The Forest Grove City Council convened on March 9, 2026 at 7:04 PM with Mayor Wenzel presiding and all seven councilors present. The meeting included a proclamation for National Community Development Week, public comments from two speakers, approval of the consent agenda, a detailed presentation on the comprehensive plan, adoption of one ordinance and five resolutions, and council communications.
Good evening. I'd like to call to order this meeting of the Forest Grove City Council at 704. Will our city recorder please call? Councillor Gaserson. Here. Council President Valenzuela. Here. Councillor Schimmel. Here. Councillor Falconer. Here. Councillor Martinez. Here. Councillor Marshall. Here. Mayor Wenzel. Here. We acknowledge the land on which Forest Grove is located, rests on the traditional village sites of the At Palati, a tribe of the Calapuas who originally inhabited the Tualide Plains, the Twalaton Plains, including Forest Grove. 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? Testing. That's better. Our proclamation this evening is for National Community Development Week. Whereas the week of April 6th through April 10th, 2026 has been designated as National Community Development Week by the National Community Development Association to celebrate the Community Development Block Grant, C D B G program, and the Home Investment Partnerships Home Program. And whereas the CBCDBG program provides annual funding and flexibility to local communities to provide decent safe and sanitary housing, a suitable living environment, and economic opportunities to low and moderate income people. And whereas the home investment partnership programs provide funding to local communities to create decent safe affordable housing opportunities for low income persons. Nationally, over one million units of affordable housing have been completed using home funds. Now, therefore, the city of the City Council of the City of Forest Grove does hereby proclaim April 6th through April 10th, 2026 as National Community Development Week. In Forest Grove, Oregon, in support of these two valuable programs that have made tremendous contributions to the viability of the housing stock, infrastructure, public services, and economic vitality in our community. Thank you. El Ayuntamiento de la Ciudad de Forest Grove proclama formedio de la presente los días del seis a diez de Abril de Dos Milty Comes Nacional del Desarrollo Comunitario and Forest Grove, Oregon, and apoyo a estos dos vallos programas que han realizado contribution extraordinarias a la viabilidad de existencias de viviendas, la infraestructura, los services publicos y la vitalidad economica de nuestra comunidad, and testimonio de lo cual asuscrito la presente y a Echo Celse de la Ciudad de Forest Grove Oregon Semblace in the D Marcel de 2026. Thank you, Council President. We're gonna move on to item B on the agenda, public comment. Time provided for anyone wishing to speak to City Council on an item not on the agenda or on the agenda but not scheduled for a public hearing. Comments are limited to two minutes unless additional time is granted by the presiding officer. The public comment period shall not exceed 30 minutes unless a majority of counselors present vote to extend the time. Zoom attendees may use a raise hand option to be called on. I got it. Thank you. But I do not expect this miracle to hold. ISIS killed American citizens, immediately moved to shield the offending agents from all consequences, and offered only token discipline to leadership with the removal of Christy Noam to a diplomatic position. There has been no reform. Meanwhile, there has been a shocking pattern emerging in federal detention facilities. What are they hiding? Where are the missing detainees from the horrifying facility constructed in Florida and abandoned on the grounds of its terrible legal precedent? What are they planning to do with warehouses? We cannot allow ice to operate without supervision. We cannot allow ice to operate without oversight. ICE may eventually ask to use properties in Forest Grove or its surroundings as detention facilities. If that occurs in 10, 20, 15, 30 years, who knows how long.