efforts to document ICE activities and asked the council to act, including directing police to record and report ICE actions.
  • Melissa Tim, a teacher, described trauma in schools: students fearful, a pregnant mother without her husband, and ICE agents circling Cornelius Elementary.
  • Linda Taylor suggested using the city utility as a mechanism for emergency assistance and shared the "SALUTE" acronym (Size, Activity, Location, Uniform, Time, Equipment) for reporting ICE incidents.
  • Michael Johnson recommended collecting information for habeas petitions and pursuing bench warrants for illegal arrests.
  • Carol (read aloud) shared a message that residents are more than farm workers and deserve peace.
  • Nathan Derleth, a new mother and university employee, criticized the Pledge of Allegiance given current events.
  • Justin Baer expressed exhaustion at explaining ICE actions to his daughter and urged the council to take definitive action.
  • Sean Elke, former law enforcement, encouraged legal strategies and criticized state inaction.
  • Avery Grubbs, mother of a disabled adult, noted that her caregivers (both documented) are afraid to take her daughter out due to skin color.
  • Mika Mendez (Zoom) expressed fear and urged the council to correct misinformation and stand up.
  • Rosa (Zoom), a DACA recipient and mother of three, feared being taken from her children.
  • Sandra (walk-in) demanded action, noting she is working two jobs and already helping her community despite being scared.

Discussion Items

  • Public Works Update (Greg Robertson): Reported on the Council Creek Regional Trail (bid April 2026, two-year build), overlay projects (1.5 miles, 66 curb ramps), completion of the admin facility expansion (April 2026), emergency water intertie, and 2026 priorities including a study to return downtown couplet to two-way traffic, safe routes to school, water rate/SDC study, and a $250,000 arts grant for signage.
  • Police Department Update (Chief): Reviewed 2025 goals including the unsuccessful police station bond, a response time dashboard (going online), code enforcement work session in January 2026, traffic enforcement grants, and community outreach (16,000 Facebook followers). The chief noted that officers have been directed to record ICE interactions but cannot intervene due to legal limitations; state-level guidance is needed. He also highlighted the hiring process for a new police chief.
  • Parks and Recreation Update (Cody Jeffers, for Director Lane): Reported progress on Kyle Park bike skills area and Forest Grove Loop Trail Master Plan, $13,000 in financial assistance (Fund for All), pool tile replacement, new programs (summer kickoff, Park Licks), and 2026 priorities: pool deck/locker room renovation, East Side Park construction, master plan update, and cost recovery plan.
  • Fire Department Update (Chief Gearing): Detailed accomplishments: purchased deployment analysis software (Atom, $17,500 split 50/50 with rural district), implemented response time dashboards (including real-time shift displays), filled three levy-funded positions (graduation December 4), updated volunteer program (15 active members), applied for state staffing grant ($35,000), and a draft IGA with Cornelius. 2026 priorities include new fire engine placement, surplus truck sale, staffing software, and standardized training.
  • Council Communications and Additions/Deletions: Councilor Falconer moved to add an emergency declaration resolution to the agenda (item F2); motion passed.
  • Resolution 2025-60: Authorizing city manager to establish membership in the Mayor's Innovation Project ($1,250/year); approved 7–0.
  • Resolution 2025-61: Declaring a state of emergency regarding federal immigration enforcement, authorizing up to $50,000 from contingency funds to support community-based organizations providing services to impacted residents. The resolution expires December 31, 2025. Council discussed the need for public testimony (noting extensive public comment earlier) and confirmed funds come from reserves (no impact on other services). Passed 7–0.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved (7–0).
  • Resolution 2025-60 (Mayor's Innovation Project membership) approved 7–0.
  • Resolution 2025-61 (State of Emergency) approved 7–0, allocating $50,000 for community organizations.
  • Council set a retreat for December 1.
  • Council agreed to include youth advisory members in the NLC student delegation selection (applications due December 31).
  • Council scheduled an executive session (real property negotiations) immediately following the meeting.
  • The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:30 PM with council consent to continue to executive session.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Let me get this a little closer. I'd like to call to order this meeting of the Forest Grove City Council. The time is 7:15. Will our city recorder please call roll? You're good. Councillor Guserson? Here. Council President Valenzuela. Here. Councillor Schimmel. Here. Councillor Falconer. Here. Councillor Martinez? Here. Councillor Marshall. Here. Mayor Wenzel. Here. Forest Grove City Council meetings are located on the land of the Tewallaton Calapuas, who call themselves the At Pilates. They are now part of the Confederate tribes of Grand Ron. Will the council and the audience please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it says one nation, God, indivisible liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Okay. We're gonna move on to item B on our agenda, which is public comment. 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 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 a raise hand option to be called on. We will do in-person public comment and then I will check Zoom. Um I'm gonna just go over a couple ground rules quickly. Public comment is an opportunity for public testimony. The council does not respond to public comment. We thank you for your public comment. If you are excited or uh in agreement with words, someone has spoken. I ask that you please snap if you want to show um support, because I understand that's important, but it's also very important that we hear each other's words. If you are planning on showing a sign or holding up something, I ask you to do that in the back of the room so other people so we as a council can see the community. Um again, council comments will be two minutes, and I think I'm gonna call people up two at a time, so you can just like be sitting, just maybe to help it run a little smoother. Okay, so our first person signed up is Fernando Guterres. Fernando, come on up to the table in the front, sir. There's a microphone. Just state your name for the record, and then your two minutes will start. The next up will be Dale Feek. Yes, please, sir. Okay, whenever you're ready, Fernando. Okay, I'm ready.

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