Forest Grove City Council Meeting - September 28, 2026

Good evening.

Welcome to this meeting of the Forest Grove City Council.

The date is September 28th, and the time is 701.

Will the city recorder please call roll?

Council President Vonzuela?

Here.

Councilor Shimmel.

Here.

Councillor Falconer?

Here.

Councillor Martinez?

Here.

Counselor Marshall?

Here.

Mayor Wentzel.

Here.

We acknowledge the land on which Forest Grove is located, rests on the traditional village sites of the Atfalati, a tribe of the Calapuas who originally inhabited the Toalaton 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 five

of

the United States

of America.

One nation under God, indivisible

with

liberty and justice for all.

Whereas Force Grow places a

high value on local choice over community services, and therefore have chosen to operate a community-owned, not for profit, very popular electric utility, and as customers and owners of our electric utility have a direct say in utility operations and policies.

And whereas Force Grove Light and Power was founded in 1895.

Wow.

And is the third oldest municipal electric utility in the state of Oregon.

And whereas Forest Grove Light and Power provides our homes, businesses, schools, social services, and local government agencies with safe, reliable, and affordable electricity, employing sound business practices designed to ensure the best possible service for at not-for-profit rates.

And whereas Forest Grove Light and Power is a valuable community asset that contributes to the well-being of local citizens through energy efficiency, customer service, environmental protection, economic development, and safety awareness.

And whereas the Forest Grove Light and Power Department is a dependable and trustworthy and fan favorite, I just added that institution whose local operation provides many consumer protections and continues to make our community a better place to live and work.

Now, therefore, the city council of the city of Forest Grove does hereby proclaim October 4th to October 10th as public power week in Forest Grove, Oregon, and calls upon the people to join their fellow citizens across the United States in recognizing and participating in the special observance.

It's hard for me to look up when I'm reading because I have these readers and you're all blurry, and then I get really distracted.

I'm still figuring out how to use them.

Okay, our next proclamation is Banned Book Week, and I love some good old banned books.

I think go ask Alice.

I was like thinking about this as I was reading my packet last week.

I'm like, what's my favorite banned book?

Um

so

I'll read the proclamation, but can we all just give a shout out to sitting in a chair reading a book and being someplace else for a little bit?

What a great escape.

Okay, so with that, I'm putting these back on, so if I don't look at you, I apologize.

Usually I was taught to like look up, but I get very dizzy with the readers.

Okay.

Whereas the freedom to read is essential to our democracy and is protected by our constitution.

And whereas some persons work to remove or limit access to reading materials to label views as controversial, to distribute lists of books or authors considered objectionable, and to purge libraries of materials reflecting the diversity and history of our society.

And whereas Americans favor free enterprise and ideas and expression and can exercise critical judgment, recognize propaganda and misinformation, make their own decisions about what they read and believe, and exercise the responsibilities that accompany this freedom.

And whereas intellectual freedom is essential to the preservation of a free society and a creative culture, and conformity limits this range and variety of inquiry and expression on which our democracy and culture depend.

And whereas the American Library Association's Banned Books Week is observed each year as a reminder to Americans not to take their freedom for granted.

And whereas Bann Book Week celebrates the freedom to choose to express one's opinion, even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular, and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of a different of different viewpoints to all who wish to read them.

Now, therefore, the City Council of the City of Forest Grove does hereby proclaim October 4th to October 10th, 2026 as banned books week.

In

Forest Grove, Oregon, and calls upon the people to join their fellow citizens across the United States and recognizing and participating in this special observance.

Okay, we have one more proclamation, and it's for arts and humanities months.

Almost that week, but it's month.

It's really difficult.