Forest Grove City Council Meeting - January 12, 2026
Forest Grove City Council Meeting - January 12, 2026
This meeting of the Forest Grove City Council covered a wide range of topics, including a public hearing and second reading of a sanctuary city ordinance, multiple presentations on housing, senior services, and small business support, and a number of routine consent agenda items. The meeting was marked by emotional public testimony regarding recent ICE enforcement actions in the community. The council approved the sanctuary city ordinance (6-1), a new police labor agreement, and a reissued state of emergency declaration, among other actions.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was approved (7-0) except for item C3 (proclamations list), which was removed for discussion.
- A motion to add International Women’s Day and Human Rights Day to the proclamation list was approved (7-0).
- A motion to remove Pride Month and Ban Books Week failed for lack of a second.
- The amended item C3 was then approved (7-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Dale Feek (Forest Grove resident since 1966) commented on energy demand and drew parallels to historical abuses of power, urging council not to fall for fear tactics. He also testified later in favor of the sanctuary ordinance.
- Mercedes Garcia (retired educator, resident for 3 years) requested the council confirm sanctuary status, adopt resolution 2025-61 extending the emergency declaration, provide unanimous support, and make Spanish translation services more widely known.
- Annette Herrings (attorney and Forest Grove resident) described being assaulted by ICE agents on December 9, 2025, including being pepper sprayed, forcibly removed from her car, and detained. She characterized the situation as akin to fascist Nazi Germany.
- Ms. Lumay (former member of Citizen Policing Advisory Committee) spoke about police violence and the need to move forward, not return to a past that didn’t exist.
- Michael Johnson (Indivisible Forest Grove) criticized the hiring of minimally trained federal agents and their tactics, supporting the sanctuary ordinance.
- Arianne Anderson (Forest Grove resident) recounted witnessing a Hispanic mother terrified after an ICE encounter and the subsequent assault on Ms. Herrings.
- Santiago Estrada (U.S. citizen, Forest Grove since 1978) expressed fear as a Hispanic man and urged action.
- David Dion (resident since 2009) pointed out the danger of masked men claiming authority without identification.
- Aaron Graham (witness to December 9 incident) asked for police protocols to address rapid ICE operations.
Discussion Items
Presentations
- Washington County Housing Services Annual Report (Presenters: Jill Chen, Jess Larson): Reported serving 20,700 individuals countywide, with 26 capital projects, 7,700+ with short-term rental assistance, 31+ with shelter, 10,000+ with long-term rental assistance, and over 1,100 affordable homes operated by the county. The average income of served households is less than $1,000/month; 50% of residents are severely rent-burdened. Highlights included 97% retention rate for housed tenants and a $100M renovation of affordable housing portfolio (including Parkside Apartments in Forest Grove). Funding sources: 44% from regional supportive housing services measure, 23% from Housing Choice Vouchers.
- Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Project – Pacific Avenue (Presenters: Lisa Barron, Tori Fletcher of Centro Cultural): Proposed 60 homes for formerly homeless individuals with a culturally specific focus for Latin participants. Site at 3127 Pacific Avenue (Jim’s Auto Shop). $9.74M committed from Metro PSH fund and CareOregon. Timeline: planning in 2026, construction start late 2026/early 2027, 18-month build. Centro Cultural will provide wraparound services. Councilor Schimmel expressed strong support.
- Senior Center Update (Presenter: Anna Gonzalez, Centro Cultural): One-year anniversary report. Increased attendance at meal programs (up to 80 seniors on Tuesdays/Thursdays). 153 seniors received assistive devices in 2025. Survey showed 50% very satisfied, 25% satisfied, 6% neutral, 18% very dissatisfied. Building needs identified: window repairs, roof leaks, HVAC issues, plumbing inspection, signage replacement. Council discussed need for a capital needs assessment.
- Community Impact Grant – Small Business Incubator (Presenters: Claudia and Cesi): In 2025, supported 250+ community members, 90+ business owners, launched 10 new businesses, held trainings (AI, credit, government contracting). Highlighted 80% revenue drop for some small businesses due to ICE activity. Partnership with Energy Trust of Oregon upcoming.
Ordinance 2025-04 – Sanctuary City Codification
- Second reading and public hearing. Staff report by City Manager: Ordinance would create Chapter 39 codifying Oregon Sanctuary Promise Act, prohibit city employees/resources from assisting federal immigration enforcement, require policies, training, public reporting, and define non-public areas. Portland is the only other city to have codified it.
- Councilor Martinez stated her opposition, arguing for a detention center in Oregon and criticizing lack of vetting. Council President Valenzuela and others expressed strong support, citing constitutional concerns and the need to protect community.
- Vote: Approved 6-1 (Councilor Martinez dissenting).
Resolution 2026-02 – Election of Council President
- Council President Valenzuela was re-elected unanimously (7-0).
Resolution 2026-03 – Police Association Labor Agreement
- 3-year contract (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028). Includes 4% annual wage increases, spot adjustments for sergeants (3%), code enforcement (3%), property/evidence specialist (2%). Expanded service recognition benefit to non-sworn employees. Simplified DPSST incentive pay to two levels (4% intermediate, 8% advanced). Removed bilingual premium from the 14% cap. Approved 7-0.
Resolution 2026-04 – Broadband User Group Intergovernmental Agreement
- Renewal of IGA for Forest Grove’s participation in the Broadband User Group (BUG) with 17 other public agencies. 5-year term. Annual cost $30,800. Approved unanimously.
Resolution 2026-05 – Reissuing State of Emergency (Immigration)
- Reissues resolution 2025-61 with expiration December 31, 2026. Removes specific funding allocation ($50,000) but allows future budget amendments. Councilor Martinez abstained; approved 6-0-1.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved with amendments (7-0).
- Ordinance 2025-04 (Sanctuary City) approved on second reading in a 6-1 vote.
- Resolution 2026-02 (Council President) passed 7-0.
- Resolution 2026-03 (Police labor agreement) approved 7-0.
- Resolution 2026-04 (Broadband IGA) approved 7-0.
- Resolution 2026-05 (State of emergency reissue) approved 6-0-1.
- Work session on federal immigration response set for the second meeting of each month; first session to focus on using the Annette Herrings incident as a case study, defining roles, communication protocols, and incident command.
- Council goals and objectives: Council agreed to hold a work session to review and add strategies to the 2040 vision plan; councilors to submit items by January 14.
- City manager updates: Eastside park approval from Clean Water Services; wildfire mitigation project near completion; police facility poll results forthcoming; public works building going vertical.
- Mayor’s comments: State of the City set for March 12; ongoing regional coordination on immigration; request to staff for data on MST funding importance to Forest Grove.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I'd like to call to order this meeting of the Forest Grove City Council at 7 01. Will our city recorder please call roll? Councillor Gustafson? Here. Council President Von Zuela. Here. Councillor Schimmel? Here. Councillor Falconer? Here. Councillor Martinez? Here. Councillor Marshall. Here. Mayor Wenzel. Here. We acknowledge the land on which Forest Grove City Council meetings are held as located on the traditional village sites of the Athalati, a tribe of the Calapuas who originally inhabited the Twalton Plains, including Forest Grove. Will the council and the audience member please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. One nation under God Liberty. Thank you very much. Really quick, if anyone lost a cell phone. I have it here. What's the deal? If anyone lost a cell phone, I have it up here. If in case you couldn't hear our city recorder, if you misplaced your cell phone, uh Mariah has it up front. So just go ahead and see her to the side if you realize you're missing yours. Okay, we're gonna move on to item B on our agenda, which is public comment. Time provided for anyone wishing to speak to the 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. Okay, let me find my public comment. I only have two people signed up for public comment. Uh Mr. Dale Feek, could you please come forward? Hi, Mr. Feek. Hi, Mayor Wenzel, Council President on Zoom, uh Venezuela and Counselors. Dale Feek in Forest Grove since 1966. A wonderful city to live in and raise a family. I have three comments, but I'm gonna do just two here because they've signed up also for testimony for the sanctuary city. Mike Rogue, and I've already sent an email to you to this effect, wrote a story titled A Nine Gigawatt Problems. Surging Demand pushes new energy crisis. Datison is lured by billions of dollars in local tax breaks, turned everything upside down. While consumer and commercial power demand has remained relatively constant for more than a decade, big tech companies have sent electricity consumption soaring from one side of the state to the other. But I lost. Little picture, we may have helped the right bear in Forest Grove. My point of view.
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