Good evening, I'd like to call to order this meeting of the Forest Grove City Council on Monday, June 22nd at 704 p.m.

Will our city recorder please call roll.

Councillor Gustavson.

Council President Valenzuela.

Here.

Councillor Shimmel.

Here.

Councillor Falkner?

Here.

Councillor Martinez?

Here.

Councillor Marshall.

Here.

Mayor Wenzel.

Here.

We acknowledge the land on which Forest Grove is located rest on the traditional village sites of the At Phalati, a tribe of the Calapuas who originally inhabited the Twalton 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 pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

So I'm going to begin with Proclamation for Parks and Recreation Month.

Whereas Parks and Recreation is an integral part of communities throughout this country, including Forest Grove, Oregon, and whereas our parks and recreation programs are vitally important to establishing and maintaining the quality of life in our communities, ensuring the health of all citizens, and contributing and sorry, I lost my place.

And whereas parks and recreation increases a community's economic prosperity through increased property values, expansion of local tax base, increased tourism, the attraction and retention of businesses, and crime reduction.

And whereas Parks and Recreation is a leading provider of healthy meals, nutrition services, and education.

And whereas our parks and natural recreation areas ensure the ecological beauty of our community and provide a place for children and adults to connect with nature and recreate outdoors.

Now, therefore, the city council of the city of Forest Grove does hereby proclaim the month of July 2026 as Parks and Recreation Month in Forest Grove, Oregon, and encourages all residents of Forest Grove to celebrate the vital role park and recreation professionals play in bringing people together, providing essential services, and fostering the growth of our communities.

Thank you.

In testimonio de Loqual Asus Crito La Presente Ya Echo Kel Sello de la Ciudad de Forest Grove Oregon.

Thank you, Council President.

We're gonna continue on theme with Parks and Recreation.

Our community is so strong because of the volunteers and the community members that make us up.

And so it's really fitting that volunteers who serve on our Parks and Recreation Commission, who are, as I said before, volunteers recognize other volunteers for stepping up for our community.

So with that, um, I proudly introduce our Parks and Recreation Commission Chair, Joe Offer.

Well, and I have uh the privilege of talking about a couple stars for our Parks and Record Parks and Recreation Commission.

So I'll run through two awards this year after I run through a wards.

Um, if any participants from those groups like to come up uh and also take part in a great picture, that'd be awesome as well.

Um I'll start with uh the Gales Creek Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

So the Forest Grove Parks and Recreation Commission extends its sincere appreciation to the Gilles Creek Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for their outstanding volunteer service over the past year.

This group generously partnered with the department on two major stewardship projects in Thatcher Park.

In the summer of 2025, volunteers helped spread wood chips throughout the trail system at Thatcher Park Woods, improving accessibility and creating a safer, safer, more enjoyable experience for park visitors.

Since then, in the spring of 2026, an impressive team of 47 volunteers returned to Thatcher Park and planted 500 bare root dogwood trees donated by Clean Water Services to help restore and enhance the forest areas of the park.

Their commitment, energy, and willingness to serve has made a meaningful and lasting impact to our community spaces.

We are grateful for their continued partnership and dedication to the stewardship of our parks.

And if any would like to come up, uh we have a wonderful plaque and would love to get a picture of the city.

Yeah, that's great.

So the Forest Grove Parks and Recreation Commission proudly recognizes 50 students from two third and fourth grade grade classes from the Forest Grove Community School, along with their teachers and six parent volunteers for their hands-on contributions to Thatcher Park this spring.

And if anyone wants to come up for a picture.

Thank you once again to our parks and rec commission for honoring these great volunteers and thank you to our volunteers uh for helping keep our parks upkeep.

Um it's so fun to see to celebrate people in our community.

So I feel like we can just end the meeting now and on that note, but maybe not.

Okay, so we'll move on to public comment.

Mr.

Feek does not want me to end before his moment in the spotlight.

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 councillors present.

Vote to extend the time.

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

Okay.

So our first person signed up for public comment is Dale Feek.

Hello, Mr.

Feek.

Thank you, Mayor Winsel.

I don't know what you said before, but it was funny.

Sorry.

Uh Mayor Wenzel and Council President Venezuela and Councillors.

The El Fiek resident of Forest Grove since 1966.

Mayor Winslow, may I have four minutes today?

I notice there's nobody else signed up, I think.

Maybe there are.

How much are you supposed to get?

You're supposed to get two.

Let's go with three.

We'll try.

I'll go with three.

Okay.

You're in charge.

Okay.

Three topics.

Data centers in Oregon.

It's a webinar.

I sent it to you today.

Uh electricity demands.

Uh that's what it's about.

Electricity demand, climate and air noise pollution.

It's Wednesday, June 24th, from 6 to 7:30 on Zoom.

Uh, and there's a way to email register.

I emailed it to you.

Please consider doing that.

I'm registered.

Green Data Center is paying for two transformers and transmission lines.

I know that because I've talked to people who do it to get up to at least 40 megawatts of power, allowed up to nine megawatts per year.

So we are in the data center business in force group, as you know.

Second topic is an email from Tom Herman to Washington County Board of Commissioners, to you, Mayor Wenzel, and three other mayors and their counselors.

I made a five-minute public comment to the county commissioners on that on Tuesday.

Tom Horman says Trump is already telling us he will steal the midterm if we let him.

This sounds like paranoid only is because we've already forgotten we lived through it once before.

Donald Trump is already telling us he's going to try to steal a 2026 election.

And the fact that he's saying it now months in advance tells the whole story.

In February, Trump stood up and declared the Republicans ought to nationalize the voting.

Floated talking over, taking over the vote in 15 states.

His party doesn't control and return to the lie he's been pushing for decades that mailing ballots are crawling with fraud.

It's important I'd say this to count the commissioners because they are in charge of voting in the county.

They aren't.

Americans have voted for mail for more than a century and a half, and the Brennan Center has shown over and over that you're likelier to be struck by lightning than commit mail ballot fraud.

I'm gonna summarize this by saying make sure you're registered, make sure everyone you know is to at vote.org.

And if you vote by mail request, your ballot early, the small and send it back early.

So no postal rule can run out the clock for you based upon what the U.S.

Postal Office is doing.

19 seconds.

Email from Timothy Snyder.

That's the one I did five minutes on the public.

The main thing is currently where we are is we're superpowered suicide, strategic ignorance by the government, the regime we're currently in.

It's super superpower suicide.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Feek.

Is there anyone else in the audience who may not have had a chance to sign up for public comment who would like to give public comment?

Seeing none on Zoom.

Any Zoom attendees wishing to get public comment.

Seeing none, we will move on to the consent agenda.

Items under the consent agenda are considered routine and will all be adopted with a single motion without separate discussion.

Counselors may remove items prior to the motion to adopt.

Any removed items will be discussed and acted upon following the approval of the remaining items.

What is the wish of the council?

Move to approve a second.

The consent agenda was moved by Council President Valenzuela and seconded by Councillor Martinez.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Hearing none, the consent agenda is approved with a seven to zero vote.

Are there any additions or deletions, City Manager?

There are no additions or deletions.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Any proposed by council.

Seeing none, we are now moving on to item E on our agenda, which are presentations.

The council will hold questions until the end of each presentation.

And we will start with our parks and recreation commission annual report.

And I'm gonna ask Joe Offer, who did such a great job earlier, to come back and continue his work.

I think it's on, yeah.

Uh good evening.

And uh again, thanks for letting me be here to talk about Parks and Rec and certainly our parks and rec commission.

Um so thanks for the introduction.

My name is Joe Offer, and I have served on the commission for the last five years.

Uh, this is my first year as a chair and very excited to talk about the work we've done in the last year.

Um just a quick overview of our commission.

We are an advisory commission or excuse me, an advisory committee.

Um, and we meet at 7 a.m.

on the second Wednesday of every month.

Uh we actually meet uh just right over here at the city hall.

Um so looking at the last year, a couple of the major projects and presentations that we've hosted, our meetings, uh, starting with the East Side Park.

Uh we reviewed uh and provided feedback to some of the plans uh to provide uh additional park on the east side of the city at this point.

Ground has been broken.

I don't want to feel any thunder from Ann's presentation.

I know Ann will be talking about all this stuff next.

Um, but that's a huge uh improvement for the geographic spread of parks in the city.

Uh additionally, another aspect of our meetings was talking about uh some master planning work for the Forest Grove Loop Trail System.

Um and as you may know, and I'm sure Ann will talk about as well.

Uh there's been many questions about the alignment of the trail and how that may interact with the rest of the city.

Um that's been a great opportunity for our board or commission, excuse me, uh, to share information about how we uh felt that different alignments may play out and impact other aspects of the city.

Additionally, uh moving forward, uh, this last year the aquatic center has had a significant uh renovation project, and we also were uh I guess instrumental.

I hope that Anne would feel that same way in providing feedback on some opportunities for different improvements as that project went along.

Um, but more recently, and one of the more important pieces that I know Ann will be talking about is the PROS Master Plan, the Parks Recreation, Open Space and Trails Master Plan.

Um, and for obviously uh for many reasons.

Having a new master plan is extremely important, and obviously our commission can provide that opportunity to uh share some information about the different groups that we represent to also inform some of the opportunities looking forward to the master plan and uh some of the work, I guess directly related to that is that um for the commission I will be serving uh with Anne and number and other staff members on the project team to try and have a conduit between the commission and the work moving forward, so there is that voice for the community as well, um, which began with scoring the RFP, the other quest for proposal and trying to be involved in that as well.

Um, looking ahead, another aspect of the work we did we've done the last year is community engagement.

Uh this last year we participated in the city hosted community open house event that took place right here in October of last year.

Um a couple of takeaways that I thought would be important to share.

Uh the two things that really popped out as far as uh my time at the booth and other commission members of the booth.

Uh a lot of interest in trail developments, so that kind of overall uh loop trail and then also connections to some of the smaller neighborhood trails as well.

That popped up a lot.

And then uh, and I work for the Department of Forestry, so this is near and dear to my heart, but uh uh fire danger mitigation work um and obviously a lot of uh um interest, I guess, in the fire mitigation work that has been taking place over the last couple of years and thatcher and uh forest uh Glen Park as well, and opportunities live for additional fire danger mitigation work.

Um the next piece for community engagement.

Uh the department hosted an awesome open house at Kyle Park, uh, complete with mountain bike jumps and opportunities for the public to see what that park will look like moving forward.

Uh, we had a fair number of commission members in attendance and even a couple of commission members' kids or one actually went off the jumps, pretty impressive as well.

Um, and so that's kind of looking back at the last year.

Um, a couple things to not skip on.

We did have three uh changing commission members, and we actually had our school board representative uh changed, so I want to give them a quick note of recognition.

Uh, our school board representative and chair who uh left the board this last year was Brad Bafaro, uh, who is an excellent member of the commission for many years.

Uh additionally, Sherry EXO, Michelle Beck, and Aaron Johnson left the commission this last year.

Um, but in their place, uh, very happy to welcome Peter Truex as a scoreboard, school board representative, uh Ben Burns, who is serving a full term, Kelly Thompson, who will serve a two-year term, and Lauren Miller, who is serving a one-year term.

And so looking to the next year, uh, there will be one open seat on the commission in the next year.

Um, and I'm I think this is a very interesting thing for our commission looking around.

There are other commissions that have vacancies, and we are kind of flooded by people that are asking to join.

So it's definitely kind of talking about the start of the of today's meeting.

I think the parks and rec commission uh is a very interesting place as far as uh having a lot of interest in the work that we're doing, and I sort of look forward to seeing who will join the commission moving forward.

Um, and the work that we have for the next year uh is the already mentioned Post Master Plan work.

We'll be involved in community engagement throughout the next year as that uh plays out.

We will also be serving potentially on technical advisory committees as needed for that work as well.

And as mentioned, I'll be directly engaged as kind of linked between the commission and the uh the master plan itself.

And uh as far as kind of overall goals for the commission of the next year is to really provide more of an opportunity for uh communication for the public.

Obviously, uh 7 a.m.

meetings.

There's some difficulties with that.

Um there's obviously difficulties with other towns as well, but wanted to make sure that we are that conduit so that uh members of the community around us can be involved.

Um, and so with that, uh, thank you very much for the focus on parks and rec tonight.

Um, and then also if there was any questions or anything, I'm more than happy to answer.

Okay, great.

Thanks.

Any questions?

That was a really good report.

This is your first year being chair.

It is, yeah.

Yeah, good job.

I thought you did a really good job with uh with the volunteer and with us.

So I mean, not that you need my recognition, but I think it's I think you did a great job.

I've been not teaching for one week, and I think I just need to give everyone feedback.

So okay.

Thank you so much, Joe.

Thank you.

Have a good night.

Thank you.

Okay, so now we have our parks and rec director, Miss Ann Lane coming to give an update.

Thanks for having me tonight.

So I could give you an update on a couple of projects that we've got going on.

We will briefly discuss the PROS Master Plan, the East Side Park, Forest Grove Loop Trail, and Kyle Park.

We'll start with PROST, which is the parks recreation, open space, and trails master plan.

So, an overview of what this is.

Uh this project was first identified in the Vision 2040 plan as action item 3.1.

Master plan for the parks and recreation department is updated every 10 years, and we are on track.

The last time the master plan was done was in 2016.

Once the plan is complete, council adopts the plan by ordinance.

The plan is also then included in the Forest Grove Comprehensive Plan.

The master plan guides the long-term development, redevelopment, and equitable distribution of park, open spaces, trails, recreation facilities, and programs across Forest Grove.

It also forecasts maintenance needs and the optimization of recreation assets.

Additionally, it develops system-wide goals, policies, priorities, and implementation strategies based on the existing conditions, community interests, and future funding capacity.

So, where are we at with this project?

In February 2026, the scope of work was reviewed by both Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council.

Once that was completed, uh the next month, we put out a solicitation for a con for a consultant, and that was in March 2026.

A few months later, we awarded that contract to Matrix Consulting Group.

And then in June, just this month, the project is kicked off.

We are this week holding our on-site visit, and have already begun work on a mission statement and core values, which were activity one in the plan.

What's up next?

Quite a bit, because we just got started.

A lot of community engagement, a full assessment of our system assets, staffing and organization, demographics and market barriers, strategies, public interests, partnerships, recreation services, parks and trails, pretty much everything that we do.

There will also be a focused review on the Lincoln Park Agreement and oversight of that agreement.

Assessment of use, capacity, long-term viability of both the aquatic center and the senior center.

Feasibility of a multi-use recreation and community facility will be reviewed.

That multi-use recreation and community facility was identified 10 years ago in the 2016 master plan, which did lead to a feasibility study then.

We're kind of checking the temperature on this to see if the community is still interested or if they're interested more in us pursuing that.

So that is also on our plate in the future actions on this plan.

Also, implementation and action plan, and then a final plan document adoption will come before you.

And then in March 2024, we worked with Clean Water Services to do an environmental review of the site to ensure that where we were placing the trail, particularly along Gales Creek, that we were not impacting the vegetated corridor, any sensitive habitat area.

May 2024 to August 2025, we held a handful of stakeholder and technical advisory committee meetings.

And then September 2025, the trail alignment map and the master plan were complete.

And so what is next for this project?

We need to move then to final design.

And which then goes to construction documents.

We will need to secure funding for that project to move forward.

And then once funding is secured, a solicitation for construction contractor, award the contract, build it.

Uh is located near B Street Storage on B Street.

Approximately an eight-acre park.

This too was identified in the 2016 parks, recreation, and open space master plan.

And design of Kyle Park was a deliverable of the larger Forest Grove Loop Trail Master Plan document project as part as the park will also act as a trail head for the loop trail.

So those two projects were sort of married together initially, uh, and then kind of parted ways as Kyle got more developed and the loop trail kind of came more into focus.

We have a recent February 2026 estimate for the eight-acre site to be at 8.84 million to develop.

So where are we at?

What's the history on this?

Uh December 2007.

This land was donated to the city by the Kyle family.

Uh several years later, in September 2022, we were awarded the grant to uh master plan the site.

23 of February 2023, we put out a solicitation for a design consultant.

Uh in July 2023, we awarded that.

And then November 23 to September 24, community engagement.

Clean water services followed.

Uh we talked about this during the loop trail, so I'm gonna kind of keep buzzing through stakeholder and technical advisory, and then we did receive final design in August 2025 of Kyle Park.

So what's next?

Uh construction documents.

Uh working with uh Alta on this, and um we are moving the plan forward into construction document development.

Um we will need to secure funding to construct this.

And once that is done, uh solicitation for construction contractor would go out and then contract awarded and build it, open it.

What you're seeing here and what you saw in the loop trail, those are the final designs, the the most recent news.

Uh we unveiled this at the open house that Joe was talking about that we held.

Thank you for coming.

Yeah.

Uh it had a great turnout.

Um, and people are really excited about a cycle park, cycle focus park here.

And I've been engaged in a lot of community engagement uh activities in the short time that I've been here.

And this is a group that came out that I've never crossed paths with before.

But that's always encouraging to me that we're bringing something potentially to the community that serves a group that we don't currently serve.

So uh we're equally as excited about that.

Thanks.

Are you good for questions, huh?

I'm ready.

Okay.

Yeah, so I'm gonna start with Councillor Falkner.

I'll start with the last one since that was the closest one.

Kyle Park, I was just every time I look at that, you know, sort of site map.

I it, you know, the storage facility always just sticks out at me.

And I'm just kind of curious, you know, what the long-term, you know, conversations with that property owner have been.

Um, you know, just sort of any understanding or can you know concept of what their long-term plans are.

We haven't had that kind of conversation with them.

Yeah.

We've we've had more conversations about what it means to be a good neighbor.

Yeah.

And then uh what do you what are your long-term plans with your property?

Um so that we've not had that.

And my question isn't necessarily to suggest that you know we should acquire the property.

If just usually, like a lot of times, um, and who I don't know, but a lot of times it's sort of a storage facilities can be like land banking kind of opportunities.

So I'm just curious to if you know, if they've offered any, you know, any kind of inkling about what they're planning to do.

Okay.

Um quick question about well, maybe I'll just make an observation.

The loop trail, it's really I'm so excited about it.

Um, as a runner, you know, I've it's hard to kind of get to that half marathon length on our existing infrastructure.

So I'm looking forward to maybe hosting a half marathon someday.

Um we'll sign you up.

Thank you.

And then the Lincoln Park Agreement.

I was just curious if you could share with us um if you know any sort of timeline for that review, and also if there are any sort of key questions or you know, kind of concerns that you're hoping to iron out with yeah, so just this week we just launched our on first on-site visit with the consultant, and we had our kickoff meeting last week.

So um we're just right now kind of trying to figure out what's the best alignment of all of these steps to get through the master plan.

Um we took a tour of uh Lincoln Park and the athletic complex today with the consultant and showed them around and talked about how the two entities work together, who uses the space, what are some challenges and opportunities.

Um, and that's gonna be kind of a heavy lift.

So I think we will be starting to work on that fairly soon.

Um, to I identify who who should be at the table having this conversation and uh what where does it where do we need to go with this and and how do how do we get there?

So still kind of identifying what we are.

Yeah.

Can I follow that question led me to ask a question about that?

So is specific is Keith meeting with the consultant as well for their perspective on that agreement.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

Okay.

And then I guess to I mean, what's the role of the council in that, you know?

Like, I just I don't know.

You know, honestly, I don't know right now.

Um I'm gonna kind of look to our consultants to tell us, you know, how do how do we navigate this road?

Um, there will definitely be a role.

Um, and you'll need to be at the table at some point for conversation on that.

Okay, thank you.

Other I have a we'll go with counselor schimmel and then well, thanks for the the update and uh the Kyle event was pretty fascinating.

The the design was very elaborate.

Uh so that was that was a pretty cool to see.

Uh I I didn't see Councillor Creek Trail mentioned.

Is that nested in there?

So Council Creek Regional Trail is uh not a city of Forest Grove Parks and Rec project.

However, um we do interface with uh the planners of that and Alta, who has been hired to do the master planning for our loop trail, is also the one that is doing the Council Creek Regional Trail.

So we were really happy that they threw their hat in the ring when they submitted a proposal and that they really were the best choice for us because we were have been able to more easily open those doors of conversation on how do these two projects uh get married to each other and work together.

Yeah, just to clarify the context, it's the the maintenance of the the so in terms of the assessment of your your maintaining your active or committed uh facilities would would that be included in that overall maintenance assessment.

So I'm I'm really looking for more information to come out of Washington County on what the expectation is for Forest Grove as far as maintenance for our segment.

And I was uh I know last time we talked about arranging the walk or ride the trail loop.

I I would still be interested in.

Yes, reach out to me.

We'll set up a time.

Uh we can't traverse the entire length.

We'll have to kind of go off of it, but um, yeah, we can do it if you don't mind riding around in a gator.

Okay.

Sounds like it just occurred to me with the council creek mail.

We can actually get a full marathon in because that's six miles.

Yeah.

So they're in back.

Um thank you.

Thanks for the presentation.

All these updates are really exciting for all of us, I think.

Um, I'm gonna talk about forests or the east side park.

I feel like we did good like spreading it out.

So just wondering how that park is going to be named.

Like how you're gonna come up with the name for the East Side Park, and then um, so I'll start start with that.

Do you guys have a plan?

You know, uh, as far as I am aware, we don't have a naming policy.

So choosing what to name things uh without a policy could be a little bit tricky.

We've just continued to refer to it as East Side Park.

Um we had a the owner that we purchased the property from did toss a name forward of uh one of the original owners of the property, uh last name Pond, and they proposed that perhaps we should name it Pond Park.

However, we felt maybe that might be a little misleading as there's no water there.

Right.

Um and so, but we did in our design implement some pond like aesthetics.

So um frogs and cattails and dragonflies and and that sort of uh feel uh of nature when you're in the space.

Um so one idea that I have and maybe the commission can help make this happen is I I you know that park's really about creating it's a neighborhood park, it's for the neighborhood, it's for that community.

It was, you know, we have recognized that that has been the livability of the services.

So I don't want to go back down that route, but I think that the community should be the ones who engage in naming the park.

Um, and I don't know if we could reach out to the school districts and see if students from Yale Armstrong and Fernhill Elementary can be a part of that somehow.

Um but that's it's that their park.

It's the students who go to those schools, those are the people that we want going to that park.

And so I would look at that, and I would also look at an equity lens of um people who have lived here, the community who lives here, and you know, make sure we're respectful of that as well.

Um then also maybe do some research on like how Lincoln Park, Rogers Park, and like just tie those things in.

But I think that that park has been a long time coming um to that area of forest grove, and names are powerful.

And so I think we need to do it to do it right.

Um, and then when it's all done, I think to the mid-block pedestrian crossing to access it will also be done, and it'd be great to have a joint ribbon cutting, a really good kickoff of you know just like we're making it safer to access its walkability, and this is your you know, your new neighborhood park.

So those are a couple things then.

Um I'm just really excited for all the things that you have done.

Um there's a lot of good projects coming out.

Thank you.

Thanks, Ann.

All right.

Okay, we are gonna now move on to we're like only two minutes.

Look at that.

We're gonna move on to public hearings, ordinances, and resolutions, and we're gonna start with ornaments 202603.

I will now open a public hearing for the first reading of ordinance 2026-03, amending the forest grove comprehensive plan map to remove the forest grove general industrial plan designation from territory to be removed from the forest grove urban planning area, file number 311-2606-PLNG adoption of an ordinance as legislative action by the city council under the council rules.

The city council must hold two readings of the ordinance prior to final adoption.

After the first reading tonight, the city council will consider a motion to adopt the ordinance for the first reading and to continue this public hearing to the July 13th City Council meeting for a second reading.

We'll now present the staff report and recommendations for city council considerations.

Thanks, Dan.

Thank you, Mayor Wenzel, members of the city council, Dan Rurd and Senior Planner with the Forest Grove Community Development Department.

Have a brief PowerPoint presentation for you this evening to provide an overview of tonight's uh agenda um for this uh particular item.

Next slide, please.

So this particular agenda item addresses two Vision 2040 plan uh goals and actions.

Uh the first one is the 2040 goal statement related to community growth and the action uh 2.8 to update the city's comprehensive plan.

In addition, this topic addresses 2040 goal statement related to community connection, specifically action 4.13, increasing collaboration between our neighboring cities, including Cornelius, Scales Creek, Banks, and others in the region to improve community connection.

And this particular item specifically addresses coordination with the City of Cornelius.

So the proposal before the City Council this evening is a city initiated amendment to the Forest Grove Comprehensive Plan Map.

This is really a housekeeping item related to the recently updated urban planning area agreement between the City of Forest Grove and Washington County.

The subject property is located northeast of the city's 24th Avenue Industrial Area, east of U Street, and right along the Forest Grove Cornelius boundary.

Slide, please.

So the purpose of this agenda item is to remove in comprehensive plan amendment is to remove the city's city's general industrial comprehensive plan designation from property to be withdrawn from the Forest Grove Urban Planning Area.

And the property to be withdrawn from the Forest Grove Urban Planning Area will be added to the Cornelius Urban Planning.

Providing a little bit of background and context, back in March, the Planning Commission adopted a motion recommending that the City Council adopt a resolution accepting amendments to the urban planning area agreement between the city and the county that were that were approved by the Washington County Board of County Commissioners.

The UPA amendments included modifying the Forest Grove urban planning area to remove the property that's before the City Council tonight from the city's urban planning area.

On April 13th, 2026, the City Council approved resolution 2026-12, approving the urban planning area amendment.

So the area to be removed from the Forest Grove planning area is about 2.6 acres in area.

It's part of a larger parcel that is already in the City of Cornelius Planning Area.

The overall parcel, it's highlighted in blue, is about 17 acres, 16 point acres to be more precise.

The urban planning area was basically drawn so that the future city limits would bisect this property.

Basically taking the existing city boundary and extending it north to through this property.

So that resulted in the property being bisected potentially by both the city of Forest Grove and the City of Cornelius.

The area currently in the Forest Grove planning area, that 2.6 acre area is currently designated as general industrial on the Forest Grove Comprehensive Plan map.

And the general industrial designation, the comp land designation and zoning is the gray area shown on the image on the slide.

Removing the city of Forest Grove plan designation will allow the City of Cornelius to apply a City of Cornelius comprehensive plan designation to the subject property.

This will expedite future annexation of the entire parcel into the city of Cornelius.

Future development review as a result will be more efficient since the parcel will not be bisected by jurisdictional boundaries.

So the decision considerations for this comprehensive plan amendments include statewide land use planning goal two and Oregon Revised Statutes Section 190.010.

So statewide land use planning goal two establishes a framework of decisions and actions related to the use of land.

Statewide Planning Goal 2 addresses amendments to local comprehensive plans.

It classifies establishes two types of comprehensive plan map amendments, minor and major.

Statewide Planning Goal 2 also requires the city actions be coordinated and consistent with the comprehensive plans of other jurisdictions.

This includes the county's comprehensive plan as well as those of neighboring jurisdictions.

Removing the Forest Grove Comprehensive Plan Map Designation from this specific area will allow adding the area to the Cornelius Planning Area and removes potential policy conflicts if this area were to be designated by both Forest Grove and the City of Cornelius, since our two comprehensive plans and zoning requirements are not exactly consistent.

So by amending the comprehensive plan to remove this property and withdrawing it from the forest grove planning area, it ensures the future land use actions are consistent with just the Cornelius Comprehensive.

So moving into Oregon Revised Statutes, Section 190.010.

Uh this particular uh part of the Oregon Revice statutes addresses intergovernmental cooperation and efficiency in local government.

And ORS 190.010 specifically allows for entering into agreements such as urban planning area agreements with other agencies.

Approval of the comprehensive plan amendment is consistent with ORS 190.010 and the recently updated urban planning area agreement, which again removes the subject area from the Forest Grove planning area so that it can be added into the Cornelius planning.

So the planning commission held a public hearing to consider making a recommendation to the city council on a June 15th, 2026.

The commission concluded that the proposed comprehensive plan map amendment is consistent with the two decision considerations.

Oregon Statewide Land Use Planning Goal 2 and ORS Section 190.010, as well as the urban planning area agreement between the City of Forest Grove and Washington County.

On June 15th, 2026, the Planning Commission also adopted a motion recommending that the City Council adopt an ordinance, which is before the council tonight to amend the Forest Grove comprehensive plan map to remove the city's general industrial comprehensive plan map designation from the subject area.

Staff recommendation tonight is that the city council adopt the planning commission's decision, which is included in the written materials related to the ordinance, as well as adopting the planning commission recommendation to amend the comprehensive plan map as proposed.

And staff also recommends that the city council approve first reading of an ordinance to amend the comprehensive plan map tonight and then conduct second reading of the ordinance for adoption on July 13th, 2026.

So this concludes the staff presentation.

Be happy to answer any questions council might have at this time.

Great.

Thank you.

Any questions for staff?

Okay, seeing no questions.

We're gonna move on to public testimony.

Persons in the audience or on Zoom.

May now present testimony on this matter.

If you wish to testify, please provide your name and address for the record and limit your comments to three minutes.

City recorder, has anyone in the community auditorium signed up to testify?

No.

Okay, thank you.

Is there anyone on Zoom who would like to comment?

Seeing none.

Okay, we'll now ask for a motion from the council to adopt ordinance 2026-03 for the first reading and to continue the public hearing to the July 13th City Council meeting for second reading of the ordinance.

Is there a motion?

So moved.

Second.

Thank you.

The motion has been moved by Councillor Falconer and seconded by Councillor Martinez.

Is there any discussion on the motion?

Will the city manager please read the ordinance by title for the first reading?

Ordinance 2026-03, amending the Forest Grove comprehensive plan map to remove the Forest Grove General Industrial Plan designation from territory to be removed from the Forest Grove Urban Planning Area.

File number 31126, 0000006, PLNG.

Thank you.

City Recorder, please call the roll for the first reading.

Councillor Gustafson.

Yes.

Council President Valenzuela.

Yes.

Councilor Schimmel?

Yes.

Counselor Falconer?

Yes.

Counselor Martinez?

Yes.

Counselor Marshall?

Yes.

Mayor Wensell.

Yes.

The motion passes seven to zero.

Okay.

Moving on to or to resolution two zero two six-28.

Hang on.

I guess I need to close that public.

I never closed the last one.

Okay.

Now I'm opening this public hearing on resolution two zero two six-28.

If approved by the city council, the resolution will establish water rates affected July 1st, 2026.

Do any counselors have a conflict of interest to declare?

Okay.

Assistant Samander Kim Ezel will now present the staff report.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

The resolution before you this evening establishes water rates for fiscal year 26 to 27.

Each year, the city evaluates if there is a need to increase established water rates for customers.

The city has previously increased water rates by 3% in 2022 and 2023.

The city did not increase water rates during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic or for the last three years.

Staff is proposing a 3% increase this fiscal year to fund planned capital improvements and fund increases in personnel and supply costs.

This proposed increase will follow council's established direction to make smaller incremental increases over time rather than significant one-time rate increases and will ensure that the water fund has the resources necessary for operations and capital expenses.

The average residential customer will see an increase of $1.24 per month on their water bill and a total increase of $3.94 per month across all utility fees being discussed this evening.

Happy to answer any questions.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

Questions for staff.

Seeing none.

I will now call in persons who sign up to comment on the resolution.

Comments are limited to three minutes.

Please state your name and address for the record and whether you are speaking as a proponent, opponent, or neutral comment.

No one has signed up.

Okay.

Thank you.

So the hearing is now closed.

Is there a motion from council?

Move to approve resolution 2026-28.

Second.

Second.

Thank you.

Uh the mo the resolution was moved by Councilor Martinez and seconded by Council President Valenzuela.

Is there further discussion from council?

Seeing none.

Will the city manager please read the resolution by title only?

Resolution 2026-28, fixing water rates for the city of Forest Grove effective July 1st, 2026 and repealing resolution number 2023-17.

City recorder, please call roll.

Council President Valenzuela.

Yes.

Counselor Schummel?

Yes.

Councillor Falconer?

Yes.

Councillor Martinez?

Yes.

Counselor Marshall?

Yes.

Counselor Gustafson.

Yes.

Mayor Wenzel.

Yes.

The vote is 7 to 0.

Resolution 2026-28 is approved by the Forest Grove City Council.

Moving on to resolution 2029.

2026-29.

Um I will now open the public hearing on resolution 2026-29.

If approved by the city council, this resolution will establish the sewer utility rates effective July 1st, 2026.

Do any city councillors have a conflict of interest to declare?

Okay, I will now turn it over to our assistant city manager Kim Eazell, who will now present the staff report.

Good evening.

The resolution before you this evening establishes the city sewer rates for fiscal year 26 through 27.

This utility rate funds the city's expenses for our sewer system.

Staff is proposing a 3% increase to fund increases in personnel and supplies costs.

Clean water services, who maintains the regional sewer system, is increasing its rate by 4%.

The average residential customer will see an increase of $2.29 per month in sewer line items and a total increase of $3.94 per month across all utility fees that are discussed this evening.

Happy to answer any questions.

Great.

Thank you.

Any questions from council?

None.

I will now call in persons who signed up to comment on the resolution and comments are limited to three minutes.

Please state your name and address for the record and whether you are speaking as a proponent, opponent, or neutral comment.

Anybody sign up wishing to give public testimony?

There's no one signed up.

No one signed up, right?

Okay.

Uh the hearing is now closed.

Is there a motion from the council?

Move to approve.

Second.

Councilor Martinez made the motion, and Council President Valenzuela seconded the motion.

Is there any further discussion from council?

Hearing none.

City manager, please read the resolution by title only.

Resolution 2026-29, establishing city sewer utility rates for the city of Forest Grove, effective July 1st, 2026.

Repealing resolution number 2025-34.

Thank you.

City recorder, please call the roll.

Councilor Shimmel.

Yes.

Councillor Falconer?

Yes.

Counselor Martinez.

Yes.

Councillor Marshall?

Yes.

Councillor Gustafson?

Yes.

Council President Valenzuela?

Yes.

Mayor Wenzel.

Yes.

The vote is 7 to 0.

Resolution 2026-29 is approved.

Thank you.

Moving on now to resolution 2026-30.

I will now open the public hearing on resolution 2026-30.

If approved by the city council, this resolution will establish service water management rates effective July 1st, 2026.

Do any counselors have a conflict of interest to declare?

Seeing none.

Assistant C Manager Kim Eazell will now present the staff report.

Thank you, Mayor.

The resolution before you this evening establishes the city's surface water management rate for fiscal year 26 through 27.

This utility rate funds the city's expenses for our stormwater system.

Staff is proposing a 3% increase to fund increases in personnel and supplies costs.

Clean water services, who maintains the regional stormwater system, is increasing its rate by 4%.

The average residential customer will see an increase of 41 cents per month for surface water management line items and a total increase of $3.94 per month across all utility fees discussed this evening.

Happy to answer your question.

Okay, thank you.

Any questions for staff?

I will now call on persons who signed up to comment on the resolution.

Comments are limited to three minutes.

Please state your name and address for the record and whether you are a proponent, opponent, or neutral, comment.

Any nobody is signed up to give public testimony.

The hearing is now closed.

Is there a motion from council?

Move to approve resolution 2026-30.

Second.

Thank you.

Councilor Falconer made the motion and councillor Martinez seconded it.

Is there further discussion from council?

Hearing none.

City manager, please read the resolution by title only.

Resolution 2026-30, establishing surface water management or swim rate for the city of City of Forest Grove, effective July 1st, 2026, and repealing resolution number 2025-33.

Thank you.

Will the city recorder please call the roll?

Councilor Falconer?

Yes.

Councilor Martinez?

Yes.

Counselor Marshall?

Yes.

Counselor Gustafson.

Yes.

Council President Valenzuela?

Yes.

Counselor Schimmel?

Yes.

Mayor Wenzel.

Yes.

The vote is seven to zero.

Resolution 2026-30 is approved.

Thank you.

Okay, we have one more resolution.

Resolution 2026-31.

And I'm gonna turn it over to our assistant city manager.

Good evening.

Uh the resolution before you this evening authorizes the city to collect the updated rates and charges for sewer and surface water regional maintenance and SDCs as established by the Clean Water Services Board of Directors.

Clean Water Services sets sewer and surface water management rates and charges for maintenance services as well as system development charges for capital expenses related to new development.

The city collects these funds and remits them to CWS.

CWS has established the following increases effective July 1st, 2026.

Sewer rates, a 4% increase, surface water management rates, a 4% increase, sewer SDC, a 2.7% increase, and service water management SDC 2.7% increase.

The average residential customer will see a total increase of $3.94 per month across all the utility fees discussed this evening, including the clean water services charges.

Thank you.

Any questions for staff?

Councillor Schumel.

I know we we talked before about clean water's the billing for clean water services and delineating their increases from ours.

And I know that may be a parallel separate later track is there communication as far as where the increase stems from going out in bills.

From their increases they're seeing similar to our increases of just increased cost of personnel and supplies.

Is there information out on our website or is it in the bill yet?

I believe it will be going out in the bill information, but I will check with our um communications program manager to make sure that we're getting that out.

Thank you.

Any additional questions?

Okay, what is the wish of the council?

Move to approve.

Second.

Thank you.

Councilor Martinez move made the motion and council of President Valenzuela seconded the motion to approve resolution 2026-31.

Is there further council discussion?

I might just add, just reflecting on your question that um, you know, CWS sets these increases.

They set the ACCs.

Um, and I would just note that we counselors don't have a seat at the advisory committee or on the board of directors.

Thank you.

Okay, will the city manager read this by title only, please?

Resolution 2026-31, accepting clean water services sanitary and sewer utility rates, surface water management rates, swim system development charges and sanitary sewer system development charges, effective July 1st, 2026 and repealing resolution number 2025-39.

Thank you.

Will the city recorder please call roll?

Counselor Martinez here.

Counselor, no, yes, yes, here we go.

Oh, yes.

Sorry.

Counselor Marshall.

That's okay.

Counselor Marshall.

Yes.

Counselor Gustafson.

Yes.

Council President Valenzoila?

Yes.

And Councilor Shimon?

Yes.

Counselor Falconer.

Yes.

Mayor Wenzel.

Yes.

The vote is 7 to 0, approving resolution 2026-3-1.

We are now gonna move on to Council Communications, and we'll start with Councilor President Valenzuela.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um so I have shared with you a presentation that is a compilation of the highlights of the community development blog grant and the accomplishments of the funding that have been granted to for different projects.

So I shared that with you.

It should be on your email earlier today.

We did have a meeting last week.

Um and uh what we had was a presentation.

It was beautifully delivered, uh, a presentation about how we obtain the funding to be able to uh provide uh the support uh for different housing projects, infrastructure, uh repairs, uh uh all those services um that make our community better.

So it's uh how do we get those federal funds?

Uh who advocates on our behalf and the presentation was very detailed, it went step by step uh as to how we are able to obtain that funding.

Uh but I wanted to share this with you uh because this um you know this organization, this uh board is actually 50 years old uh and it has uh done great work so on the presentation I sent to you, you will see the housing projects uh that benefited uh from these uh funding public services projects.

Uh we had, you know, for example, um we supported Casa for Children, uh also uh open door uh that um needed um to obtain um some places to help the community they serve um infrastructure project highlights as well.

Um and you will see the pictures also of the places and all the improvements that uh were funded.

Um for example, the Marjorie Stewart Sherwood Senior Center, and the pictures are really beautiful, but they needed some uh repairs for the restrooms, um ADA upgrades, all those things that are important for a place like that.

And the Cornelius roundabout, uh also there by the uh the newer newest apartments that were built there.

So City of Cornelius actually did a lot of infrastructure work and with the funds that uh that were awarded to them.

Um so that's what I have for you today.

Um the library um commission meeting.

I was unable to attend, and I did not get the notes on time, but I will share with you next time.

And next uh this week I will be attending the public uh arts commission meeting on behalf of our friend.

Okay, great, thank you.

Councilor Falkner.

Uh I can report that um the governor nominated me to serve on the land conservation development commission.

Yes, um, I had my confirmation hearing last Monday and the Senate voted to um uh confirm that appointment.

So I will be attending my very first meetings this Thursday and Friday, so straight to work.

Um so full days, um full days eight and five each day in Salem this time.

Um sometimes I think the meetings are held throughout the state.

I think um budgetary restrictions, um most of them have been held in Salem and probably Congratulations, yeah, and thank you for doing that.

Thank you.

That's really I mean that's a huge time commitment and it is.

I'll be meeting uh they meet uh for two full days um basically every other month thank you, Counselor Gustafson um I don't have much to report, uh and thank you for that.

I appreciate it.

Um but 4th of July is coming.

Please spread the word.

It's it's gonna be a fantastic community event.

Great, thank you.

Councilor Marshall.

Um Parks and Rick kind of went over everything already.

No, I think I have much.

Thank you.

Councilor Martinez.

Uh we're waiting for student profiles still from New Zen.

Um for the students that are gonna be coming here.

Uh let's see.

We're um waiting, they're waiting for the MOUs to be returned or um post review through Forest Grove and the Chamber.

See, and then there will be a table set up at the farmers market where they are going to be doing um just getting the word out to the community looking for more families who want to take in students to host.

Great, thank you.

Uh City Manager report.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I know members of the council earlier were able to meet our new finance director, but I wanted to time over.

Oh, sorry, okay.

I was like, right.

I was like, why is I was like, why is Councilor Shimmel giving me the luck?

And then I was like, well, then I'm a little sorry, I have like a little bit of delayed uh lack of sleep.

You're in charge.

And I'm not doing a very good job.

So I apologize.

Can we can we let Counselor Schimmel go?

Thank you, Jesse.

And I'm sorry.

I apologize.

Well, the economic development commission met last week, they got their initial orientation on the enterprise zone policy questions.

So they'll they'll be sort of interacting with the subject over the over the course of time that we are and as new information rolls in.

But you know, they were already actively asking questions of thinking about operationalizing an enterprise zone.

Um so they're eager to contribute some feedback.

Uh CCE will be steeped in public awareness on the police facility bond through the summer.

Uh the boards and commissions mixer was really nice event.

Cool to just connect with those those folks in a very casual social environment.

So I'm glad we could do that.

Um then if if there was ever a uh chamber lynche in that could have should have been taped, it was today with uh Dr.

West speaking uh about the school district dire straits around budget uh structural deficits and challenges ahead that she equally emphasize the tremendous accomplishments that the district has despite those challenges and recovering some of the the reading the results later in the in the um in the school projectory.

So despite some some of the challenges, it was great to hear about a lot of the context to the uniqueness of this district having a high percentage of Spanish speaking learning early on.

Um by the time they graduate, you know, there's there's a lot to be celebrated.

So that was it was great.

Receive that thank you, and I apologize for my my error.

Okay, city manager's report.

Thank you, Mayor.

I know members of the council earlier had a chance to meet uh our new finance director, Kathy Huber Nickerson.

I did want to add um for the council and also for the community that Kathy comes to Forest Grove with 30 years of experience in um not just finance but also in local government finance and experience.

Uh her two previous roles were finance director for the city of Canvas, uh chemists, and also the city of Battleground.

Uh additionally, um Kathy comes to us with a uh a bachelor degree uh in public administration um from Seattle University and then a master's of public administration from Lewis and Clark College.

And last but certainly not least, um Kathy has a lot of experience in biennial budgeting, which has uh uh many people know the city went to uh last year, and we are halfway through our biennial budget, so we're very excited to have Kathy on board uh and would like to uh extend a warm welcome to our new uh finance director.

Um you may have noticed that the intersection of Heather Street and Mountain View Lane uh has been closed.

That closure was effective on June 16th.

Uh we are constructing the emergency intertype project.

That's where we are tying into the 72 inch water line of the joint water commission at that intersection.

That uh connection is essentially an emergency intertie that will give the city some additional options for water service on the east side of Forest Grove, mainly for emergencies.

It will increase our pressure in the event that we have any type of fire related event or high water usage event on the east side.

So that project will be ongoing.

I don't have a time as to when that way reopened, uh, but I will get a projected time and report that back to the council uh and also to the community, and we will make sure that something is uh put up on our website.

Um also the collegeway water main replacement.

That's the water main that is being replaced between university to the north and um Pacific to the south.

That project is proceeding well.

College has been closed, I think, for three weeks now.

We are expecting to complete that project in mid-July.

So in two to three weeks, we should be uh complete with that project.

And again, I'll provide additional updates as they as they come.

Um and then uh last uh we've had a pretty busy application period for our fun for all fund as we go into the summer and then we go into more recreation programs.

I did want to let the council know we've awarded approximately we've we've received approximately 40 applications that have been awarded, uh, and we've awarded almost uh $9,000 to participate in our recreation programs uh for the summer.

And then last announcement is on June 27th, there will be police station tours and coffee with a cop.

So if the community is interested in taking a tour of the existing police facility, please come on down on June 27th.

And that's all I have.

Thank you, Mayor.

Great.

Thank you, Jesse.

I don't have much to report.

Uh just one thing I want to ask uh the council for I don't know, consensus or just kind of give an update.

Last spring when we I think I told you the MYAC going to the NLC conference, the way the application process worked with NLC had changed.

And so there was no spaces available for students to actually attend the conference.

So I'm wondering two things.

I'm wondering if uh we can start that application process sooner and then decide who's going to go.

I want to change the timeline.

I want the council to choose the people by October, because we actually have to put in their names and register them at the fall NLC conference in November.

Um, and so that will give us the opportunity to do it.

The other thing is that while I attended the NLC conference last spring, the youth advisor coordinator for the city of Hillsboro was like, hey, you know, maybe we can work out an agreement between the city of Hillsborough.

Um so that she goes already in chaperones her group of Hillsboro YAC members, youth advisory council.

And so if we're only sending two or three, um then they could chaperone.

And I think that would be like a cost savings on us paying for one full chaperone or like a counselor or myself doing it.

So if staff could look out for that, and if it's okay with the council if we change when that we apply, um, and because we have to approve if the if we get more than the amount we have funded, we have to choose.

So I just wanted to make sure it was okay with all of you if we started that process sooner.

And then can you let I don't know who on staff does that, but that would be helpful.

Okay, and then I just want to give a shout out to the Habit for Habitat West Quality Habitat um community.

They had their gala and they did a really good job.

It was at Pacific, and thanks to our partners at Pacific.

Um, and then you know, regrettably I could not attend the board and commission mixer.

Uh that's like one of my most favorite things.

I was really sad, but uh also my kid, my family has to come first at times.

They can't always leave.

So um, I'm glad that you all attended, and that it sounds like it was a great event.

Okay, and I'm gonna say this in public hearing.

Uh following this meeting, we're gonna have an executive session.

Executive sessions are closed to the public.

No formal decisions or actions will be taken.

Representatives of the news media may attend but may not disclose any information discussed.

News media represent representatives may request a link to attend via Zoom by emailing the city recorders office at Mwoods at Forest Grove dash or the council will convene to hold an executive session ORS 192 6602i to review and evaluate the employment related performance of the city manager.

And with that, I'm going to adjourn this meeting of the city council.

Thank you.

Okay, we'll move to the all right.

Look at that.