Forest Grove City Council Meeting: Sanctuary City Vote & Dept. Reports – Nov 24, 2025
Forest Grove City Council Meeting: Sanctuary City Resolution, Department Reports & Regional Coordination – November 24, 2025
The Forest Grove City Council met on November 24, 2025, at 7:03 PM. The meeting featured extensive public comment on immigration enforcement, the passage of a sanctuary city resolution, annual department reports from Light & Power, Library, Community Development, and Administration, and consensus to send a supporting letter to the Governor regarding a unified regional response to federal immigration actions.
Consent Calendar
- Item C3, a letter to Washington County requesting suspension of the Flock safety contract, was approved 6-1 (Councilor Martinez dissenting).
- Items C1 (Public Arts Commission resolution) and C2 (boards/commissions appointments) were removed for discussion, then unanimously approved 7-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Michael Johnson (Indivisible Forest Grove – speaking personally): Expressed support for suspending Flock cameras due to civil rights concerns, and urged the council to pass a sanctuary city ordinance, stating "somebody has to stand up... the stronger the resistance, the better chance that we can live through this mess."
- Beth Genley: Strongly supported a sanctuary city ordinance, but questioned the specifics of city employee training regarding ICE encounters (e.g., recording arrivals, asking for IDs/warrants, entry to non-public areas). She also noted a regional immigration response coordinating group being formed by Washington County Commissioner Nafisa Fai and Metro Councilor Juan Carlos Gonzalez.
- Senator Janine Solomon (State Senator representing Forest Grove, Cornelius, Hillsboro, Rock Creek): Described the current situation as an "economic and humanitarian crisis," stating ICE is detaining mothers, fathers, children, and neighbors based on skin color, not just the "worst of the worst." She shared a personal story of a mother fearing her 16-year-old daughter could be sex trafficked in broad daylight. She announced she sent a letter to the Governor on November 10th requesting a convening for a unified response, and noted the Governor is organizing a response. She urged the council to support actionable solutions.
- Sandra (via Zoom): Contradicted claims about border security, stating that out of 560+ people detained, only three percent have criminal backgrounds.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 2025-64 – Sanctuary City: Councilor Falconer moved to approve, seconded by Councilor Schimmel.
- Councilor Martinez (dissenting): Argued the resolution won't change the situation or the law, stated some constituents wanted a public vote, and referenced reports of IDs dumped at the border, suggesting those individuals had something to hide.
- Mayor Wenzel (supporting): Responded that only one email from a non-resident called for a public vote, while many more expressed support. She described the trauma experienced by students – an 8th grader not knowing if their parents will be home – and personally witnessing people in military-style camouflage with masks yelling while walking students home. She called it "pure terrorism" and distinguished the current enforcement from prior administrations by noting the fear and lack of due process.
- Councilor Guston (supporting): Called the enforcement "terrorism" and stated leaders have a responsibility to govern with compassion. She linked the resolution to historical civil rights progress (e.g., voting, checking accounts for women).
- Passed 6-1 with Councilor Martinez dissenting.
- Resolution 2025-65 – Transient Lodging Tax IGA: Authorized the city manager to execute an intergovernmental agreement with Washington County for a 3.5% transient lodging tax (increased from 2.5%). Passed unanimously 7-0.
Presentations & Annual Reports
- Light & Power (Keith Horman): Completed replacement of failing 1970s-90s direct area cable; wildfire mitigation projects at Hillside Road and Upper David Hill Road finished, Lower David Hill Road pending materials; tested 10,000 pole drillings – identified 6 priority reject poles, 25 non-priority poles; replaced 364 pre-1970 poles; tree trimming program removed 19 of 24 hazardous trees on private property; low-income solar array at Forest Grove substation ready to bid; record energy efficiency savings of over 2 million kWh (~154 homes annual usage); signed new BPA power purchase agreement (2028-2044); updated pole use agreements with communication companies (some dating to 1980s); completed migration to GIS-based utility network; clean fuels program has 34 customers, 23 e-bike purchases; transmission capacity study (PARS) completed and being replicated regionally; Filbert substation upgrades at 60% design; data center construction began with substation expansion; holiday lights are lit; tree lighting event Friday at 6 PM at 21st & College Way.
- Library (Colleen Winters): Door count averages ~8,200/month; circulation increased by nearly 3%; summer reading distributed many books, with staff promoting at farmers market and schools; received a generous donation for children's area remodel (new tree installed); fireplace area will be remodeled with new furnishings from the Library Foundation; 20 regular volunteers, 30-member Teen Library Council, 9 Friends board, 7 foundation board; 8 Pacific University work-study students (a record); WCCLS levy passed; next phase of structural governance evaluation will explore moving to a district model; possible centralization of collection selection/ordering/cataloging – outcome unknown; potential removal of security gates (following Hillsboro's pilot); ongoing exterior improvements (new mural for back entrance).
- Community Development (Brian Paul): Building department (3 staff) processed ~1,000 permits and ~10,000 inspections for Forest Grove and Cornelius, with a valuation of $350 million; urban reserve areas workshop held; awarded DLCD funding for Housing Capacity Analysis (HCA) – a prerequisite for a Housing Production Strategy; adopted Economic Opportunities Analysis; began work on ADU workshop with Cornelius; drafted code revision for industrial areas (hearing in December); Building Improvement Grant program funded 10 storefront grants ($57K total); 6 tourism sponsorships ($18K); 2 tourism capital grants ($5K each); large building improvement grant round funded 7 projects ($175K total); Urban Renewal Agency purchased the old theater building and held a work session on Main Street direction; future priorities include feasibility analysis for David Hill urban reserves, HCA, comprehensive plan update, economic development/tourism strategic plans, hotel/grocery market analysis, and redevelopment concepts for URA-owned properties.
- Administration (City Manager Jesse Vandersen): All 2025 goals completed or folded into 2040 plan, except the police station bond measure – a poll is underway (closes Dec 1), with a work session planned for Jan 12 or 26; noted 22 action items in 2040 plan for administration; top priorities: comprehensive plan, communications plan, wayfinding (highlighted by Councilor Guston for directing people downtown), partnerships with Pacific University, volunteerism; HR updated several policies (travel, expense, proclamations, 457 retirement, employee manual); Communications (2 staff) finished 2040 plan, implemented first Civics Academy (received exceptional reviews), revamped State of the City address, and created first-ever parks activity guide; IT (Eddie Littlefield) migrated to Windows 11, installed firewalls for CJIS compliance, replaced aging equipment; Finance (Sally Shashiri) successfully implemented biennial budget in system, completed water rate study, completed annual audit; priorities include hiring assistant city manager, police chief, and finance director; researching paid leave and work-back programs for recruitment/retention.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Resolution 2025-64 declaring Forest Grove a sanctuary city (6-1, Councilor Martinez dissenting).
- Approved Resolution 2025-65 authorizing an IGA with Washington County for transient lodging tax administration (7-0).
- Consensus reached to send a letter to Governor Kotek in support of Senator Solomon's request for a unified regional response to federal immigration enforcement.
- Received annual updates from four departments ahead of the December 1st council retreat.
- Mayor Wenzel will represent Forest Grove on a regional immigration response task force convened by Metro Councilor Juan Carlos Gonzalez.
- Upcoming events: Tree lighting ceremony Friday at 6 PM at 21st & College Way; Migra Watch training December 9th (location released upon registration); council retreat December 1st at Light & Power.
Meeting Transcript
I'd like to call this meeting to order of the Forest Grove City Council at 7 03. Will our city recorder please call roll? Councilor Gustaverson. Here. Council President Bowen Zelda. Here. Counselor Schummer? Here. Counselor Falconer? Here. Counselor Martinez? Here. Counselor Marshall. Here. Mayor Wenzel. Here. Forest Grove City Council meetings are located on the land of the Tualeton Calipoas, who call themselves the Atphalati. 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 is stand. One nation under God, indivisible liberty and justice. Thank you. We're going to move on to item B on our agenda, which is 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 the majority of counselors present vote to extend the time. Zoom attendees may use the raise hand option to be called on. So when I call you up for public comment, if you could sit at the chair at the front table in front of the microphone. And our first person signed up for public comment. Thank you for writing your name as well, is Michael Johnson. If the lights on, I guess that means the mic's on. Yes, you're good to go. Um I am with uh Indivisible Forest Grove, but since we haven't had a chance to vote on these issues as an organization, I'll speak for myself. Um couple of things I'd like to address. I noticed that later you're going to deal with possibly sending a letter to Washington County asking them to suspend um the use of flocks. And uh as regrettable as that is, because it's a great law enforcement tool, I think it's necessary, given the fact that uh the laws are being so vague vagrant flagrantly uh abused by those who ought to be protecting them. Um my second uh thing that I would like to address is the thing that you were talking about earlier today, whether or not to uh have uh stand up with an ordinance to uh proclaim that we are a sanctuary city. I understand the concerns, I understand the risks, and I would simply like to say that history teaches us nothing if it hasn't taught us that if everybody keeps their heads down, we all get smothered. So somebody has to stand up, and the more people who do, the stronger the resistance and the stronger the resistance, the better chance that we can live through this mess. Nobody voted for what we're seeing right now. He promised that he was gonna get rid of the murderers and the rapists and the the drug dealers and all the bad guys, and then he told set a quota, which means that automatically they're going after the lowest hanging fruit, and that happens to be very law-abiding people who are just trying to get a little bit of the American dream, and they're being punished for it, and that's wrong, and we need to stand up as a community and say so. Thank you. Thank you. Perfect time as well. Beth Genley. I do want to say that these detentions, actual kidnappings, are occurring into overcrowded, unsanitary and cold detention facilities, and who they're taking away are valued people who contribute to our communities economically and by sharing their love and wisdom. And it it really has to stop. In terms of the sanctuary city ordinance, I'm strongly in favor. I do have some questions though that I hope you'll consider.
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