Meeting date: August 24, 2026, 7:23 p.m. The Forest Grove City Council met for a regular session after a summer hiatus. Council President Valenzuela led the roll call, resulting in a full council present (all six members). The meeting began with a land acknowledgment, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a proclamation designating September 11, 2026, as the National Day of Service and Remembrance in Forest Grove (read in English and Spanish by Council President Valenzuela).
Good evening, welcome back after our summer hiatus. I would like to call to order this meeting of the Forest Grove City Council on Monday, August 24th at 7.23 p.m., will our city recorder please call roll. Council President Valenzuela. Here. Councillor Schumann. Here. Councillor Falconer. Councillor Martinez. Here. Councillor Marshall. Here. Mayor Wenzel. Here. Okay. We acknowledge the land on which Forest Grove is located, rest on the traditional village sites of the Atphalati, a tribe of the Calapua who originally inhabited the Twalton Plains, including Forest Grove. They are now part of the Confederate tribes of Grand Ron. For more information on the At Falati, visit the Pacific University Libraries. Will the Council and the audience please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. I just can't see out there now. I'm not really used to it. Okay, so bear with me and I apologize. Okay, so I would like to start with National Day of Service and Remembrance. Whereas on September 11th, 2001, nearly 3,000 men, women, and children who were going about their normal routines were taken from us, depriving families and loved ones of a lifetime of precious moments. And whereas in response to this tragedy, Americans across the country came together in a remarkable spirit of unity and carried out countless acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion. And whereas community organizations and family members of 9-11 victims began observing the anniversary of September 11th as a charitable service day to honor the memory of those who were lost and those who united in response to the tragedy, including first responders and volunteers. And whereas on September 11th, 2026, and on the days leading up to the and following this day, citizens of Forest Grove have an opportunity to participate in activities that honor 9-11 victims and heroes by joining together in service projects to meet community needs. Recordar a quienes perdieron la vida y render homenage a la familias that Forest Grove proclama por la presente el D 11 de September de Service Conmemora. In Forest Grove Oregon exhorta todos sus residents on Rala Memoria de Kienes Perdieron Lavida mediante su participation in actividades de service communitario and ceremonias commemorativas in este daño. In testimonio de Local A suscrito la presente y a dispuesto que el sello de la ciudad de Forest Grove Oregon in este dia 24 of 2026, nuestra alcaldesa Malinda Wenso. Thank you, Council of President Valenzuela. We are now going to move on to item B on the agenda, which is public comment. Time provided for anyone wishing to speak to the council on any item 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 extended by the council. Zoom attendees may use the raised hand option to be called on. And we have two people signed up for public comment. We'll start with Mr. Dale Feek. Good evening, Mare Winsel and Council President of Valezuela and Councillors. I had when I do public comment to the county commissioners, this falls back, so I just have to check or don't fall back, hurt myself. Sorry about three minutes. You may. Thank you. I sent you two emails. I'm going to talk about those two emails. One has to do with others have a right to expect from us and what we have a right to expect from others. The other has to do with Merkley and Wildfires. I went to the Chamber of Commerce meeting today in which the present the two talkers were McLean, representing McLean and Senator Solman. I asked a question, and they both spoke about the incident that happened to Senator McLean out at the sewage and treatment plant in Forest Grove.