Good evening.

I'd like to call to order this meeting of the Forest Grove City Council at 710.

Will our city recorder please call roll?

Councilor Gustafson?

Here.

Council President Valenzuela?

Here.

Councillor Schimmel.

Counselor Falconer.

Here.

Counselor Martinez?

Here.

Counselor Marshall?

Here.

Mayor Wenzel.

Here.

We acknowledge the land on which Forest Grove is located.

Rest on the traditional village sites of the At Palati, a tribe of the Calapuas who originally inhabited the Tualaton Plains, including Forest Grove.

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

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

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

To the Republic for which it stands on nation under God, indivisible liberty and okay.

This is like the best part of the council meeting.

We get to recognize someone who has dedicated 20 years of service to Forest Grove, and they have like I have a prepared script, but I just want to say a couple of things.

And Will Murphy exemplifies what it means to be a public servant.

He does his job exceptionally.

He shows up for all of us, he keeps us safe, but he also brings people up with him.

He also is a good coworker.

He is a trusted advocate for his department.

So I will now go back to the script, but I'm just really excited that I get to do this.

We are here tonight to recognize 20 years of service from Will Murphy, who serves as fire captain for the City of Forest Grove Fire Department.

Will came to us with two associates of applied science degrees.

One in fire protection technology from Portland Community College and another in emergency medical technology paramedic from Shamecaga Community College.

Will's previous employer was the Woodburn Ambulance Service, where he was a shift officer, a senior paramedic, and a field training officer.

He was employed with Woodburn ambulance service for nearly eight years from May 1998 to March 2006.

Will was hired on February 27th, 2006 as a firefire fighter, firefighter paramedic with Forest Grove Fire and Rescue.

He was given specialty assignments shortly thereafter in emergency medical services to improve the quality and training of our emergency medical service professionals.

He was promoted to fire lieutenant in October 2013 and then a fire captain in March 2022.

Will's expertise in emergency medical services is without parallel as he continues to serve in specialty assignments for quality assurance and training.

As the representative for the labor group, Will works collaboratively with fire management to accomplish department goals and ensure a strong and safe work environment environment for our firefighters.

Will continues to serve with distinction and honor, and I'm happy to recognize him this evening for his years of service.

Congratulations, Will Murphy.

Yeah, we got another way.

So now I have to.

You don't really have the I'm lucky.

I have the best job in the world.

I get to uh come to work and help people.

I get to be a comrade, uh leader as well as uh uh a mentor to the shift that I run and the rest of the members of the department, and I get to make a difference every day.

So that's what I look forward to.

Thank you for the thank you, Will, for coming.

This is huge too.

Will is such a good employee and a good guy.

Most of our city staff don't come to get their awards.

Like literally, we'll have 20 years, 25 years.

I'm like, are they coming?

And Jesse and Mariah are like, no, they don't want to.

And so Will always shows up, even when he doesn't necessarily want to come to city council meetings, he does it because he's that good of a guy.

So thanks.

And thank you for coming to support him.

Some of your the rest of your shift, I guess, or the chief.

Thanks, Chief Garing.

Okay, we're gonna move on to proclamations.

So this proclamation is for International Women's Day.

Whereas International Women's Day is a global celebration recognizing the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women worldwide.

And whereas International Women's Day is celebrated worldwide by those who champion gender equity and strive to improve the lives of cis, excuse me, and trans and transgender women and trans women and girls through cultural, legal, economic, and social progress.

And whereas people of marginalized genders experience many intersecting forms of oppression that impact their ability to thrive and access safety, employment, justice, health care, housing, education, and reproductive rights.

And whereas colonization and racialized violence are intrinsically connected to gender inequalities experienced by indigenous people, black people, and people of color.

And whereas the International Women's Day 2026, under the theme, Rights, Justice, Action for All Women and Girls, marks a moment to amplify our collective determination to show that no matter how deeply rooted the sexism or how discouraging the politics, we refuse to step back and abandon our cause.

And whereas this the year International Women's Day calls for action to dismantle the structural barriers to equal justice, discriminatory laws, weak legal protection and harmful practices and social norms that erode the rights of women and girls.

Now, therefore, the City Council of the City of Forest Grove does hereby proclaim that March 8, 2026 as International Women's Day in Forest Grove, Oregon, and urges all residents to celebrate women's achievements, raise awareness against bias, and take action for equality.

Testimonio suscrito de la ciudad de Forest Grove se emplace in este dia 23 de February 2026.

Thank you, Council President Valenzuela.

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 a majority of counselors present vote to extend the time.

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

So I want to make a note really quick.

If you are online and would like to give a public comment, um I actually want to say this.

If you are on TVC TV watching and would like to give a public comment, please log on to the Teams link.

Right, where can they find that?

It's on the posted agenda.

It's on the posted agenda for the link, and that is how you can give public comment if you are on watching on TV C TV.

Thank you.

Okay, I'm gonna call the first person who signed up, which is David Dion.

I feel like I mess up your name every time.

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Okay, that's good.

Improvements important, right?

It cannot have escaped the notice of this council that Republicans in Congress are attempting to seize control of elections from the states.

But I cannot.

The Supreme Court has shown willingness to overturn precedents that have stood for quite literally centuries in service to the administration to the anti democratic agenda of the current administration.

And the administration has a history of ignoring court orders.

It will fall to state and local governments to ensure that partisan interference does not undermine our upcoming election.

It will be this council's responsibility, in part to support the enfranchisement of Forest Grove citizens.

The voter suppression efforts being put forward in Congress target women, transgender people, and mail in voting, all of which are important to this community, this state, and this country.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Dion.

Mr.

Feek.

Hello, Mr.

Feek.

Thank you.

Mayor Wenzel and Council President of Velenzuela and Councillors Dale speak.

We have three minutes, you have to 30 minutes to that.

Can I have three minutes?

Sure.

Thank you.

I emailed you and I should have known better, but I asked Miranda.

Mariah to pass this out, and I passed it out to the city count to the county commissioners on Tuesday when I made public comment, but the procedure is not to do that.

So you don't have to right now.

I read a lot of this to the county commissioners, as you know, I sent this to the mayors of Beaverton, Hillsborough, and Cornelius now, and to you and Council.

All of you elected leaders and administrators need to work together to counter what the Trump regime is doing as described by Heather Cox Richardson in her February 14th letter from an American.

I ask you to please read it in detail.

I'm just going to quickly say read a couple statements for this.

And so Trump clearly thinks he must take matters on his in his own hands.

Well the Constitution is quite clear that it is Congress and Congress alone that can make laws.

He intends to change the nation's voting laws all by himself.

The dictator in charge.

The account.

That was my comment.

The account posted.

The Democrats refuse to vote for voter ID for citizenship.

The reason is very simple.

They want to continue to cheat in elections.

This was not what our founders desired.

I have searched the depths of legal arguments.

It's Trump saying this, not yet articulated or vetted on the subject.

And we'll be presenting in an irrefutable one in the very near future.

There will be voter ID for the midterm elections, whether approved by Congress or not.

Also, the people of our country are insisting on citizenship and no mail-in ballots, with exceptions for military disability, illness, or trial.

Thank you for attention to this matter.

President Donald J.

Trump.

February 14th.

Heather Cox Richardson says ICE protesters carried a giant U.S.

Constitution through the streets of Minneapolis.

The man of the federal agents honored the rights of the framers established with that foundational document.

I totally agree.

Also, I quoted Robert Reich.

And you can read that, but I he just says, My father was a proud American, and he lived a long good life.

Were he alive today, he'd be 112.

If he witnessed America's growing resistance to the bullet in chief, he'd be proud of all of you who continue to fight against the squalor of Trump and the scourge of his regime.

And I say, my dad would be 111 years old on February 12th, 2026.

And he and my mom would agree with right, as I do.

I want to encourage all of you to go to the play at the high school, the diary of Anne Frank, Bob Seward, who's daughter is here tonight and make public comment.

Encouraged all of you to go with the Diary Anne Frank.

It's pertinent for today's attack.

Thank you, Mr.

Feek.

This is Christy Cockkey.

Mayor Wenzel, Counselors, staff, uh Department, and of course my well-documented favorite light and power in the House.

Um, I'm Christy Kottka bit 2728 Harvest Court in Forest Grove, and I'm here tonight uh in my capacity as school board chair.

I wanted to thank Councilor Schimmel for popping by our public comment to share a little bit of what's going on with council.

We do tomorrow night have our first of several sets of budget meetings starting at 5:30, and I wanted to invite counselors to also uh let your networks know that that's happening, and we'll be streaming live.

We're gonna have an update from our finance director, Eileen Clute, and also current current situation that you are all hearing that schools are in.

We're in deficit spending.

We also are gonna be asked to make additional cuts, and so we'll get some information out to the community tomorrow about where we are in that process and what that's looking like.

Also, at seven o'clock, I want to let you know that our school board is opening a discussion to discuss uh publicly criteria that we would like to see from our legislative uh candidates and see what our school board can do with coming to consensus about not only what criteria we're looking for, but also what questions we as a school board should be asking when we are going out and talking with our potential candidates about those positions, and I welcome the council to watch that discussion and also provide feedback as well for thoughts that you might have on questions that we could be asking.

And finally, I do want to echo.

I actually came tonight.

I did take my dad to see the diary of Ann Frank at the high school this weekend, and I wanted to come and highlight that for the council and encourage you to also encourage your networks.

We have a lot of people asking what can we do to help the schools, what can we do to support our kids?

And we consistently say go to a basketball game, go to a play, you know, show up when you can.

This play in particular was a play that uh director Anderberg had meant to put on in 2020, and the seniors were ready to go, and then COVID hit, so they were unable to perform the play.

It's in the small theater.

I'm just gonna read this one.

Can I read this?

Yeah, you can finish.

This is the last paragraph of the director's notes.

And I ran in, so I don't have my glasses.

But just like my casting crew in 2020, I am once again working with some very talented actors and technicians.

It has been such a wonderful experience working with them.

They have worked hard in bringing this production to life.

They have approached this piece with great respect for the material.

The diary of Anne Frank is a powerful and important story to tell.

We must must never forget what can happen when a group or an individual tries to take control.

When groups are singled out for hate and mistreat treatment.

We must fight for our humanity and that of others.

Anne says, quote, I believe in spite of everything, people are truly good at heart, unquote.

I hope that Anne is right.

I hope in honor of her, we can all prove her right.

And he says in the thank you for being here with us tonight.

So I encourage you all, and thank you for the women's proclamation to um look that up and send it out to your networks and try to pack the house as we do with the gym next Friday and Saturday.

Thanks for the extra time, Mayor.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Kaki.

This is Carol Allery.

Okay guys.

Always nice to see you all.

Um I just want to let you know that we had three uh Democratic presidents who are very strong Christians.

Woodrow Wilson in 1911, the year before he was elected.

He says America's born to be a Christian nation.

We also have Theodore uh, I mean Franklin Roosevelt.

He also knows no other greater thing that can come to our land today than a revival, the spirit of religion.

And Henry Hen Herr Henry, sorry, Truman in uh 1950 had a speech, and it said that he was talking about the laws that were followed from the uh Moses.

And I was driving in down the road in Portland, and I saw this sign, and I thought I would share it with you.

It says hate creates a lot of problems, and it never solves them.

And from that, I got fear is always behind hate.

And love is always the answer to fear, but you cannot love if you've never met the one who loves you.

John 316 says, For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that anyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life.

I wanted to share that with you.

Have a great day.

Thank you, Miss Allery.

Mr.

Chaz Hunley.

Hello, my name is Chaz Hundley.

I am the editor and publisher of News in the Grove.

You can reach me at Geobox 701 Forrest Grove.

I wanted to take this opportunity to invite uh everyone at the city council to our open house that we're gonna have, which is going to be held directly before the Force Grove State of the City address from 4 30 to 5 30 at our offices, which are conveniently located next door to theater in the grove.

Um we'll have coffee, we'll have cookies.

There's a chance we'll have wine, but I can't promise that yet.

Um so again, that's 4 30 to 5 30 p.m.

You can come down and ask me any questions you'd like to know about the only local newspaper in Forest Grove.

Thank you so much, Chess.

Anyone else who may not have signed up for public comment who would like to give public comment?

I just want to make sure there's no one else.

Okay.

Anyone on Microsoft Teams?

And I don't really see a whole lot of people on it that aren't staff, council, or presenting.

Okay, so we're gonna move on.

There is no consent items tonight.

So we're gonna move on to item D, which is additions and deletions.

City Manager, do you have any additions or deletions?

No additions or deletions, thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Any proposed by council.

Nope.

Okay, item E, presentations.

So the council will hold uh sorry, let me start with the council will hold questions until the end of each presentation, and we're gonna start with our annual audit.

Uh, but with Mr.

Chris Odell from Clear Trail CPAs.

And I believe he is online, so we're gonna switch him over.

Hello, Mr.

Odell.

Hang on, we cannot hear you quite yet.

Can you try speaking again to see if it works now?

No, nope, still not yet.

Sorry, we usually use a different program, so it'll just take us a little bit to figure it out.

Okay, let's test it one more time, Mr.

O'Dell.

Yes, we just need to turn you up.

All right, perfect.

There we go.

Sorry about that.

No, it was on our end.

Go ahead.

Thanks.

That's okay.

Um, so yeah, I'm here to present the 2025 audit results for both the city and the URA.

Um, since it's a similar process, it's just a bigger scale for the city.

I'm just gonna go into what we do for both of them.

Um, first, uh the purpose of the audit, so that's to form an opinion on the fair presentation of the financial statements and their compliance with generally accepted accounting rules and auditing standards, as well as we also look at Oregon municipal audit law and the related administrative rules.

Um so we perform our audit by examining evidence that support the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, and we do this by sampling transactions on a test basis, um, inquiries of staff and then various analytical procedures.

So another part of the audit is to obtain an understanding of the city and its financial environment and use of internal controls, and we do this in order to assess the risk of material misstatements of the financial statements.

Um we do this to come up with the design nature, timing, and extent of our audit procedures.

Um when I say material misstatements, I'm talking about things that are results of errors, fraudulent reporting, misappropriation of assets, or violations of laws or regulations.

So on to the results.

So these are the same for both the URA and the city.

Um they're both issued in unmodified opinion, so it's a clean opinion with no reservations.

We didn't find any exceptions or issues requiring comment on the state minimum standards, and then there's no separate management letter issued, which means there weren't any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in internal controls that we would be required by auditing this uh standards to disclose.

Um and lastly, I want to thank Sally for all our hard work, and um we didn't have any difficulties performing the audit this year.

So yeah.

That's all I have for tonight.

If you have any questions for me, I can take them now.

Okay, great.

Thanks, Chris.

Any questions for Mr.

Odell.

I don't see any.

So yeah, thank you for the work.

Um we appreciate it.

All right, thank you.

Okay, cool.

Have a good night.

Thanks.

You too.

Okay, our next presentation is from one of our community partners, uh, the president of Pacific University, Dr.

Jenny Coyle is gonna give us an update uh for Pacific University.

She's like, I'm in control.

I like it.

Hello, so good evening, everyone, and thank you for inviting me to join you yet again to share updates from your university in Forest Grove.

First, I want to once again take a moment and thank each and every one of you for your leadership and your commitment to guiding our city.

This is a home for so many of our students, employees and alumni.

It's where they live, where they work, where they learn, and where they grow.

And your leadership in making this a safe and inclusive community is so appreciated.

I had the privilege of giving a similar update earlier today at the Forest Grove Cornelius Chamber of Commerce, and some of you were there, so forgive me, you're gonna hear a little bit of repetition.

Um Pacific has actually been at the heart of Forest Grove now since its very beginning.

Since 1849, 176 years ago when Tabro Tabitha Brown envisioned creating a school and a home for children orphaned on the Oregon Trail.

A place that would, in her words, receive all the children.

Over the past 176 years, we have grown from being that small or orphan school to an academy to Washington County's only comprehensive four-year university.

We serve currently about 3,000 students in our undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across our campuses in Forest Grove and Hillsboro, as well as in a handful of online and low residency programs.

In every iteration, however, we have held true to Grandma Brown's legacy, and that remains at the core of our identity as we look to the next era of Pacific's future.

Our current strategic plan centers on a vision of becoming Oregon's opportunity university.

This is a new designation by the Carnegie classification of institutions of higher ed, and it ranks universities on two fundamental metrics.

Access and outcomes.

While there are a lot of college rankings out there, some more reliable than others, this more than any other, we believe is a measure of who we are and how we are living our mission, of how we open doors for all students and empower them towards social and economic mobility that uplifts our communities.

Pacific is already designated a high access institution where we are the most diverse private university in the Northwest.

Twenty-seven percent of all of our students, from first year undergrads to doctoral students, are the very first in their families to attend college.

32% of our undergraduates are Pell eligible, meaning they come from very low-income families.

And we take Grandma Brown's words seriously.

Pacific isn't the kind of institution or private university that seeks exclusivity.

We're the kind that recognizes the potential of every student to pursue the meaningful purpose in the world.

And at Pacific students find a second home and a second family, a community that believes in who they are and who they will become.

A third of our undergraduate students participate in one of our 24 NCAA Division III athletic programs, and we are home to more than 50 student clubs and organizations, spanning everything from academic honor societies to pre-professional networking groups to religious, cultural, and volunteer organizations.

We've been designated as a military and transfer-friendly institution, and we're just one of seven colleges piloting a national autism inclusive campus program.

And we rely on you and on this community to extend that welcome because our students become the backbone of our workforce.

They provide care for underserved patients in our healthcare clinics throughout the Portland area.

They're the future teachers, mental health professionals, speech language pathologists, and occupational therapists in our schools.

We are the top private preparer of health professionals in Oregon, and the top 10 employers of our alumni are all health and education institutions.

44% of our 35,000 plus alumni live and work here in Oregon, 5,000 in Washington County, and more than 800 right here in Forest Grove.

They are children's teachers, they're our family's health care providers, and they are local business owners, elected officials, and nonprofit leaders uplifting our communities.

But the hard truth is, even with all of our success, higher education as a whole is still facing serious headwinds, and Pacific is unfortunately not exempt from that.

Between the demographic cliff that means fewer young people in our country and a troubling public sentiment that devalues education, private colleges like Pacific are finding that the models that have worked for decades are no longer sustainable.

Evolving public policy that is making it even harder for the next generation to access education and pursue their goals is compounding the problem.

At Pacific, we are fortunate to have had leaders who looked ahead, who diversified our programs to meet community needs, and who built a strong foundation.

Pacific is not in a financial crisis, but if we're not ready to adapt, we will be.

As we focus on becoming Oregon's opportunity university, we're proactively fighting those headwinds.

We're looking to shaping the future of higher education in meeting the needs of a rapidly changing world.

First and foremost, that means removing barriers for our students.

A couple of years ago, we proudly launched the Pacific Priority Program, and through that, we offer a four-year graduation guarantee for incoming undergraduate students, two-year graduation guarantee for transfer students, and a wide variety of pathway programs that lead students to accelerated graduate degrees, including guaranteed admission to 11 of our graduate programs.

Pacific Priority is all about reducing uncertainty, giving students a clear path to their professional goals, and assuring them that their investment in themselves and their education pays off.

As a nonprofit university, we are responsible for being good stewards of our students' tuition dollars and ensuring that we're investing every penny in their success.

We invest a third of our operating budget in offsetting tuition.

That means that the tuition number that you see is just a sticker price, not what most students pay.

But we recognize that we need to do more.

We have to take care of students and ensure they have access to education, even as the social safety nets of many of their families that many of their families depend on are threatened.

We have to offer more financial aid for graduate students, particularly with the elimination of federal loan programs for them this past summer.

And we have to do more to prepare students for careers that are both purpose-driven and financially relevant.

Because that's what opportunity ultimately means.

It's the power of education to empower students to transform their lives and their families' lives and the well-being of their communities.

That is what I got from my Pacific education, and it's what I want for every one of our students.

That's why we're in the midst of the critical and often painful process of restructuring our university.

We're working to right size and streamline the university to meet the needs of today and tomorrow.

That means shifting our resources to focus on student support services that help students stay in school to graduation and that enhance career preparation and networking.

It also means continuing to adapt to the needs of our communities by prioritizing workforce development.

Right now we're building three-year undergraduate degree pathways to help students get to work faster and certificate programs to provide professional skills, both for our traditional students and our communities' workforce needs.

And as I'm sure you have all heard and have questions about, we are exploring a potential merger with Willamette University.

In higher ed acquisitions are common right now, and that's really been the pattern for decades, but that's not what this is and what we're aiming to do.

As the two oldest institutions of higher education in Oregon, we're pursuing a vision of coming together as equals to expand the impact we've been having on this region for nearly two centuries.

We would absolutely maintain our identity as Pacific and our location and commitment to Forest Grove, Hillsboro, and Washington County.

And together we would expand career pathways and networks, community connections and partnerships, and workforce development opportunities for our students, our alumni in the Northwest.

We're in the due diligence phase right now, examining all of the potential legal and financial aspects to Emerger, but we're incredibly excited about what it could mean to create what I'm calling the new American collegiate university in the model of Cambridge or Oxford and lead a transformation of higher education throughout this region and quite frankly in our country.

This is a moment of transition for Pacific and for a higher ed as a whole.

We're positioning ourselves to be leaders for the future, but we cannot do it alone.

Our students, just like students in our K-12 public schools, need safe and supportive communities in order to learn.

A lot of our students are scared right now for themselves and their families.

I deeply appreciate the city's affirmation last fall that this is an inclusive community, and I hope that we can continue to make this a place where everyone is welcome.

Our students also need community connections as they pursue their purpose and career goals.

We already have some amazing partnerships in our community from our mobile dental and optometry clinics, providing critical health care services to our students partnering with local businesses to support our economy.

We're excited to pursue even more of these kinds of opportunities.

Finally, our students in our university need you to help us by being champions of higher education.

I think I've come as an appeal two years in a row to that.

Counter the narrative that college doesn't pay off.

Wear your Pacific gear, recommend Pacific to families and friends, and join us on campus to experience the vibrant opportunities of your hometown college and what we bring to this community.

From lectures to music to dance and our theater and to competitive athletics.

We're proud to be partners with you uplifting this community, and we look forward to the next 176 years of Pacific University.

Thank you.

Thank you, Dr.

Quell.

Thank you, Mr.

Feek.

Any questions or go ahead, Counselor Falkner?

I don't have a question.

I have a comment.

I would just like to say that Dr.

Coyle, you are always such a welcome site all over campus.

I know that you attend so many events, and it is it is appreciated probably more than you know.

And so I just wanted to say thank you for doing that.

It takes a lot of your time, and I really I know everyone really appreciates it.

My honor.

I have a couple questions, like maybe a question and a comment, but okay.

So my understanding is under Trump's um big bill that that changed qualification of some of health professional programs and receiving federal funding or financial assistance.

And um, I'm bringing this up because we're taking a group of student high school students to DC, and I asked them to come up with some questions for Congresswoman Bonamici, and this was one of the questions, right?

And this was one of the questions, right?

Like, hey, they're really feeling like their choices are going to be attacked.

And so I'm just I want to kind of follow up on your end.

Like, what can we do?

Or you know, what how do you think that's gonna affect the university?

And is there anything we can include in that question to Congresswoman Bonomichi to help strengthen your position?

And she's a great friend to our university, by the way.

Um yeah, OB3, the the bill that was signed um in July, it it does shift and limit the amount of um student loans that students can borrow, and it does it has recategorized some of our professions.

Um students will have different the way that they'll fund their education is is a bit gray right now, and we don't necessarily know.

Um believe the private sector will step in, but we don't know what the qualifications are, who's who will be eligible to borrow money under the private sector.

Um, so we we need to be asking, I think our legislators these questions of who will be the caregivers of the future, who will be the teachers of the future, who will be the physical therapist and the occupational therapist, and who's gonna take care of us when we need it?

So those I'm glad that young people are asking that because you know our belief is that everyone should have choice and and have pathways to do what they want to do to fulfill their purpose, and the funding does it it matters, it truly does.

It really does matter, and and it's on their radar, and so we just want to make sure that we do a good job of presenting that when we go to the hill.

So, my other comment is we had the opportunity to do the tree lighting.

Yeah, okay, and then one of the things that I don't know if it was like a family member overheard that I wanted to share with you because I believe Pacific has a representative on the chamber board, but some of the okay.

Well, so then I'm gonna bring it up.

So this is perfect.

So some of the boys basketball team was overheard saying, like, who just had a game?

Where were all these people at our game?

Like, why didn't they come?

And so I think there's a really what you know, we are Force Grove.

Forest Grove exists because Pacific exists, like we do not exist without Pacific.

And so, and we you know, I any time we can bring those that energy together, and so as we do events, I think it's really important that we cross-pollinate that we say, like, hey, like go like hey, you're gonna go to the tree lighting, go check, go support the boys basketball team.

Like, if Oktoberfest is going on any of these opportunities to really say, and you know, and I also know that that same boys basketball team helped with the holiday the light parade, right?

Like they volunteered and worked with the fire department to get that going.

So I just want to say those are always great partnerships, and we will always facilitate trying to, you know, working together is always the best approach.

So I just wanted to give that feedback too.

Yeah, okay, cool.

Thank you for coming.

Thanks for the update.

I appreciate it.

Our next presentation is about a our recreation trails and open space master plan.

And I'm gonna invite director Ann Lane and recreation.

I don't know if Cody's coming up as a recreation director as well.

So we'll have and is Tom, nope.

Tom's like, no.

He's like, I'm here for moral support.

Yeah.

Sounds good.

All right.

So thank you for your time this evening, Mayor and Council.

Tonight's presentation will cover the draft scope of work section of the request for proposals document for the parks, recreation, open space, and trails for proast master plan.

Prost is also the German word for cheers.

In Latin, it means may it be beneficial or to your health.

Okay.

Our intention is that the final product will reflect our intention to be beneficial and create a path of work for and to the health of the community.

Cody Jeffers, recreation coordinator, is co-presenting with me this evening.

Cody and I have been discussing ways to provide him with new opportunities for professional growth.

One of those opportunities has been the writing of the request for proposals document and presenting before council this evening.

Very cool.

Thank you, Ann.

Thank you, Mayor and Council, for the opportunity to grow my skill set and better serve this community.

Provided to you here tonight is our agenda.

Throughout the presentation, Ann and I will take turns explaining each of the activity sections outlined in the scope of work of this project.

Before you on the screen is a snapshot of the 2040 Vision Plan's healthy and active community goal.

The action items circled in red have all been incorporated into the scope of work for the PROS Master Plan.

The purpose of this presentation is to inform the council of the status of the project prior to soliciting proposals, and to demonstrate that the scope of work aligns with the 2040 Vision Plan.

The information before you is pulled directly from the PROST RP to help explain the plan's purpose.

Purpose of the plan is to guide the long-term development, redevelopment, and equitable distribution of parks, open spaces, rails, recreation facilities, and programs across Forest Grove, and to develop system-wide goals, policies, priorities, and implementation strategies based on existing conditions, community interests, and future funding capacities.

In 2016, City Council adopted the current parks and recreation open space plan by ordinance.

This plan is currently included in the Forest Grove Comprehensive Plan.

Purpose of a department specific master plan is to do is to guide development, maintenance, and optimization of recreation assets across a 10-year timeline.

So we are here today, 10 years later in 2026, ready to update that plan.

Here we have our projected timeline.

We are currently in the council presentation phase.

The request for proposal is expected to be finalized and released in March with solicitation closing in April and a consultant secured by May.

Work with this consultant begins this summer.

Foundational analysis takes place from June through December with community engagement and partnership work overlapping into the following year.

Implementation planning and preparation of the final document following to the spring with a goal to bring a fully updated and adoption ready master plan back to you council by June of 2027.

Now with all that in mind, I'm going to hand it back over to Anne for her to review the first set of activities outlined in the PROST RP.

We've broken the project into four sections.

Section one is to create a foundation of knowledge to build from, and that is primarily focused on research.

Section one encompasses six different activities.

The work done in section one will be done primarily by the consultant and their subs as well as department staff.

The first activity of this section is a general project kickoff that establishes time frames, expectations, and outcomes for the project, and a review of relevant plans, policies, etc.

Completion of this activity will result in a clear coordinated project framework that will guide all subsequent phases of work.

The second activity of this section focuses on the development of an updated mission statement and set of core values for the department that will be used to guide decision making and priorities.

The next activity is a complete and detailed system asset review.

Findings from this activity will establish a baseline understanding of system performance, capacity, and capital requirements.

Information gathered will act as a starting point for future activities in the project.

Activity four is a review and analysis of staffing capacity, training, maintenance, operations, and asset management practices that will be used to inform recommendations for future consideration.

The last two activities of section one start to gather external data and information.

Activity five will provide an analysis of local demographics and the market that will be used to support planning decisions and recommendations.

The final activity of section one is the assessment of barriers and determining strategies that address those barriers.

Examination of the Fund for All Fund, which is the department's scholarship program, is also part of this activity, as well as the feasibility of a common use agreement for use of public facilities.

Activities in section one aid in addressing Vision 2040 action items 3.2, 3.6, and 3.7.

So these activities continue, and at this point in the process, we move from understanding what we have to understand what the community is interested in.

So we do that by progressing uh by listening.

Activities seven through ten focus on understanding community interests and how we deliver those services.

We begin with public engagement, developing a strong outreach plan and forming a recreation advisory committee alongside regional partnerships.

The gathered input will drive the rest of that plan.

From there, we assess partnerships, review existing agreements, and identify opportunities to strengthen that collaboration.

We then conduct a gap analysis to evaluate parts, facilities, trails, and programs through an equity and access lens, looking at geographic access, inclusive design, and demand for specialty assets, like athletic fields, veterans tribute park, pickleball courts, splash pads, and more.

Finally, we evaluate our recreation services to determine what's working, where barriers barriers exist, and how services may need to evolve to better align with community interests.

Activities in this section number two aid in addressing Vision 2040 actions, action items 3.2, 3.5, 3.6, and 3.7.

Section 3 of the PROST Master Plan is referenced as a forecast of infrastructure.

Activity 11 is an expansion of prior activity three and provides for an assessment of parks and trails that includes local and regional trail connectivity and identifies gaps, deficiencies, and opportunities.

Findings of this activity will be integrated into the overall parks and trails system plan and used for capital investment planning.

Activity 12 is also an expansion of activity three, as previously noted, but is focused on the aquatic center and senior center.

Current conditions of those two facilities will be evaluated, and long-term reinvestment or replacement considerations will be identified.

Also included in this section of the master plan scope is the feasibility of a multi-use recreation facility.

Community interest and demand will be assessed.

A review of potential attributes and space requirements will be done.

Preliminary site considerations will be reviewed, and high-level capital and operational cost estimates will be produced.

Results of activity 13 will be used to inform long-term facility investment and a sequencing plan.

Activities in this section aid in addressing Vision 2040 action item 3.

At this point in the Master Plan project, we are ready to launch.

After listening to the community, evaluating partnerships, forecasting infrastructure and service needs, the final phase turns all that work into a clear and actionable plan.

This is where that act where that planning then turns into action.

The consultant will develop a phased implementation plan that clearly identifies priorities, timelines, and responsibilities.

The goal is a realistic roadmap that staff will actually use.

Everything comes together in this final master plan document.

The consultant will present the completed plan to the Parks and Recreation Commission and to City Council.

We will incorporate feedback and deliver an adoption ready document that serves as a practical guide for very real future decision making.

Completion of the PROS will fully address action item 3.1 from the Vision 2040 plan.

So thank you again for your time.

Parks and Recreation is very excited to get this project launched, and we look forward to sharing updates with you all along the way as well as the final outcome.

Great.

Thank you, Anne.

Thank you, Cody.

Any questions for it will start with Counselor Schimmel.

I don't think it should go understated the professional opportunity provided to your staff tonight.

Uh no, Cody's been here before.

Nice job.

So thank you for for uh role modeling that and it's telling that a colleague would be here to uh celebrate with that.

So nice and and thanks for the the thorough process um explanation.

It's very clear, understood, and it includes uh appreciate the inclusion of the asset management aspect of it.

It's it's essential.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

I do go for it, Council President.

Thank you, Swelling.

Um good evening, and thank you for the presentation.

So on the section here, listen to the community, and you have a partnership assessments and recommendations, a public engagement.

Um uh are some of the partners that you besides Pacific University that uh you're going to be looking to building bridges with.

We uh determine partners in a number of ways, and and boy, do we have a lot of them in this community?

We we work with so many people and so many different groups.

Um, the school district, uh you already mentioned Pacific, but definitely the school district, all of the youth sports organizations um are gonna be brought to the table, and then representatives of of different groups within our community that often uh aren't brought forward.

Um we're actively seeking out representatives of those groups, um, inviting them to the table uh to have those discussions with us.

But um a partner can look like a lot of different things.

And um we're excited to keep exploring our opportunities in Forest Grove with partners and and how we can work together.

But uh there's a a huge long laundry list uh that we're gonna have to coordinate to get everybody together to make it happen.

But no, I I I understand um that uh I would highly encourage that we try to focus on our local uh clubs, for example, uh that need as much support as possible because they don't have a lot of resources and they do a lot for the community.

So I would really encourage that uh we try to uh to do that to um encourage our youth of our community um to give them um better resources and better opportunities.

Thank you.

Thank you, Counselor President.

Counselor Falconer.

Yeah, just to kind of tag along to that, I think it's um you know, we all use our parks in different ways.

And I think one of the you know specifically, you know, folks who are don't have access to their own private green space, um, are particularly important and often left off out of the table.

And so I'm thinking a lot about renters.

Um, and so when you're gathering, you know, when you are doing that outreach, I would really, you know, as you're as you're compiling demographic data to sort of like gut check, you know, your public outreach success.

I would strongly encourage us to ask that question.

And if we aren't seeing, you know, a high enough percentage of folks, you know, who are renters in our community, make sure we double down.

Um, because I think that they're probably the folks who who need these resources the most, and they're often not at the table, and we're not even checking for that data point a lot of times.

We check for language, we check for edu, you know, for education, we check for them, you know, income.

You know, I would say if you know, I would maybe even other metrics or other data points like you know, do you rely on train on transit?

Um, you know, really trying to reach people who are typically not coming to those open houses, you know, targeted out.

Yeah, thank you.

I really appreciate Counselor Falcon Falconer's comments because I was gonna bring up like past lessons learned and in the 2016 master plan update, East Side Park wasn't even on there.

And that was really, and then when I brought it up to the director at the time, it was like, well, that wasn't what the community said was a priority.

But the deal was is that the the community engagement like was happening in the forest grove library at 4 p.m.

And so um to strengthen her comment.

I just think that reaching out to like can you use can you talk to the you know, like at the forest departments or the new apartments on the east side, like can you say, like, hey, can we use your community room to host a couple like we really have to start thinking like you know, Rose Grove also has a community space, the um homestead does as well.

Um, and I just think that like I just want to reinforce that because that was actually something I had written down, you know, and and it really is important that we like thoroughly gut check and make sure that it's comprehensive because that's how we prioritize our projects, right?

It was much more difficult to move forward with East Side Park because we had to then go back and say, hey, it's not in the master plan.

We have to convince the parks direct commission, convince the council, right?

Get it in the budget.

So it just is always important to have it in there.

So that was one question I had.

And then my second question, and I could be wrong, but I thought that in activity one, it was the comment was made that the preferred partner agreements that we had asked about with like the rate and the rate um fee work sessions that that was gonna be taking place during activity one.

Was that a correct statement or incorrect?

Uh it's not in activity one.

I believe it's it's it's in a different activity.

It it is identified in the master plan to uh examine uh use agreements and partnership agreements.

You'll have the agreements to be examined.

I guess that's what my question is like are we not planning because right now, like I was my understanding that the master plan wouldn't be adopted to 20 till June of 2027.

So is the plan of the department not to bring the council back with those agreements until after the master plan's done?

Or because uh my understanding was the consensus, I mean, and I just want to like I'm like this is a hard conversation, but I think we need to have it.

My understanding was that we wanted you to bring those back so then we could move forward.

And I guess just in my perspective, I would think that it's a good opportunity to have them done.

Like you don't have to be married to them, but have a draft, like try to start uh an agreement, a preferred partner agreement, a shared use agreement, and then through the process, check it through the process, through community engagement, through the consultants, check if it's correct, check if we miss something, but to I guess that I'm just gonna say that that would be my preference is to try to have that going into it because then you also have an ability to amend it to fix it and to improve it.

And you know, then we can move forward with that part of it too.

I don't know how if anyone else has comments on that or thoughts.

Okay.

Those are just my thoughts then.

No, but we we spoke about that and there was uh an agreement.

And that happened.

Very cool.

Any other questions or comments?

Oh, just uh comment on Mariana's um comments about reaching out to the youth sports and everything.

They have been doing a great job in reaching out.

I know Cody's been in contact with a number of the youth sports, um, and we're working on doing a lot of things, partnering with them for um recreational stuff on the side, so we don't have to look outside of the city.

So um we've actually been partnering quite a bit with that.

Great.

Thank you, Mike.

Thanks.

Okay, great, thank you.

We're gonna move on to item F on our agenda, which is public hearings, ordinances and resolutions.

And ordinance two zero two six zero two is up first.

I've never heard that noise called early.

I didn't even know that there was the public hearing for ordinance two zero two six-02 is now open.

If approved by the city council, the ordinance would amend the development code with revisions to Article 8, general development standards, and article 12 use categories and definitions.

Do any counselors have a conflict of interest to declare?

Senior planner Matt Johnson and will present the staff report.

Well, thank you, Mayor.

Uh members of the council, Brian Paul, community development director, uh, just kind of introducing Matt here.

Um I want to give Matt kudos for uh what's been kind of a a long process of getting to this stage of things.

Um the development code is something that uh controls all aspects of development in the city of Forest Grove.

And uh as things get built, you may not realize that there are rules that control all these things.

Uh and as part of that, every year we enter into some form of code maintenance uh as things pop up, new technologies, little inconsistencies in the code we catch.

Uh and Matt has done a a pretty masterful job of bringing this together and uh is ready to present to you next.

So with that, I will turn it over to Matt.

Thank you, Brian.

Mayor counselors.

Second.

I know Mariah's learning a new system tonight.

Like, so you're doing a great job, Mariah.

All right.

And thank you, Mariah.

All right.

So as Brian stated, these are development code text amendments.

This is our agenda and uh how we will move forward through the evening.

Um Brian kind of touched on this.

So the the purpose is to um uh present these development code revisions to you tonight that we've worked on uh through two work sessions uh with city council yourself, one with planning commission, and with a recommendation uh public hearing for planning commission to approve.

Um also as Brian stated the city keeps a living document that as we identify conflicts or issues or things that need clarification uh just as we are applying the code in our our daily uh daily operations.

That um this is something that we want to strive to bring to you at least once a year.

Um of course uh these are a couple of the the goal areas that will contribute to these uh development code amendments, community growth and economic growth being a couple.

Um this was the background that I just mentioned.

So um starting in September 15th, we had the work session with Planning Commission uh in December, the recommendation at the public hearing, the city council for approval from the planning commission, two work sessions with city council, and here we are for our first reading and ordinance consideration.

Okay, um, so this is our first proposed revision.

Uh industrial standards, so changes to building setback and building height when adjacent to a residential zone.

Uh so these are the proposed changes from when the proposed ordinance was published.

Um staff's recommendation in the staff report is to clarify and therefore change the proposed language regarding building height in the LI and GI zone uh from the none 45 feet from a residential zone to none 45 feet maximum height when 50 feet set back from a residential zone.

Um so therefore, if there is a motion to approve this first reading tonight, staff asks the motion to include approval of the first reading with staff's amended warning about building heights per the staff report.

And please feel free to chime in at any time.

You go back to that slide.

Can you state that again for me?

Yes.

So you'll see the maximum building height row.

Uh it reads uh currently reads none, and with the published uh ordinance, it states what you're reading there today.

45 feet from a residential zone.

Staff just wants to clarify that and make sure that there's no ambiguity to what that means and further clarify by stating none, 45 feet maximum height when 50 feet set back from a residential zone.

So it's what we landed on in our work sessions.

It just states it more clearly.

Um so we're not changing or proposing anything different than what we arrived at you.

Okay, thank you.

And uh these next ones, I I will just kind of breeze through them again.

Please stop me if there's any questions.

Um these will go through each one one by one.

These are the residential standards that are proposed, um, these areas for uh code amendments.

So uh the comprehensive plan target densities, uh this code amendment is seeks to provide clarification on target densities for new proposed subdivision design and also meet the requirements of Metro, the urban growth management functional plan.

Residential building height.

Uh so a building story height can vary depending on proposed design.

Um currently our code um it's uh one or the other in terms of uh feet or stories.

We would like to recommend a fixed number to regulate building height uh and just keep it at a strict um number in terms of feet.

Uh accessory dwelling units, um staff is proposing greater flexibility with ADUs, allow greater square footage.

Uh currently they're limited to 720 square feet total, and that includes non-habitable space like garages and attics.

This code revision will align with what's currently allowed for all accessory structures or non-ADUs, um, where you're limited only to 720 square feet of the floor area.

So that allows you to do a second story of another 720 on top.

Also for attached ADUs, we will increase that where previously it was only allowed 10% of the original dwelling gross floor area where now we will align it with the detached ADUs where you're uh have a greater allowance of 720 square feet if that is attached to your primary home.

Uh in terms of historic garages, this is simply just to correct a scrivener's error and and put in what the original ordinance stated and have that reflected in our code online.

Uh covenants conditions and restrictions, also known as C C and Rs, um adding the language uh in the code that the city does not enforce C C and Rs.

Um so these are the next uh batch of code amendments proposed, non-residential use regulations.

So the neighborhood mixed use zone uh will be allowing office uses.

Um footnote 16 within this uh use table um currently prohibits office uses when proposed in a neighborhood mixed use zone.

Uh we are proposing to allow them.

The definition of building and structures, uh, this proposed amendment will fix contradiction, reconciling definitions within the development code, essentially swapping the definitions.

And the next batch of code amendments propose non-residential standards.

All right, so for our landscape and buffer and screening table, uh buffers are better applied to the abutting uses and not the abutting zones.

Um this is also to um just make the table more consistent with the way that it's applied.

Landscape buffer and screening.

Um so there are two new footnotes.

Uh number two uh points to a separate portion of the code that requires landscaping within a buffer, in addition to these options.

Um it's it should not be viewed that this is all you have to do.

There is a reference in another code in another section of our code where there is a very bare minimum that you must provide.

And our second our the third footnote, the second proposed for uh development code amendment um is to clarify and ensure that buffer options are not required when in an industrial use is abutting and non-conforming use within an industrial zone.

Um RS uh cannabis facilities.

This is simply to uh accurately reflect the state statue section regulating cannabis facilities.

Collector road sidewalk installation.

Um this is for the development community so that we're not having to redo new development.

Uh so if a collector road is proposed within a new residential subdivision, this code amendment will essentially prevent residential driveways from uh replacing new sidewalk installation.

And finally, mandatory adjustments.

Um we will revise the existing adjustment section to incorporate the required mandatory adjustments, uh, which will ultimately allow for more flexibility of development standards as applied to residential development that has a net um uh units per acre of uh six units per acre.

And these are those proposed amendments, and that concludes staff's presentation.

Great.

Thank you.

Does the council have any questions for staff?

Counselor Falkner.

Um I'm still getting if we can go back to the slide on the industrial zone development standards, the table.

I think I'm still getting a little tripped up by the language, and I'm wondering if we just need to add 45 feet one more time, unfortunately, to clarify it even further.

Um it says 45 feet from residential zone.

I think that is a reference to both the height and the distance from the residential zone.

But the way it reads to me is that's not clear.

And so I'm wondering if what we mean to say is because it's a maximum building height, and so I wonder if we should be saying 45 feet when 45 feet from a residential zone.

If if you look in your packets in the staff report, um it basically says that a little tainted in what you're saying, but it says uh I'm over my ski tips now.

Not in 45 feet maximum height when 50 foot feet set back from residential zone.

Right, which is what we well, that's what we that's what we discussed in our work session.

Yeah, but to like this table, I think is what a lot of people will reference when they look at it.

And so I wonder if we I'm if I know it makes it longer, but I kind of think it needs to be reflected there because it's confusing because the 45 feet doesn't say to me height, it says 45 feet from residential.

That's right.

And then that was staff's recommendation to the city council was to uh when you make a motion to approve for first reading to just include that's to uh amend that table okay in the manual that staff has laid out in the staff report.

Okay, and then we'll bring back in second reading the correct table.

Thank you.

I was not clear that that was what we thank you.

I really appreciate that clear.

Well, I want to make sure I'm clear.

So in the second reading, if it's amended, it will read none 45 feet maximum height when 50 feet.

That back from residential.

Okay, thank you for that.

Yeah, sorry about that when it was published.

Something that we dug into a little bit further, and unfortunately that was something that we just had to kind of do on the fly tonight.

I'm glad you asked that because I want to make sure everybody was clear what we were actually saying.

Thank you.

Counselor Schimmel.

A comment likewise, Brian.

I appreciate that you bring your staff forward uh to to present and answer question.

Matt's been fantastic to explain things to us.

Um question about uh what whether in in the current legislative session is there any bills that might intersect here now or down the road.

I I'm not aware right now.

Uh I would mean no, yeah.

Paper shooter to my head, I I would say absolutely yes, there probably are.

Um, and that's one of the reasons why we do this here, you know.

Um, usually when they when they pass on the pass of legislation, we have sort of a deadline in order to get that in our code.

Um, and there are some other substantive things coming again in our next round that are due by 2027, I believe.

So I mean, this is kind of an iterative process that we'll do it over again.

And one follow-up, uh the uh I don't know if it I can't remember if it's part of a bill or or policy change regarding the enterprise zone extension from five to ten years is I don't know if that's an appropriate for for this conversation or or separately the how that will factor into development code does not does not regulate enterprise zones at all.

So that's a separate sort of legislative action that council take.

So certainly an important conversation.

Okay.

Any other questions for Seth?

Okay, I will now call on persons who signed up to provide testimony.

Comments are limited to three minutes.

Please state for the record your name, address, and whether your testimony is as a proponent, opponent, or neutral.

And our first person signed up to give testimony is Mr.

Dale Feek.

I didn't know what I was gonna say, still don't know exactly what I'm gonna say.

So I'm just gonna say some things.

I appreciate what you said, counselor uh shimmel about the enterprise zones, because I know uh Senator Solomon had an economic growth bill, and there's no controversy over the 1700 acres for that bill, and I think that was taken out, and now Governor Kotec is proposing to uh still continue with data centers being part of the bill, and that's really questionable because as Mike Rogoway has said in the in his many writings and what he said recently about enterprise zones, they are taking and stealing money away from school districts and others that need the money.

So I don't know if you have lobbyists or whatever that go to try to persuade the governor and others to change that.

I would encourage you to do so because the enterprise zones are not fair, and it's pretty fair.

I think it's uh a good statement to say that it's not fair.

And Crane Data Center took advantage of it the enterprise zone in Forest Grove, and the school district does lose some money because of that.

So that's just a tax incentive issue.

That's my statement at this point.

Uh building setbacks.

You know, in the crane uh application for the administrative decision, uh they had a height, I think seven stories in there, and and that was many public comment complained about that.

And there's it's next to a residential area, and I I don't know if this will go back, can't go retroactively.

You have to go by the code that was current, right?

And so it was encouraged that you as counselors address that code of height, uh, and you haven't done that yet.

So I don't think this this is this is addressed that now.

So this because it is next, brain is next to a residential area, their houses there.

So if this was if this was current, maybe the Ukraine couldn't build seven stories.

That's a question.

I this isn't debate back and forth.

So that's something I'm bringing up.

And I was really concerned about cannabis, uh, because in my sleuthing around, I was on the cannabis uh property more than once.

I was able just to push something, nobody answered.

I pushed again, nobody answered, and first thing the door opened, the gate opens, and so boy, they invited me in.

So I drove around the whole cannabis thing, and I got to see people in, and I talked with a few people that were there, and it looked kind of strange to me how they did that.

So I got on campus just by pushing the button, and that's next to Neil Armstrong Jr.

High.

And then when I went over to buy in some marijuana from my wife that needed a little bit of stuff for that for medical reason, I asked somebody, I said, What do you think about the marijuana plant and what they're doing?

They said, We'll never buy marijuana from them because it's all too old.

We only use fresh marijuana marijuana six months, no older than six months.

So here we've zoned and have built a marijuana facility that's questionable about how well they're doing their business.

So I'm just letting you know.

Oh, I'm time for three minutes.

Anyway, I said I can I for clarification.

Are you speaking as a proponent opponent or neutral?

Neutral.

Okay, great.

Thank you, Mr.

Beek.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else who would like to give testimony?

Anyone on Microsoft Teams like to give testimony?

And I don't see anyone.

Would staff like to respond to any of the testimony?

I don't believe so.

Okay.

Great.

So the hearing is now closed.

What is the will of the council?

Move to approve second.

Okay, the motion do we need to move to approve with the amendments?

That's correct with status proposed.

Yes, that's a friendly.

Yes, move to approve with amendment amendments.

Okay, and then the second is that a friendly you'll add okay.

Um there is a motion to approve with an amended ordinance two zero two six-zero two.

It was moved by council president Valenzuela, seconded by councilor Marshall.

Is there any discussion?

Any discussion wish to be had?

Okay, seeing none.

Will the city manager please read the ordinance by title only ordinance 2026-02, amending forest growth development code article eight, development standards, and article 12 use categories and definitions.

File number 31125025-plng.

Great, thank you.

Will the city recorder please call roll?

Councilor Marshall.

Yes, Councillor Guserson, yes.

Council President Valenzuela, yes, counselor Shima?

Yes, Councillor Falconer, yes, Councillor Martinez?

Yes, Mayor Wenzel.

Yes.

The vote is seven to zero.

The first reading of ordinance two zero two six-zero two is approved, and the second reading will be held at our next council meeting on March 9th, 2026.

Thank you very much, Steph.

Okay, we're gonna move on to item G, which is councilor communications, and we'll start with Council President Balanzoila.

All right, friends.

So the policy advisory board has cancelled their meeting, their next meeting.

Uh we just got done with the um allocating funds.

And uh they decided to go ahead and cancel the next meeting.

Okay, so I'm going to uh talk a little bit about the library, and please I ask you all to support this.

Pauline left this for us.

Uh it's a fundraiser by the foundation to support our library.

So I ask that you make the time because we need money.

Okay, I see.

And they have great food.

So uh yes.

So that's going to take place on March 17 from 5 p.m.

till 8 p.m.

And a percentage will be donated to the Forest Grove Library Foundation.

Um, so invite friends and family.

Um right, so uh other news from the library, the fire uh place area still needs some work.

Um, so uh there's some uh ideas and uh funding ideas uh for that.

The children's area is not yet completed, but there's very little left to do.

Um decorative things like decals, and there's a little bit more funding needed for that.

Uh but the library uh friends of the library are going to support that.

Um new projects, there's going to be a new office built, uh kind of a cubicle uh to create two offices.

Um this is going to be upstairs, I believe.

And there will also be a repair and renovation of the two pillars on the east side parking lot that they look a little bit, you know, kind of in decay.

So they need to be uh taken care of.

Um we also have uh they have selected uh an applicant to replace Carolina, whom we lost uh to Tigered, and um she did but she did beautiful work on the children's area.

Um and there were still some ideas uh lingering that uh we would like to continue working with.

Um let's see what else.

So the county has hired a consultant to help with the transition since now uh with all the changes uh to the library system, uh the collection of new items and purchases is going to be centralized.

So they felt the need to hire a consultant to help this transition from what we have now to having a couple of people, I guess, collecting the making the the selection and and purchases for our library, right?

Yeah, so yeah, it's a little bit you know discouraging.

Yeah, can I ask can I interrupt really quick?

Yes, like as a liaison, can you you know I guess I would like the consensus of the council as well.

Um this conversation's been brought up in the mayor's meeting, and it's just really important that there's transparency and trust in the agreements and in what's happening, and that everyone feels like that.

Um, and I don't necessarily know if that's exactly how everyone feels right now.

Is that an accurate statement, Jesse?

Do you think I think so?

So I just think like you know, like we want like Pay Forest Grove's watching force growth council once, and I think the an appropriate way that maybe hopefully we could all get behind is that transparency of the complete agreement all at once is important.

Okay for the mutable for us and for us as governing bot, like go ahead, Jesse.

I was gonna say one of the things that staff has asked for as part of the IGA review process is to have a side-by-side comparison as we go through each of the individual elements of the existing intergovernment agreement.

Uh to have side-by-side comparisons of potential proposed language so that we can kind of contextualize with what it is now and what it might be in the future.

Perfect.

And so just I think that's a message, like we would like the side-by-side and transparency matters.

Just like reinstate that because I think they're getting it from staff, but if we can also say, like, hey, our council's watching, like this is important.

Oh, you know, important part of our community, it would be great.

Okay, okay.

I will go ahead and and kind of convey that uh message.

Uh we were able to receive uh 200,000 more this year because of the levy.

However, uh, this is a whole new system.

And one of the things that I take as a loss is the collection of and purchases that are going to be centralized and out of our hands.

You know, it is what it is.

So I will convey that message, Mayor.

Thank you.

That's all.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

Councilor Feltner.

Um, yeah, chamber meeting.

Um, we hadn't met for a while because of you know, just different holidays happened to sort of mess up our schedule.

But we did have a good meeting on Monday, and um they reported on a couple of things that I of note that I wanted to share.

Um, and one that Pacific can be really proud of um a group of students who are who created a boxing, a boxer marketing group, and I wanted to share that because it's actually students offering services at discounted rates um for in particular um marketing reasons that small businesses, you know, to yeah.

So I mean, I think that's what they were, you know, sort of report, you know, describing is that you know, small businesses, local businesses, you know, obviously are working under really tight margins, and one of the last things that they tend to fund is marketing for themselves.

And so it's it's I just thought it was a really great opportunity.

You know, there are students who are doing this work for a discounted rate for local businesses.

Please tap into that resource, reach out to the chamber to find out how.

Um another interesting um data point that I just thought I would share because you know, our local businesses are really being um impacted by a drop-in customers um because of you know so much of the activity and fear in our communities.

Um but one of the ways that chamber is showing up and supporting is um is through its small business incubator, which still continues to see five to seven walk-ins every day.

Um, and I have I haven't received a report, um, but um the chamber has reported has some data to report on sort of how what that has contributed to the local economy.

Um, and so I'll look forward to bringing that back to you the next time.

Um, and then also they wanted to highlight a couple of things happening on March 7th.

Um, two things there's um at the Cornelius Library, there will be uh perk know your rights training.

I'm sure you can find more information.

Um I would think at Cornelius' website.

I haven't looked, I haven't found I haven't found that link yet.

Um, and then also March 7th is a ribbon cutting at um forge, the Forge Grove.

So the um Ridgewalker and uh Pelagic sort of under new operations, um, and it'll be more of a convening of different local providers providing different things, but at that location at where at the Ridgeware Ridgewalker was.

Yeah, so what is it?

Is it the forge?

Logically will be contributing, um, but it's actually a sort of a new operation.

Um, I love the space.

I think it's a great space for you know gathering.

So I'm I'm glad to see that it's trying to re-invigorate.

Uh what time is that?

I did not catch a time, so I'm sorry, but I know it's March 7th.

Perfect.

Thank you.

Okay, next up we have Counselor Gustleson.

Oh, I don't have a lot to report.

There was the WCA, it's got too many C's in it, so I'm just gonna stick with WCA.

Um, I delegated the uh voting for the budget to um Chief Gearing because he has a lot more knowledge over the past years of that.

So um I haven't I haven't reviewed the budget since then, but um that's all I have to report.

Oh, just a reminder 250 uh years of of United States of America, right?

Um, so the downtown association is inviting all of the city departments to be a part of that.

Um light and power or you know, parks and rec if they want to have space kind of like old school.

So they've been invited, whatever that looks like.

So if council has ideas, I'm sure they would love to hear it.

Very cool.

That's it.

Thanks.

Uh Councillor Marshall.

Um, I was not able to go to the forestry meeting, and I produce your parks and record has kind of covered everything that we went over.

Yeah, very good, right?

Councilor Martinez, I have nothing to report.

Thank you.

And Councilor Schummel.

Just a comment for Jesse.

Uh we don't celebrate that enough.

Uh it's it's one of those at least in my personal view is that's that's in that small group of critical doing the right things right.

Maybe Paul's looking down smiling or giving us that smug look of approval, but um nice town.

Okay, city manager's report.

Thank you, Mary.

Just to follow up on the um event on March 7th.

It's the Forge Grove Food Hall and Tap Room, and it is at the former Pelagic former um I'm sorry, I'm having a Ridwalker.

Yeah, Ridgewalker, I'm sorry.

Uh it is March 7th from noon to 9.

So it's all day.

Oh my god.

Thank you.

A couple other things.

Um so as the council was aware, we did receive a grant from the Department of Land Conservation and Development for our housing capacity analysis.

Um, unfortunately, due to some recent kind of budget constraints, the grant has been reduced.

Uh got reduced from 160,000 to 11,000.

Um at this point, staff is working with DLCD on taking on some additional tasks.

But I just kind of put this on the radar in the sense of we might be looking at um something during the mid-biannium budget process to potentially make up the difference if it if we if we can't uh kind of cut our way out of this one.

So housing capacity analysis is a required document by DLCD, and we'll be able to take on some, but I'm not not sure that we're gonna be able to bridge the entire gap.

Uh kudos to Light and Power.

The three planned wildfire mitigation projects have been completed.

These were the projects that relocated the overhead lines underground to prevent firefighters.

Uh just this past week.

Uh the last, the third of the three planned projects was done.

That was the one that was on lower David Hill Road between Thatcher and Forrest Gale.

So kudos to Light and Power for that.

Um same department.

They also submitted for another uh grid resilience grant from the Oregon Department of Energy.

They requested approximately uh $500,000.

That's to continue that work.

So there's still some work to be done, and we've applied for a grant to do that.

Engineering had what is characterized as a pre-diagnostic meeting with the railroad about the safe routes to school project for Mountain View.

Uh this is this is a good sign that the railroad met with us that they're willing to talk about the project and and are cooperative.

So just wanted to give the council an update that that is moving forward.

Um the library is also hosting what is called the AARP tax assistance every Wednesday.

That's from 10 to 3.

This is a program that is a free service to anyone that needs tax assistance regardless of age or income level.

The library also has tax forms, and again, that's the AARP tax assistance.

It's every Wednesday from 10 a.m.

to 3 p.m.

Uh at the library.

And then last but not least, uh the League of Oregon Cities.

I I got appointed to the Energy and Environmental Policy Committee on behalf of the Oregon City and County Managers Association.

So I will be serving on that committee this year.

And that's all I have.

Thank you, Mayor.

Great, thank you.

I don't have too much to report either, and we have an executive session, but just a couple quick reminders or updates.

The state of the city is Thursday, March 12th.

And according if I have it accurately and correctly, Councillor Govsman, Council President Alan Swela, Councilor Falconer, Councilor Martinez are going to be speaking in person.

And then Councilor Shimmel is gonna work that out with TV C T D.

It's done.

Okay, cool.

Um let me know in like Stephanie and Joyce and Jesse and myself can help with that as well.

But I think I'm gonna end it that before I close our regular session.

I I wanted to just make one comment about the the grand new opening.

There's gonna be a fantastic um performer that's there that's there that night.

So you guys will have to go at the at the grand opening on the 7th of August.

Okay, sorry.

I was talking about the airway.

Are you singing?

That's my husband.

Okay.

Well, okay, so we executive sessions.

We're gonna head into executive session and just with part of it.

Yeah.

Like to remind the public that executive sessions are closed to the public.

No formal decisions or action will be taken per or ORS 192.6604.

Representatives of the news media may not attend executive sessions on labor negotiations.

The city council will convene to hold executive session ORS 192 6602D to conduct deliberations with persons designated by governing body to carry on labor negotiations.

Okay, thank you.

And this meetings adjourned.