Yep.

Great.

Thank you.

Okay.

Great.

Um Aubrey, do we have everyone?

Yes, we do.

Great.

So are we good to get started?

We are ready.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Okay.

Welcome everyone to the June 23rd special city council meeting.

Thanks to all of you for joining us this evening.

And by the way, it's good for me to be back.

I'm glad to be back.

And uh wanted to thank Council President Rob Harris for leading the meetings in my absence.

So due to the events that led to the early adjournment of last Tuesday's city council meeting and the inability of council to conduct business on behalf of uh community members at that time.

Public comment now will take place for this meeting towards the end of the agenda.

If you wish to speak in person and you're in the auditorium there, please fill out a yellow card and hand it to the city recorder.

It is past the time to register to speak virtually.

Is that correct, Aubrey?

Correct.

Okay, great.

Just want to make sure.

So if you're in the room and you want to make a comment, if you're in the auditorium, you can uh fill out a yellow card and then bring it to the deputy assist uh deputy city recorder, Aubrey, and you'll be able to comment in the room.

Okay.

Uh so to begin with, Aubrey, can we please have a roll call?

Mayor Pace.

I'm here.

Councillor Harris.

Here.

Councillor Anbury.

Here.

Councillor Salgado.

Here.

Councillor Case.

Here.

Councillor Sinclair.

Here.

Councillor Alcair.

Here.

Great.

Thank you very much.

We'll move to item number one, the consent agenda.

The items on the consent agenda are normally considered in a single motion.

And any item may be removed for separate consideration upon request of any member of council.

Is there a request to remove any items for separate consideration?

Okay.

Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda?

So removed case.

Thank you.

Do I have a second?

Secondary.

Counselor Ambry.

Okay.

Is there any discussion?

Okay, may we please have a roll call.

Councillor Alcair.

Councillor Sinclair.

Aye.

Counselor Case.

Aye.

Councillor Harris.

Aye.

Counselor Salgado.

Aye.

Counselor Ambury.

Hi.

Thank you very much.

The motion passes.

Moving to item two, public hearings.

Item 2.1 will consider finance committee's recommendation to adopt a resolution to increase solid waste collection rates.

Resolution number 2923 is available.

And I will open the public hearing on item 2.1.

The registration deadline for virtual comments has now passed, and we have one person registered for this public hearing virtually.

And we will first hear from Anthony Garbarino.

Can you guys hear me?

Yes, we can.

Awesome.

Good evening, members of the council and Mayor Pace.

My name is Anthony Garberino.

I'm the co-owner of Garberino Disposal and Recycling along with my sister Lexi.

We are one of Hillsborough's franchise garbage and recycling haulers in a third-generation family-owned business that has been collaborating with the City of Hillsboro since 1975.

I'm here tonight in support of the proposed rate adjustment.

First, I want to thank the city and your staff for the thorough and transparent process that goes into setting these rates each year.

As a small business, the stability and fairness of this franchise model is critical to ensure consistent service throughout the city.

We submit detailed financials annually, work closely with staff and consultants during the rate review process, and rely on this partnership to continue delivering safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible service to Hillsboro residents and businesses.

For companies like ours, these rate reviews ensure we can continue to invest in equipment safety and our people, especially our frontline workers who show up every day, rain or shine to keep this city clean and functioning.

We employ over 25 people, many of whom support families in this community.

A predictable rate structure ensures that we can provide union-backed living wage jobs while keeping costs fair and transparent for the people and communities we serve.

We're proud to run a small business, and we're even prouder that we get to do it here in Hillsboro where collaboration between the public and private sector works.

I understand concerns regarding affordability and the cumulative impact of cost increases on residents and businesses.

Many of us live and work in these same communities and share these concerns.

At the same time, approval of needed rate adjustments avoids accumulating greater cost pressure into future rate cycles and avoids placing additional strain on the collection system's financial sustainability.

As noted by the written testimony in your packet, I, along with all of the haulers serving Hillsboro, support the staff recommendation and urge you to adopt the rate adjustment as proposed, so we can keep doing the work that helps this community thrive.

Not sure how the process works here, but that's the uh the end of my uh my little spiel.

But I'm also available if anyone has any questions or wants to learn anything more about the the franchise garbage system as a whole.

And thank you all for your time.

Great.

Thank you, Mr.

Garbarino.

Aubrey, do we have any yellow cards specific to this public hearing?

We do not or anybody in in the auditorium there that wants to testify.

I do not have any cards for this item specifically.

Thank you.

I see Robin Strawn is with us to answer any questions.

And Chris Bell, uh, does council have any questions for staff?

Uh counselor Sogado.

I have one question.

Yeah, let me lower my hand here.

Um, so my reading of HMC 6, the one that's being referenced for this, when I first read it, it seemed like we analyzed by individual franchise.

And the report that we got is by service line.

Um, so I'm wondering when that was defined, as far as like what year it was defined and who defined it, right?

Because um, the charter said what the policy is, then the staff get to interpret it.

And so I'm reading it differently.

And I was expecting actually to see a report on the individual franchise, and that's not what I saw.

What I saw is uh service line kind of cost recovery.

So if you could just help me understand why that's the case, uh, because it's different from what I expected.

So thank you.

Uh Robin, did you want to answer that?

Yeah, yeah.

Counselor Socato, I'm I'm not gonna I'm not sure how to answer that question.

We'll need to dig into the HMC.

Uh, it's just not something I'm prepared to talk about tonight.

Chris or Robin, if I know you're online, um are either of you familiar with that.

Uh Chris, I see you on um on the video.

Yeah, I'm I'm very familiar with it.

Uh uh to the point, I'm assuming the question is do we look at the individual haulers and look at the composite as a whole?

And the answer is absolutely yes.

We look at each individual report submitted by each hauling, by each franchise hauler.

And we do a uh a series of tests and predictive uh uh calculations based on revenue disposal.

And then we make adjustments to those specific reports.

Uh we work with the haulers and we're the haulers represented to make sure that the adjustments are understood by the hauler and that they have input.

And if there is a question or an issue, we resolve that.

And then we if we do make an adjustment to that report, we take those reports as a whole, we accumulate we we accumulate them to come up with a composite rate of return for the city of Hillsborough.

And that rate of return is broken down by each individual line of business, whether it's residential, which is primarily the cart, commercial, which is the container, or drop box, which is industrial.

And then we report that composite results to the city.

Uh, and that composite report is or the composite results of what we calculate the rates on.

Yeah, let me let me clarify the question.

Uh maybe if I can add some context, my question will make more sense.

Um, so we do an annual review, and that annual review review determines whether uh we allow this increase in rates, correct?

And so my reading of it is that assessment is done at an individual franchise basis, right?

So I was expecting to see franchise A, B, C D.

Here's the rate of return, here's the cost of doing a business, here's what increased, here's what decreased.

But what I saw in the report was by service line, right?

By carry out.

I I can't remember exactly what the name of the service service lines were, but they're not individualized by franchisee.

So that's just the nuance I'm trying to understand.

Like I get how you get to the calculation.

I'm just trying to understand when the interpretation happened because I was expecting to see the report on an individual franchise basis, right?

Like how much return is each individual franchise making and how much are they costing?

I think that would be a fairer assessment, but that's what I'm just trying to learn and understand from.

And sorry I didn't send this earlier.

I've been busy the last few days.

Um, and so I didn't get a chance to send this ahead of time.

Okay, so you got you got two questions here.

So the first one, we do that assessment, and there is a specific area within that report where that we do report that.

And then that information, because the information that the haulers submit is deemed confidential.

However, if uh if a city council member or somebody within the city wants to see that information, we will provide that.

Um these reports are submitted to the city, so you do have that information.

You have access to that.

However, and like I said, we adjust each individual report, we look at them to make sure that the report is a reasonable representation of the cost of doing business within the city of Hillsborough, and we make adjustments to that report, whether they're up or down.

So we may make an adjustment of that report that may be beneficial to the hauler or it may be unbenficial, meaning that uh, you know, the the rates or the expenses or the uh revenues weren't weren't what we deem them to be.

And we put those together.

Now we don't set rates at individual franchises because if we did, you'd have seven different sets of rates for the seven different franchise haulers within the city.

So there is one rate for a 35-gallon car within a city, and it's based on that composite report.

So it's no different than if you have each end of each of those individual reports, we add them all up because they're all split, they're all the same.

The format's still the same, so we can add those up and we can calculate the rate of return for each of those individual lines of business.

And then the city does have some nuances in it.

You do have policies specific to the rate of return.

You do have a low income uh uh uh program that we have to calculate and adjust for.

Uh there's different uh levels of service that the city requires.

So we had to take that all in consideration.

We and we calculate that at the composite level.

And the other thing, too, there is uh some a lot of nuances within the city.

You know, there's different haulers who have different locations and they have different rates of return depending on what their levels of service are and their customer mix.

So there's there's a lot that goes into this annual report.

I think you know, the report that Andrew generates and submits to not only the city council, but prior to that to the city leadership is pretty significant.

I think this this year, maybe there's 12 pages.

I mean, you know, considering for and yeah, and thanks.

Thank you for that.

And I understand the increase is like a dollar, what a dollar 70, which is you know, on its own, it's not a big deal, right?

But what we're seeing across the board, cost of living is increasing everywhere, right?

So that's why I asked these questions.

I think that you know, if you have that information on a franchise by franchise basis, if you could share that with me, I didn't see that in my report.

That would be very helpful because one of the things that I think that we could do as a city council um is control some of these costs, right?

And if we have information about cost of doing business and the the big high-level numbers, I think that'll help us uh make better decisions moving forward right now.

I'm I'm okay with approving this.

I just want to understand these nuances, right?

I'm here to learn.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

Well, what let me ask me, let me dovetail on that question because this is an issue over the last X number of years.

The biggest increase that these haulers have incurred is the cost of waste disposal.

And that's controlled by Metro.

And interestingly enough, there's a lot of city councils who've been saying we're interested in this, and then after this process, after we present the rates, they forget about it.

And then next year it's gonna come up again.

And so I'm gonna, you know, as a body, if you're interested in that, you know, take you know, take an interest in what Metro is doing and why they're increasing the rates and why they're adjusting them.

There's uh the sit the mayor of Beaverton is very involved in this, the mayor of Sherwood's very involved in this.

Uh, I'm not sure if anybody from the city of Hillsborough involved to the level they are, but that is a significant increase in collection cost of being current.

And so take an interest in that.

A lot of the other stuff is kind of out of the hauler's control.

For example, the cost of a garbage truck is out of the control.

Uh, there's some uh cost of fuel is kind of out of the control.

They have labor agreements and the labor agreements are across the uh the ports of the metropolitan area, those to some extent are in control.

Um and then if we do this process, we look at expenses that are being curved by the haulers if they're excessive from what the business is or what the operation is, we adjust those within the report and we set the rate based on those costs.

So it's not as if a hauler is saying, Hey, I'm I'm losing my shirt, I need a rate increase because I'm doing poorly.

There's a level of scrutiny that's involved in this every year, and we've been doing this.

I've been working with the city since 2002 on this report, and over a period of time, you can see some consistencies, you can see some patterns.

Um, and and those are the things that when we look at the the rates, we have a good idea of what they should be, and then we take these additional costs, we plug those in, and that's just the calculation of the rate.

And so, to your point, it's it's really expensive anymore to do garbage collection.

Um disposal is a significant component of the cost bit that are being improved right now.

And that was in the report, and I appreciate that.

And that's the information that I was looking for, right?

Because it's a valuable service, good paying jobs.

I mean, we need I mean they're critical business, right?

I just want to make sure that you know if there is something as a on the cost side getting out of control that we have.

So I look into that.

Thank you very much.

And if you ever have a question on that, you know, you got you've got my phone number.

If you don't call Andrew, he'll get the phone number.

Um, you know, I you know, my job is to answer any question that questions that you may have and give you the level of detail necessary that you can say my answers been my question's been answered satisfactory.

Chris, thank you for the help.

You're welcome.

Great, thank you, Chris.

Um, any other questions from council?

Yes, Mayor Pace, this is Counselor Sinclair.

Uh Counselor Sinclair, go ahead.

Yes.

Um, thank you so much, Chris, for the uh detailed information.

The reduced rate program uh is the application serviced only through community action.

Do we know that?

Yes.

And then the question I have is what is the maximum credit per house per household per fiscal year for each household?

Because there's a nine percent increase due to metro uh transfer station to disposal fees, and that's the trigger, correct?

Of the this particular increase.

That that that has been that's one of the contributing factors for the increase for this year.

But but to answer your first question, the the the low income uh program is the the buy down is 75% of the rate.

So if the rates uh $10, the amount that the the uh the the person's gonna pay who qualifies is two dollars and fifty cents.

So it's a 75% uh decrease in the cost.

And Robbie, can you share with council what is the maximum cap per year in the program?

Do you mean how much someone can earn?

Um, I believe it's set at the same as our other uh uh our other low income assistance programs that we have, and I believe that is uh I want to say it's 80 percent uh medium family income.

I can get you that answer for sure, uh, but I believe it's 80 percent below if I remember correctly.

Um, Robbie, this is Michelle Waring.

It's 60 percent of state media income and um not 80 percent.

Okay, thanks, Mr.

All the eligibility information is on the city's website if people want more information.

Thank you.

Great, thank you.

Are there any other questions of staff?

Okay, the public hearing is now closed.

Do I have a motion to adopt resolution number two nine two three?

So moved case.

Thank you.

Do I have a second?

Second hand, very thank you.

Is there any discussion?

May we please have a roll call?

Councilor Salgado.

Hi Councillor Harris.

I counselor Sinclair.

I counselor Alcair.

Hi, Councillor Case.

Aye, Councillor Ambury.

Aye.

Thank you.

Resolution number 2923 is adopted, and now moving on to item 2.2.

Biennium to 2025 to 2027 supplemental budget.

The ordinance will be considered as item 7.2, and I will open the public hearing on a hearing, excuse me, on item 2.2.

The registration deadline for virtual comments is now passed.

We have no persons registered for this public hearing virtually.

Uh Aubrey, do we have any yellow cards?

Anybody in person uh for the public hearing on this?

Not for this item.

Great.

Does council have any questions for staff regarding item 2.2, the biennium budget?

Okay.

The public hearing is now closed.

Moving on to item three, unfinished business.

There's none.

Item four ordinances, the first reading.

Uh first readings, excuse me.

So item 4.1, Hillsborough Comprehensive Plan Amendment 003-26, synopsis east.

Consider the planning commission's recommendation to approve an update to the Hillsborough Comprehensive Plan map to change the designation from industrial to station community planning area on a portion of two lots.

Ordinance number six five one nine is available.

Do I have a motion to approve the first reading of ordinance number six five one nine?

So moved case.

Thank you.

Do I have a second?

Second, Harris.

Thank you.

Is there any discussion?

Oh, uh, Counselor Case.

Um, I just wanted to say let me lower my hand there before I forget.

I just want to say thank you to the staff on page four of the staff report.

There's a summary of procedures, kind of the submittal date, the commission, like the hearing, the council meeting, the second reading, and that's really helpful for us to know that this didn't just pop up a week ago, but this process started back in April.

And I appreciate uh that is helpful for transparency and for us to know how many people have already reviewed and touched this document.

So just wanted to say thank you to the staff for including that.

Wonderful.

Any other discussion?

Okay, may we please have a roll call.

Councilor Ambry.

Aye.

Counselor Case.

Aye.

Counselor Alcair.

Aye.

Counselor Salgado.

Hi.

Counselor Harris.

Aye.

Counselor Sinclair.

Aye.

Thank you.

The first reading of ordinance number six five one nine passes.

The second reading and consideration of final adoption of the ordinance will be on July 7th.

Moving to item 4.2.

Consider finance committee's recommendation to adopt an ordinance approving a supplemental budget for biennium year 2025 to 2027 and declaring an emergency.

According to the charter requirements, and will be considered in one reading.

Ordinance number 6520 is available.

Do I have a motion to adopt ordinance number 6520?

So moved case.

Thank you.

Do I have a second?

Second, Paris.

Thank you.

Is there any discussion or remaining or any remaining questions that counselors have?

Okay.

May we please have a roll call.

Counselor Sinclair.

Aye.

Councillor Harris.

Aye.

Counselor Salgado.

Aye.

Counselor Case.

Aye.

Counselor Alcair.

Aye.

Counselor Ambery.

Aye.

Thank you.

Ordinance number six five two zero is adopted.

Moving on to second readings, item 4.3, Hillsborough Comprehensive Plan Amendment 002-26.

Holmesmith, uh consider the planning commission's recommendation to update the comprehensive plan map to change the designation from industrial to residential low density on a 0.94 acre property located at 1055 Northeast 47th Avenue.

Ordinance number 6517 is available.

Do I have a motion to adopt ordinance number 6517?

Harrisomos.

Thank you.

Do I have a second?

Second case.

Thank you.

Is there any discussion?

Maybe please have a roll call.

Counselor Case.

Aye.

Counselor Harris.

Aye.

Counselor Alcair.

Aye.

Counselor Salgado.

Aye.

Counselor Sinclair.

Aye.

Counselor Ambry.

Aye.

Thank you very much.

Ordinance number six five one seven is adopted.

Moving to item 4.4, Community Development Code Amendment is 003-26.

Zone changes, planned unit developments and adjustments.

Consider the planning commission's recommendation to approve an update to the community development code to align with new state regulations from Senate Bill 974 and House Bill 4037 regarding zone changes, plan unit developments, adjustments, and housing applications.

Harrison moves.

Thank you.

Do I have a second?

And very so moves.

Thank you.

Is there any discussion?

Excellent.

May we please have a roll call.

Councilor Sinclair.

No.

I'm so sorry.

Um I'm so sorry I can't go back on to 4.4, can I?

Uh no, we're doing roll call on it now.

Yeah.

My apologies.

Um dang.

Um I for 5.1.

This is for we're actually on 4.4, and that is what I'm talking about.

I'm sorry.

That thank you so much.

Um abstain.

I'm so sorry.

Abstain uh due to uh the elimination of public process uh participation.

All right, okay.

Case point of order, Mayor.

Yes.

I don't I don't remember here in a second.

Did somebody second?

Uh yeah, I have I have two check marks on that.

First and second.

Uh yeah, we had Harris.

I didn't clearly hear second.

So that's why I was asking.

There was a first and a second, and uh I appreciate you checking to make sure.

And so I asked for discussion.

There was no discussion, and now we're on roll call.

We have an abstention from Councilor Sinclair, and we have a no vote from Councilor Alcare.

So moving on.

Who's next on the roll call?

Councilor Case.

Aye.

Thank you.

Councilor Ambury.

Aye.

Councilor Harris.

Aye.

Counselor Salgado.

Aye.

Thank you.

Ordinance number six five one eight is adopted.

Uh moving on to item uh moving on to new business, item 5.1.

Consider adopting a resolution that would adjust the South Hillsboro Transportation System Development Charge and the Witch Hazel Village South Transportation System Development Charge Rates for fiscal year 2026-2027 in accordance with ordinance number 6161, ordinance number 6491, and Hillsborough Municipal Code Section 3.30.140 and 3.31.140.

Resolution number 2922 is available.

Do I have a motion to adopt resolution number two nine two two?

So moves.

Thank you, Counselor Harris, for making the motion.

Do I have a second?

Second case.

Thank you, Counselor Case, for your second.

Is there any discussion?

May I please have a roll call.

Counselor Salgado.

Aye.

Councilor Ambury.

Aye.

Counselor Alcair.

Aye.

Counselor Sinclair.

Aye.

Counselor Harris.

Aye.

Counselor Case.

Aye.

Thank you.

Resolution number two nine two two is adopted.

Now moving on to item 5.2.

Consider Finance Committee's recommendation to adopt a resolution amending the solid waste and recycling collection franchisees responsibilities and standards.

Resolution number two nine two four is available.

Do I have a motion to adopt resolution number two nine two four?

So moved case.

Thank you, Counselor Case for the motion.

Do I have a second?

Second Annbury.

Thank you, Councillor Anvery for the second.

Is there any discussion?

Okay, may we please have a roll call.

Councilor Anbury.

Aye.

Counselor Case.

Aye.

Counselor Alcair.

Aye.

Councilor Sinclair.

Aye.

Counselor Salgado.

Aye.

Counselor Harris.

Aye.

Thank you.

Resolution number two nine two four is adopted.

Moving on to item 5.3.

Consider Finance Committee's recommendation to adopt an update to the land use application fee schedule to reflect a change in application types as a result of a concurrent code amendment.

Resolution number 2925 is available.

Do I have a motion?

Uh to adopt a resolution number two nine two five.

So moved case.

Thank you, Councillor Case, for your motion.

Do I have a second?

Taking Anbury.

Thank you, Counselor Anvary for the second.

Is there any discussion?

Okay, may I please have a roll call?

Councillor Sinclair.

Aye.

Counselor Alcair.

Aye.

Councilor Case.

Aye.

Counselor Salgato.

Aye.

Councilor Harris.

Aye.

Counselor Ambry.

Aye.

Thank you.

Resolution number two nine two five is adopted.

Moving on to item 5.4.

Consider again finance committee's recommendation.

Finance committee, thank you for all the work you've been doing.

Really appreciate that.

So consider finance committee's recommendation to adopt a resolution authorizing the transfer of appropriations with funds for BY 2025 to 2027.

Resolution number 2926 is available.

Do I have a motion to adopt resolution number two nine two six?

So moved case.

Thank you, Counselor Case, for your motion.

Do I have a second?

The move Andrew.

And Varidi, thank you for Counselor Amberey.

Thank you for your second.

Is there any discussion?

Okay, maybe please have a roll call.

Counselor Harris.

Counselor Sinclair.

Aye.

Counselor Salgato.

Hi.

Counselor Ambry.

Hi.

Counselor Alcair.

Aye.

Counselor Case.

Hi.

Thank you.

Resolution number two nine-two-six is adopted.

Now moving on to item 5.5, consideration of potential disciplinary actions against a member of council.

Just before I turn it over to Chad, I just want to remind everybody that we're only considering possible disciplinary actions.

That does not include removal of a council member.

We cannot do that.

The only people that can do that are the voters of Hillsborough.

So we are only considering possible disciplinary actions.

And Chad, would you like to introduce the item or go into greater detail on this?

Thank you, Mayor.

Chad Jacobs from the city attorney's office.

So you have a staff memo in your council packet that outlines the issues.

Basically, at the request of several members of council, we brought this issue before you tonight.

And the issue before you tonight is to determine whether and to what extent you, as a council, want to move forward with this.

So as outlined in the memo, you basically have uh three distinct options to move forward.

The first one is to take no substantial action.

Um, and that is uh certainly a call that you can make.

And if you uh decide to do that as part of that process, you may publicly state your dissatisfaction or disappointment with counselor salgado's actions without issuing a formal public reprimand or censure or taking any other form of disciplinary action.

The second option is to follow the formal censure process outlined in the council rules, as outlined in the memo.

Uh the that process basically requires you all to provide notice to counselor salgado of your intent to censure and for the reasons why.

Um then we would allow Councilor Salgato at the next council meeting to formally respond to that.

And at that council meeting, you all would then decide what process to move forward with, whether that means that you need some additional investigation into the issue, or whether you're ready to go into deliberations, or for some reason you would need to go into executive session before you do before you do your deliberations after that point in time.

You would then decide whether to issue a public reprimand or a censure.

And then your third option is to take some other form of action, disciplinary action, and that can be um in lieu of or in addition to a public reprimand or censure.

Um that you have multiple options in this regard.

Uh there are um some examples outlined in the staff memo.

But the um but the the options are really sort of open to you.

As with the censure process, um though you do want to make sure that we are providing notice to counselor salgado of what your intended disciplinary action is and the reasons why, and then provide him with a formal opportunity to respond as well, which we would do at the next council meeting.

Um, and then sort of following the same process that I just outlined for the censure.

You would then uh have an opportunity to deliberate and decide based on that formal response whether and what and to what extent to impose those additional disciplinary actions.

So that's an outline of the process.

Um at this point, it's really a conversation amongst you all.

And so what I would maybe suggest, Mayor, is that you turn it over to those counselors who requested that this item be brought forward so they can discuss um what actions what actions they would like to see taken.

Can you can I just ask for some clarity?

Um can you share with us and for the public here?

Um what censor would mean.

What a censure would mean.

Acensure is a basically a public reprimand.

It is the council as a body stating that they uh believe that counselor salgado violated one of the council rules, which includes the work group or the council group agreements that you've all entered into, um, and basically publicly acknowledging that he violated those rules.

There's no monetary consequences, he's not removed from office.

Um, it's just a public reprimand by the council.

Okay, thanks.

Uh okay, so thank you, Chad.

So what we have before us is um uh decision to either we have three options to take no action to um go through the censure process or to take another form of action that could be in addition to or apart from the censure process.

Um I did some research, and you know, some other forms of action could be, I'm not saying that we do this, but they could be pulling uh counselor Sogato off committees, either internal or external or both.

It could be revoking travel funding or attending conferences or seminars on behalf of the city.

It could be uh requiring only virtual attendance of meetings, it could be cessation of a stipend.

Um, so there's different options, and that's I'm not not running through every option, but that those are the three options we have.

So no action, censure, or a third action, which could be censure in addition to some of the things I've listed, or something else you may have in mind.

Um, or not a censure, but some of the things that I listed or something you have in mind.

So what I'd like to do is uh I'll turn it over to each counselor in in a specific order.

Um well, and I'll start with counselor uh case, since she was the original originator of the initial complaint.

And so I'll give each counselor two minutes um to to say what they want to say and what they want to recommend, either option one, option two, option three, and if it's option three, you have to say what those actions are that you want to see.

Um counselor Salgado, I will include you in this.

Um, and I'll have you go last, but I'll just let you know that we're deciding on whether or not we move forward with this and anything that we do, you you're able to respond to it in the next meeting.

Um, so if you want your two minutes tonight to make any comments you can, but to defend that's really for the next meeting.

So I just wanted to say that, but I did want to include you in the opportunity to speak.

Um I'm keeping time.

Uh Aubrey, I don't know if you have the ability to keep time, but um uh I'll let you know when your time's up, and I'll start with counselor case, and then after counselor case will go to counselor all care.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh first I want to thank Chad for the the helpful um email that he sent us with all the inform this this item um and the draft notice that he that he put forward.

I really appreciated having that outlined.

So um I would like to go with option two plus.

So follow the censure process outline the council rules.

Um I have stated in my public comments after last week's meeting.

Um, I'd like to yeah, move forward with the censure and public re slash public reprimand of counselor salgado.

Um, you know, his actions and behaviors both at council and online are just unbecoming of a city counselor.

In addition to the censure, I would also like to request that we remove him from all external facing committees.

I would, however, request that we keep him on internal committees since he is her currently receiving a stipend, and it's unfair to the other members of transportation committee to have to pick up the slack if he were to be excluded from that committee, especially while he's being compensated.

Um something else I would be uh willing to entertain and I'll wait for other counselors to start talking.

Um, but I would be interested in having Counselor Salgado continue to attend virtually for the remainder of his term.

Um and so those are kind of my requests and my thoughts on this.

Thank you.

Um so next up we'll have counselor all care, and after counselor all care, we'll have counselor Harris.

So counselor all care, uh please make your comments within the two minutes.

Thank you.

I'd like to go second to last.

Okay, moving to counselor Harris.

Thank you.

Um I think that what I've what I've seen and experienced is enough for me to recommend we go forward with the censor censure and process at this point.

Um without really any further comment, because I'm I'll be waiting to hear more, although obviously we were all in the room and we were able to observe and experience um everyone the behavior of the of the counselor in that room.

Um I would be interested in some of the I guess the two plus or whatever that counselor case mentioned.

And I think though that should be considered uh any external facing committees.

I'm in agreement with that.

Uh so I could support that sort of a motion uh as far as appearing virtually.

Um I I think that um maybe for a period of time, uh, but at some point we should all be in the same room working together and facing the public as well.

Uh so I'm I'm hesitant to endorse that, but I guess I could be persuade.

But my my initial my initial thought is is not to do that.

Okay, so you're advocating for censure and removal from external committees, yes.

Okay.

Um counselor sinclair and then counselor Anvery after that.

I should I so I apologize.

I would say I'm I'm we're moving the process forward for censor and removal, yes.

Okay, removal from external committees, start the process of as set forth uh by our attorney, yes.

Great.

Okay, thank you.

There'll be a final decision later on, obviously.

So yes, yeah.

We're just gathering what everybody is interested in moving forward with, right?

Okay, thank you.

Yeah, counselor sinclair.

Yes.

Um I would like to recommend the um from my perspective that he be censured.

Uh we apply the censure process and excluded from external uh committees.

I um for a period of time, I don't know what that looks like, but that he attend via Zoom.

Um, but with the opportunity to return on the dais.

Okay, so I have censure removal from external committees and virtual attendance.

Yes, and um I trust that at a later time council will be able to state uh further why they're making the recommendations that we are, correct?

Correct at your next meeting after Councilor Salgado has a chance to respond, you will then deliberate and have an opportunity then.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, uh counselor Anvery.

Thank you.

Um, yeah, so similar option two, and also uh stripped from internal committees and external.

I'm not actually sure what external committees are represent uh that does the councilor represent the city at, but I do want to recommend that uh the counselor not go not represent the city in any city funded events.

Um, and then I would also like to request his uh resignation.

Okay, I'm just taking notes.

Do you know, Mayor, about the external committees?

Uh yes, I um counselor salgato, correct me if I'm wrong, but you serve on the BTR, is that right?

The TV Highway BTR.

Do we have staffs in the list to counsel all the committees on?

Sure, we could do that.

Um so to make sure that I am uh clear on this, Counselor Anvery, you are recommending censure removal from both internal and external committees, no representation at city-funded events, and requests for resignation.

Yes, thank you.

Okay, thank you.

And then uh counselor all care.

So I want to go forward with the censor, and I want to add these things.

Number one, provide a public apology to impacted community members.

Number two, remove from external committees, and I would consider internal committees as well, and also not representing the city of Hillsborough.

Remain online for meetings, which is what he offered.

I think that's a good idea, indefinitely reduce his stipend to half, and that he would complete bias and harassment training.

Okay, so to make sure that I got captured everything, counselor Alcair, you are recommending censure, a public apology to those impacted, removal from both internal and external committees, no representation of the city.

Um that councilor Solgado doesn't represent the city um in any events that he attends virtually, that uh his stipend is reduced by half, and he has to attend bias and harassment training.

Did I capture everything?

Yes.

Okay.

Um, counselor Salgado, you have two minutes for the hundreds of people that are watching this uh and seeing what's unfolding here.

Here's how you can determine if this is a fair process and application of the process, right?

Because you're hearing a lot of feelings over facts.

I feel this.

I feel that here are the five questions they have to answer for this to be a fair process.

Number one, what exact rule or state law was substantially violated?

Substantially it's up to them to determine.

There's actual a definition of the dictionary for that.

Number two, what portion of the official video audio minutes or staff records can't support these allegations?

Number three, we're audience members violating public comment rules.

We have rules against comments that substantially interrupt, delay, disturb the peace and good order, or involve abusive harassing, threatening, or belligerent behavior.

Number four, were the rules applied evenly to counselors, staff, and members of the public.

And number five, was the recess caused by my conduct, audience conduct, safety concern, or combination of factors.

Those are the answers these people have to answer.

And if they answer them, then this is a fair process.

If they can't answer them, it's not a fair process, and it's a political witch hunt.

Thank you.

Okay.

So we've heard from all the counselors.

And now with question there was a question that came on.

Mayor Paces is Counselor Sinclair.

Um I really was hope.

I was really hoping for opportunity to go a different direction.

Uh I'd like to um reconsider my input, and I would like to ditto the complete outline that Council Alcair suggested.

Okay.

So to be clear, I just want to be clear uh that you would like um to have censured, uh, to have counselor Solgado censured, that he issue a public apology, that he he be removed from both internal and external committees, that he does not represent the city in any way, that he attends meetings virtually, that his stipend is reduced by half, and that he attends bias and harassment training.

Is that what you are requesting?

Correct.

Okay.

So um I just want to make sure I got my notes good here.

So at this point, oh, Counselor Case, you had something else to add?

Sorry, I guess my question there's it seems like we're kind of split on the internal and the internal committee conversation, and I feel like I'd I'd like to hear from the people who he worked, so counselors Harrison and Counselor Sinclair who serve with him on the transportation committee, which is what we're talking about.

Um about removal of from him on an internal which is which is transportation committee, right?

Because it will directly affect them.

Yeah, okay.

So counselor Claire and then Councillor Harris, would you care to comment on how his removal from the internal committee of the transportation committee would impact you and if you're okay with that?

It it definitely uh brings on a uh larger load.

Um, both for Harris and I.

That's great for us to have this opportunity to discuss that.

This is not the direction I was hoping to go, but per the response that we just heard from Counselor Salgado, unfortunately, um it's unacceptable.

And so it forces a different direction.

Okay, but um, are you okay with if he is removed?

If in fact that we move forward with this process and he is removed from an internal from the internal committee of the transportation committee, are you okay with carrying that extra load?

Yes.

Okay, counselor Harris, do you have a comment on this?

Um I mean with this, we would have only two people, which means both of us have to show up for any action for us to take.

If one of us is missing, we can't do action unless some other counselor wants to step up and be on two of the major committees.

And and that's a bit of a workload issue for us.

Not only that, but it's a bit of a lit issue, but getting uh the business done for the city on the transportation side.

Um counselor Salgado, in my record memory, is never raised any concerns with his behavior while on the transportation committee.

Uh, if he's on the transportation committee, it would also give him an opportunity to display uh a temperament that's that we would like to see.

Uh, particularly if this council decides that it would be best if he appeared remotely otherwise during council meetings.

Um finally, based on my like long professional experience going to court and standing up next to people accused of crimes.

Um, one of the things I learned uh from a judge a long time ago said to one of my clients is none of us should be judged totally on the worst day of our life.

And so it's one of these things where I think that showing good work on the transportation committee could be a load off of Councillor Sinclair and myself and provide an opportunity to prove himself to folks that maybe don't believe in him right now.

So that's why I would choose to keep him on the uh transportation committee.

I would note we do have public comment at that time.

Um as part of that uh agenda, regular agenda.

Um so it's not totally internal.

I mean, there is some public uh comment occasionally on transportation issues, but they're limited to transportation issues.

So um I would lean towards not removing them from that as an opportunity to um to show what he's capable of.

Okay, thank you.

This is uh counselor all care, did you have a comment?

Yes.

Um I would be um depending on when the transportation committee meets, I'd be happy to double my time serving on finance and on transportation.

I used to serve on transportation, so it's dependent on when that meeting is, but I'd be happy to see if I can make that happen.

Uh transportation is on the fourth Tuesday of every month.

I think that could work.

Okay.

Thank you for letting us know that.

I appreciate that.

Okay, so um just to bring us back.

Um we what I'm hearing from council is that the five counselors that have commented, so I'm not including counselor Sogato, and that's for obvious reasons, but you all agree on censure.

You all agree on removal from committees.

Three of you want external and internal, two of you just want external.

Um and I see uh pretty much alignment on virtual um attendance, except for counselor Harris and Counselor Amvery.

Um you are asking well, Counselor Ambry, you're asking for his resignation, and counselor Harris, you just said censure and removal from external committees.

So we've had the conversation.

Um we can still talk about how we'd like to move forward, but I just wanted to let you know where there's common ground and where there's common ground is censure, where there's common ground is a move removal from committees, and what I'm hearing is there there's yeah, everybody agrees on removal from external committees.

There isn't agreement on internal, and then agreement on virtual attendance.

Um and then the the external to uh so I'll pause there.

That that's where there's common ground.

We could at this point somebody could make a motion, mayor, um, on what they want to see happen, or there could be further discussion.

Mayor.

This is Jack, if I could interrupt real quick.

Yes, please, yeah.

Um so, in order to um, you know, because the council rules don't really outline these additional disciplinary processes, and as outlined in the memo, I believe that the council has an inherent authority to impose these additional disciplinary actions, but in order to provide adequate notice to counselor salgado, what I would encourage is that the council have some additional discussion once you sort of reach agreement on what those additional disciplinary measures would be, and explain your rationale for why.

And so this sort of goes to Councillor Sinclair's point about sort of explaining why um you think that those um those disciplinary actions would address the concerns that were raised by his behavior and and how they violated the council rules and group agreements and and linking all that together so he has adequate notice to be able to respond next week, if that makes sense to you all.

Mayor, I have one more thing to add.

I apologize.

No, go ahead, counselor.

But I think um I've heard enough commentary to give me pause to think that I want something also that says to Salgado, do not retaliate towards council or members of the public.

I feel that's important to say.

I felt things um through words, behavior uh came across a little too aggressive for me.

So that's what I would like to have.

Maybe it can be part of his training, but that um I don't want to have to watch out for retaliation.

And I feel that I feel that that has already been demonstrated that that would be possible.

So you would like, just to be clear, you would like to include some sort of um anti-retaliation piece to this.

Is that what I'm hearing from you?

Yeah.

Okay.

Uh Counselor Anvery.

Yes, thank you.

Um I I think uh I I do I do hear what what uh Council Alcare is saying.

Uh and I would like to, I don't know about the retaliation, I don't know how we could do that, but some training on uh conflict, constructive conversations would be would be good.

Thank you.

So we have a request already for bias and harassment training, and you would like to add to that conflict resolution training.

Yes, please.

Okay.

Okay.

Any other points we want to bring up?

And and to to Chad's point, if you wanted to talk specifically about why you wanted those additional actions taken and how they would address the actions taken by Councillor Salgado.

Uh you right, Chad, that's what you were asking for.

Correct.

You know, just by way of example, if you look at exhibit A to the memo, where we sort of outline the council rules that and and work group agreement and group agreements that were allegedly violated.

Um I think if you sort of look at those and and sort of look at what those uh standards were in place and why you believe that the actions that were taken violated those those rules and how your proposed disciplinary action would help correct that action correct those those behaviors.

Um that's the kind of uh discussion and sort of uh explanation that would be helpful to be able to provide Councilor Salgato an opportunity to respond next meeting.

Okay, thank you, Chad.

Would anybody like to chime in?

I think this is Counselor Sinclair.

I I don't care, not Sinclair.

I think I just want to make a statement to counsel that um we're elected officials, and yeah, some of us have been appointed, but that does not give us any power or authority.

I have been doing this for a long time, nine years.

So you don't go through this experience in leadership by alienating the public that we're here to serve.

We have that responsibility, and um I learned it in my own way.

Every counselor is gonna figure that out, but um the public may come to us and may say words that we don't like to hear or say comments uh we just make us feel uncomfortable, whatever.

But um, that's public comment, that's freedom of speech, and we don't have the privilege of shutting it down because we don't like the tone, or we don't like um we don't like what's being said.

So I think that um I just want to say that to all of counsel and to be mindful of that, and that sitting up here is an opportunity and it's a privilege to get to do that, and never to betray public's trust, especially if they are coming to you and seeking advice and support.

And and so, mayor, if I could just interject real quick, I think that is a great example of sort of what we're looking for, and then you know, Council Alcare, if you had any thoughts on how your proposed actions, such as training would help address those concerns, you know, that would be really helpful.

Um I think that um we could look at the option of what the city offers in those areas, and I think that um that could be okay, but I think if we're gonna do this, then let's put a little bit for more mindfulness into what this could look like.

But um I think the training is important.

I don't have a way to tell Counselor Salgado what I felt from last week, because I don't feel like it would be a conversation where I would feel listened to.

I feel like it would be a challenging conversation.

So rather than us go through that, I think the training would serve that purpose.

And knowing that he went through that training, I think that we would see maybe different behavior, maybe different conversation.

I'm not sure.

I'm not the one who's gonna be receiving this.

But I think it could be helpful.

And also um if there are other counselors who want to also participate in trainings as well.

Thank you, Counselor Alcair.

Uh counselor Harris.

Uh you're muted.

Sorry about that.

I'm gonna refer to exhibit A that was prepared in part of our package, and I don't know whether we can incorporate that into this as part of our adopted position or not.

It's pretty extensive.

I'm not gonna read from it, but what I wanna point out is a few things.

Um it identifies uh rules and agreements, the group agreements that we have all agreed to.

And I think uh counselor Anvery actually read a couple of them at our last meeting.

Um, specifically Section E2 requires us to model effective leadership, assume a positive attent of members.

Um it requires us to acknowledge and navigate the power dynamics and respond with responsibility and intent.

Uh and that talks about how we we do have powers sitting up on the dais.

We've been granted them by the voters for a period of time, and that we need to exercise them wisely and with restraint.

Um we've agreed to address conflict with care and professionalism.

I believe counselor Alcair mentioned this as well.

And I believe that the things we saw at the last council meeting uh at least um implicate all of those issues, uh, which is why I would be asking for us to consider a censor at our next meeting or after further investigation if that's what we decide is necessary.

Um the other things that were asked for um, which is removal from committees, those committees also engage the people, even the internal ones, as I mentioned, because we do have public comment.

We do have to work with staff.

It it also requires us to act with um a certain amount of decorum and understanding the power and the ability for us to do this work correctly and well for everybody.

Uh so that needs some work.

Um attending via Zoom, these allegations occurred at a public meeting, requiring at least for a period of time, uh remote appearance would be an appropriate way to separate this.

Um, the folks who were were in a heart hotly contested uh issue for a period of time until we can work and address some of the issues.

Working and addressing the issues could certainly require uh the counseling and workshopping that um have been mentioned.

So I think that supports that as well.

And the the reason we would do that is to address the conduct that we saw.

Um each of these things that you mentioned um I think should be are related to the behaviors that are alleged to have occurred uh and which should be addressed and should be on the table for us to consider at as we uh go down this road uh through the public sensor and taking any further action.

And the specifics are set forth pretty accurately in my opinion in exhibit A.

I would not have any uh redactions or edits to that document as far as it being the basis for our action and for the remedies that we are seeking.

Thanks.

Thank you, Counselor Harris.

Are there any other comments that counselors want to make specific to what Chad said, which is you made a recommendation and uh how does that tie to the action uh or how you feel would remedy the action?

Um counselor Ambery.

Yeah, I guess so uh the the the commit the stripping uh from committee assignments, um that is uh coming from the fact that I am not comfortable with the counselor representing the city.

I am not um uh yeah, I'm I'm I'm not trusting that.

And so that is the reason.

Um I don't think it's gonna remedy anything, uh, but that that is the reason that I uh was suggesting uh the committee assignment, uh removal from committee assignments.

So I don't know if it falls under that or not, but I'm just letting you know that was my uh um motivation.

Your thought process.

Okay.

Great.

Um I had a similar thought process if that's helpful.

Counselor Case, go ahead.

Sorry, I I yeah, I just had a similar thought process to Counselor Anbury.

So I don't need to go into it all again, but what Counselor Harris and Counselor Anbury said, I I would agree with their comments.

Okay, Mayor, uh Counselor Sinclair has her microphone on.

I got a time chunk.

I'm sorry, Counselor Sergato, what did you say?

Can I get a time check?

It feels like we've made the same decision three times already.

Uh we haven't, but thanks so much for chiming in.

Uh Counselor Sinclair, I'm sorry I didn't see your mic, but um go ahead.

Please make your comments.

Um I want to make it very clear that there is no pleasure out of this.

I want to say to Council Salgado that it is your email and then your response that has made me choose the direction of censure and eliminating from internal and external um committees because there has to be decorum.

I have always considered you to be um very valuable in your insight, your lived experience, and your um input that you provide on the dais, but that does not match in any way the lack of discipline that was displayed in antagonizing and taunting our community last week, and it was a complete failure of leadership that just violates basic respect as officials.

And again, the email and the now response, I can't trust that you will uh hold discipline to not conduct yourself in a reactive way.

And if I may say um this has ricochets, this has echo effects.

I attended numerous community meetings throughout the week.

Then and to my surprise, people that I didn't know uh as well as people that I do know that were here at the meeting.

Um there was distrust that we all hold now with our position here due to that outburst.

Um and I want to convey that your relationship with the audience started out of trust out of organic grassroots, mutual aid in times of need, and representing our Latino immigrant and refugee communities through um at the time uh in Washington County when it was a hot spot, Salgado showed up and he worked with our public, the very people that continue to show up here on a weekly uh bi weekly basis, because everyone's trying to find solutions for subsidizing utilities, rental assistance, food, um, and small business restoration.

And that is something that you worked with the community on, and there has been something that has happened that has completely shattered trust, and I'm not understanding where that came comes from, but it's it's happened and it cannot continue within our community.

So um, for that reason, that is why I've suggested um the censure and the elimination of internal and external uh committee work.

Okay, um, so we've heard from everyone, and then we uh the request of Chad, we heard from the counselors, except for counselor Salgado regarding the reasons for uh the recommendations.

Um at this point, I can go over what the recommendations were again, but at some point we need a motion.

So I'll just quickly go over the recommendations.

Everyone is recommending censure, everyone is recommending um removal from a committee, either external or internal or both.

Um, are recommending virtual attendance, and then some of the other recommendations are public apology, no representation of the city anywhere, uh reducing stipend by half, and then two different trainings bias and harassment training and conflict resolution training.

And then there was also the request of a resignation of Counselor Sogato.

So at this point, um we've again we've heard from everybody, and then we've heard the reasons.

And now I am willing to entertain a motion.

Mayor, this is Chad Jacobs again.

If I could just interject real quick.

So based on your comments, um, yeah, and this is just to provide you an opportunity to provide more comments if you want to address some other issues, but based on your comments so far, I believe that you have provided an explanation and reasoning that we could put into writing to provide to counselor Salgado for the censure for the removal from committees for virtual attendance and trainings.

And so certainly I think you could make a motion to that effect right now.

If you wanted to add any of those other additional items, I would suggest that you provide some more justification for those items.

Okay.

This is counseling again what have been justified, Chad.

Do you mind?

Yeah, absolutely.

Uh censure, removal from committees, virtual attendance, and trainings.

Okay.

This is counselor alcare.

Yes.

Um I want to be sure that we include a public apology.

Because all these things we want to do, yes, it's gonna help council, but what are we doing for public?

I think they deserve a public apology.

And um, you know, make it however way you want to make it, but I would say that that's your opportunity to start to heal with public, and that's pending whether or not they want to.

But I think it's important that you extend that apology.

I can only recommend that.

I can only recommend that this is part of this, but this is the only thing that is um addressing what happened last week and what's been happening online.

So I think that the public apology is important.

Okay.

The uh hang on one second, counselor Harris.

Uh, thank you, Counselor Alcare for bringing that up.

The other things that were not supported yet, uh, were no representation of the city, reduce the stipend, and request for resignation.

So, which request for resignation, you're just requesting it.

Um then counselor all care, you just address the public apology.

So, counselor Harris, did you have something to add?

Yeah, a couple things on those items.

Um I found that ordering someone to give an apology is not very effective.

Um, it needs to come naturally, honestly, and from the heart.

And when you order somebody to do it, I think we could suggest it request it, but even that I think it's our private request uh to counselor Salgado.

Uh, and I think that with all the I agree that would be great, by the way, Counselor Alcare.

I just think ordering it is another issue as far as not representing the city.

I think that I think counselors Ambry and Case agreed with that.

I did not hear from other counselors on that.

Um, but I think that when you say that, I'm assuming you mean not going to public events and saying I represent the city, although he could still identify himself as a city councilor.

He could, yeah.

Um, and I do see in my notes that counselor all care and sinclair did say no representation.

Okay, so that's that's on the that's on the list.

Um I think that was my only two comments that I have on those other items.

Otherwise, the list that uh Mr.

Jacobs read, uh I I could agree with uh proceeding with those possible actions.

Okay.

Um Chad, do we have um I just want to check back that the no representation of the city was addressed, I think by counselor sinclair about just trusting counselor Salgado's ability to do so in a professional manner.

Was that enough to add to the to the list?

Was that justified?

Yeah, that's great.

Thank you.

Okay, so no representation of the city at other at external events.

Okay, so what we have now is censure, removal from committees, um, and we still have to do internal or external, virtual attendance, training, and no representation of the city at external events.

Um counselor case.

Oh, I think if we recommend the removal from internal and external committees, I could support counselor all care's recommendation of reducing the stipend, but I think what we might want to consider is like a path back towards those.

So I don't know if that's just for the rest of this term or if it's for three or six months.

So you're saying that if we remove him from both internal and external committees, he's not doing the full job.

And by that, then we would reduce his stipend by half.

Is that what you're saying?

I think that was counselor Alcare's recommendation was to reduce the stipend by half.

And um, and so I think that was definitely her recommendation.

Right.

Uh and so I think that was kind of one we hadn't all discussed.

And so I think that would make logical sense to me.

Okay.

Is Counselor Salgado still here in the meeting?

He is not, he is not on screen.

Uh I don't think he needs to be at the meeting though.

Um Counselor or Chad, do you have a comment on that?

I did see him get up and go.

So you all can proceed even if he's not here.

Okay.

Um, and then it's also recorded, so if counselor Salgado wanted to look at it later, he could do that.

Um, Counselor Harris.

Just a quick question for Mr.

Jacobs.

Just because we list something and we approve it, doesn't mean we have to adopt it, right?

It's just something we would be considering.

So we could add things that we may want to consider as uh remedy.

Is that right?

Uh that's correct, Council President Harris.

Right now, tonight what you're doing is basically providing the uh what your thought process is to Councilor Salgado to give him an opportunity to respond, and then you will make a final decision after he's had that opportunity to respond as to what action you will actually take.

So this is just providing him notice of what your plan potential options are.

Um, so he has an opportunity to respond to each of those.

Okay.

Thanks.

Great.

Um, okay.

So what we have at this point is censure, removal from committees, virtual attendance training, and no representation of the city.

Um, and then it was uh the point was brought up by uh counselor case that if we do pull them off committees, then that could justify the reduction in stipend by half.

Um are there any other points that okay?

Um Chad, where do you recommend we go from here at this point?

Uh so if someone would like to make a motion um if to for whichever of those that you would like to see included in potential options, um, and then you could vote on that.

And you know, as long as it's limited to that list that you just read, I think there's justification to move forward at this point, and we could based on your motion uh put everything in writing and provide that to the council and counselor salgado um in time for him to have a reasonable opportunity to respond before the next meeting or at the next meeting.

Okay, thank you.

So, in order to make this motion, we have to be pretty specific.

Um, it can't be just so moved.

Uh Counselor Ambry, did you have a comment?

I was just gonna make the motion.

Okay, go ahead.

Okay.

I move that we uh uh I move that we have Chad look at these following options for counselor salgado.

The options are censure, removal from committees, uh trainings, uh no representation of the city at external events, and uh virtual attendance.

Okay.

Is there a second on that?

If you don't agree, you don't second, but if you do agree, you second.

Sinclair second.

All right, so we have a second for counselor Ambri's motion to censure, removal from committees, virtual attendance training, and no representation of the city.

Did I get that correct, Counselor Amberey?

Great.

And that was seconded by Counselor Harris.

Uh as with any motion and second, is there any discussion?

So just clarifying it does not include the request for a public apology or a reduce in stipend if he is removed from committees.

I'm just clarifying.

That is correct.

At this point, this motion does not include a public apology.

It does not reduce and it does not include the reduce reduction in his stipend by half.

Okay.

You can amend it though.

Yes, uh, yeah.

If you wanted to, if somebody on council wanted to amend that, you can, but right now we have a uh motion and a second.

Is there any other discussion?

Okay.

Yes, so this is counselor alcare.

Okay.

I think that the public apology is important.

I can't rate it and say it needs to be a grade four or a grade 16 or a grade whatever, the quality of it, and he can certainly refuse to do that.

I'm just making that recommendation because we all have a responsibility in serving our public, and I think it's important that public is acknowledged, and uh as well as for what they endured at the last meeting and every day since that meeting.

Okay, so counselor all care or any counselor, if you would like to amend um the motion, you can do that.

Is that correct, Chad?

Correct.

You would make a motion to amend the the previous motion.

Right.

So you can make a motion to amend the previous motion to include a public apology or reduction in stipend or something else.

Um, counselor all care, would you like to make an amendment?

Um yeah, um I do want to reduce the stipend.

And I am making the recommendation of a public apology, and he can always refuse to give one.

Okay.

So we have an amendment on the table which would add a public apology and a reduction in a stipend by half, in addition to censure, removal from committees, virtual attendance, training, no representation of the city.

Uh so that amendment is on the table.

Counselor Harris.

So mayor.

We should have a second for that.

Yeah, uh so I just want to save you all a little bit of time and stress.

You can find my public apology on my website.

KGW News shared it, and then he'll throw a new time share.

So save you some time and stress.

Uh that's where you can find my public apology.

Okay, thank you, Counselor Solgato.

Uh so counselor Harris, what was what were you saying?

Well, I guess the process wise, so councilor Alcair's motion, we need a second, and then we would debate that as to whether or not that would amend the primary motion.

Is that the correct process, Chad?

Correct.

Sinclair, second.

Okay, so we have a second on the amendment.

And so the motion as it stands now is censure, removal from committees, virtual attendance, training, attending training, uh, no representation of the city, public apology, and reduction in stipend by half.

So mayor.

Any discussion on that?

We had a motion and a second.

Is there any discussion?

So, mayor, this is Chad again.

Just to clarify, you need to do first a vote on the proposed amendment, and then a second vote if that amendment passes, then a second vote on the overall motion.

Yep.

Okay.

Is that what you were gonna say, Counselor Harris?

Yeah, because I was just gonna comment just on the amendment.

Okay.

Um I I guess I'm okay with adding considering reduction of the stipend, I guess if it's sort of tied as I have heard it to removal of committee work or committee assignment, um, as something we should consider, maybe as part of that on the apology.

If we make it part of our discipline, he can't refuse, though.

He has to do it.

That was my point.

Is that he can do and and as counselor salgado already said, he already issued an apology.

Um so maybe it becomes a moot point anyway.

But like I said, including it in here means if he doesn't do it, then we have to judge it, and then if we don't like it, then he's violated our order again.

And I don't think that's a good way to get to where we need to be here.

And I think a public apology needs to come from the heart.

And I've read the one that's on there, that's great.

Um may not like it.

I don't know, but if we include it in here, it becomes part of the order.

This is counselor al care.

Counselor Alcare, go ahead.

I'm saying he can always refuse to give that apology, but I am also saying I want it included as a part of this.

He can decide what the quality of that is.

The one that he gave, I do not feel adequately addressed what happened.

But if everybody else feels like that's the apology, the quality of the apology that we want to accept from him is what he gave.

I'll leave that up to you.

Okay.

Thank you, Counselor Alcair.

And we have people want to comment.

So we have Counselor Ambry and then Counselor Solgato.

Counselor Ambry, go ahead.

Thank you.

I wanted to talk about the stipend.

Um and uh just wanted to uh uh uh say something.

So uh so the stipend that uh the counselors get is is is is is a stipend, it's not uh payment for the work that the counselors do because the counselors work many, many hours.

Um the idea of the stipend being you know it's helpful for um maybe child care or or transportation, etc.

So I am okay with reducing that, but I just wanted to say that it should not be taught off by uh people listening uh that it is because the work is less, uh, because that it's it's not compensation for the work that the counselors do.

So just kind of wanted to kind of wanted to say that.

But uh, but yes, if the count if the if the counselor is not participating in committees, then uh they may not be needing child care or they may not be needing the gas to to come to to uh to the meeting.

So that that that makes sense.

Just wanted to say that.

Yeah, and I hear what you're saying, and if they're not going out representing the city, et cetera.

Okay, uh, counselor Solgato.

Yeah, this question's for Chad.

Um, so if they do decide to reduce the stipend, because my understanding of the stipend, it's there to help us cover the incurred costs we take on as counselors, right?

Because as counselor Andre stated, we don't get paid for the time because if we got paid for the time, I think the city would owe me overtime at this point, right?

So I'm just my question for Jacob for Mr.

Jacobs is like if they decide to reduce a stipend, like legally, number one, can they do that?

And number two, like what would be the justification if it's not per hour, it's the cover cause.

You're considering that because you remove me from committee that justifies the reduction, but then you can interpret that as you're paying me for being on the committee.

So I just want to know from Mr.

Jacob's perspective, like legally, are they allowed to do that?

Uh mayor, counselor Chad Jacobs.

Uh Councilor Salgado, tonight what's being discussed is a proposal.

You'll have an opportunity at the next time to sort of raise these kinds of questions.

I'm not in a position to answer your question right now.

Thank you.

Okay.

Um so we have to vote on the first motion.

Is that correct, Chad?

Correct.

Okay.

And then from there we can uh vote on the amendment.

Is that correct?

No, I'm sorry, you vote on the amendment first.

Yes, and the amendment to amend the motion, and then if that's approved, then you would vote on the overall motion as amended, or if it's not approved, you would have vote on the original motion as originally made.

Okay, so we are now gonna vote on the amendment uh as proposed by counselor all care.

Uh can I please so it's um there a second for that amendment?

Was there a second?

I'm sorry, was there a second to there was a second?

Counselor Harris um seconded it.

Yeah, nope, it's okay.

No, um the amendment I did not second the amendment.

I believe that was counselor sinclair.

Correct.

Oh, sorry, yes, thank you.

Counselor Sinclair seconded the amendment as proposed by Counselor Alcare.

Yeah, thank you.

Um okay, so we're gonna vote on this amendment.

Uh Aubrey, can we please have a roll call?

Councilor Alcare.

Aye, counselor case.

Aye, counselor Ambry.

Aye, counselor sinclair.

Aye, counselor Harris.

Aye.

Okay, um that motion passes, and then Chad, we have to vote on the overall, right?

Is that correct?

The original motion as amended, correct?

The original motion as amended.

So the original motion with the amendment is that we are going to um record we are recommending censure, removal from committees, both internal and external, virtual attendance of meetings, training on bias and harassment and conflict resolution training, no representation at external events, um, and then reduction in stipend by half.

Um can we get a roll call, please?

Um can we get a roll call, please counselor Sinclair?

Hi.

Councilor Harris.

Hi.

Councillor Ambry.

Hi.

Councillor Case.

Hi.

Councilor Alcair.

Hi.

Okay, the motion passes.

Um, and from here, Chad, uh, we will be addressing this again on our July 7th meeting.

Is that correct?

Where Councillor Sogato has an opportunity to respond?

That's correct.

So, what will happen from this point forward is we'll take down this information that you uh talked about tonight, supplement exhibit A that's in the staff report with this information, provide that to everyone, and then Council Salgata will be given an opportunity to respond at your July 7th council meeting.

Thank you.

Okay, uh moving on to item six, public comment.

Persons wishing to speak will be recognized at this time.

If you are in the auditorium in person, please fill out a yellow card and hand up to the deputy city recorder.

Uh when you are called on, please use the microphone at the public comment table.

We have one person registered to speak virtually, and the deadline to speak virtually has passed, so we'll just hear from that one person.

Umbre, how many people do we have uh in the room?

I have 23 people total to speak under public comment.

Um the person registered to speak virtually is actually here in person today.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, so um uh Aubrey, what I'll do is I'll speak, I'll call up Mr.

Kenitson since he had registered virtually, and then if you could call up the people since you have the cards, does that work?

Yes, that works.

Also, we have a couple people who will be speaking Spanish this evening, but they have brought an in-person interpreter to do so.

Okay.

If anybody else in the room would like to speak Spanish as part of part of their comments, I can put the translation up on the screen, but otherwise we have many counselors attending virtually, and so I want to be respectful that their faces are also on the camera.

So if you want to speak Spanish, please just let me know so I can put the translation up.

Um, otherwise we will leave the cameras up.

And then the timer will be on the wall, and there is a small timer on the public comment desk again, so that we can leave the cameras as large as they can for you.

Okay.

Thank you, Aubrey.

Uh so uh this is called public comment because it's time dedicated for you to inform city council about your views.

Each person will have up to three minutes to speak.

Um if you feel that you have let me see, hang on one second.

Um if you feel that you have to publicly express your support for a comment or viewpoint, we ask that you do so quietly in a non-disruptive way, such as snapping your fingers or even just giving a thumbs up.

Um, or something called jazz hands, which looks like this.

Uh clapping or calling out or making verbal outbursts, interferes with a person's ability to hear clearly in the room, and also disrupts the audio.

Uh so for those attending virtually, it's difficult for those attending virtually to hear when the the noise in the room gets very loud, the audio cuts.

So if you wanted to show support, a thumbs up, jazz hands or snapping is acceptable.

Uh so tonight we're we'll be hearing from sounds like 24 people, and we'll start with Mr.

Knutson, Mayor, members of the council.

I'm here tonight to once again talk about data centers.

Uh the warning signs have been flashing red for quite a while now, but instead of proactive leadership, this community chose a policy of delay.

We knew our zoning codes were completely unequipped for the scale, risk, and resource demands of modern industrial centers.

We knew we needed to react and change the rules, but we waited, and tonight we are looking at the irreversible consequences of that delay.

I am the first to report on two new data centers, which we haven't talked about.

Some of you may not know about them.

Case file DR01226.

This is the core site data center proposed at 5420 Northeast Sewell.

This is a massive 19.73 acre complex.

It features phase development that will top out at a half a million square feet.

This is a monolithic tower that's gonna wall off the landscape.

Worse yet, as detailed in the site plans that I re uh received today.

The applicants requesting to encroach directly into the significant natural resource area of Weible Creek.

They are also placing a massive lithium-ion battery energy storage system, which is known as the BES, directly adjacent to the creek.

This is a preservation area and wetland corridor on their map that feeds Weibell Creek.

Putting these thermal runway hazards next to sensitive protected wetlands, that is a structural failure of our planning.

If that's not enough, look at the second project.

This was faintly shown in early June on the packet that staff released, and I want to thank them for that.

This is the Walker data center proposed by Heinz at 10500 Northeast Walker.

As detailed in the land use application, which I also got parts of today, this 19-acre parcel will tear down the 230,000 square foot warehouse that was one time home to 800 Wells Fargo employees.

Um environmental rules when we had a chance.

The site plan reveals that this heavy industrial operation is being dropped directly adjacent to the Beaverton Engineering and Science Academy, where 900 of our state's finest kids learn and go to school and go on to do great things in the world.

They are realigning the school's own bus route and sharing a private access drive.

They're gonna wedge this into a mixed-use area to make matters worse.

The narrative statement confirms they're putting 14 large standby diesel generators on the west side of the building.

These generators use heavy, they're very heavy pieces of equipment.

They're not made to be in the backyard of students and families, and the site is adjacent to the immediately on the property line of the Oregon Primate Center.

This is going to be a difficult case.

Timeout.

Your time is up.

Thank you.

All right.

Our next speakers.

Umbrey, if you could uh say the next three speakers so can come up and speak and then one can be on deck.

We only have one public comment table this evening.

Oh, okay.

So thank you.

Uh name the next two, please, so the person knows who's on deck.

Yeah.

Um, SM.

Okay, SM, please come up to the desk and prepare to give your comments.

And who's on deck, Aubrey?

Anna Roberts.

Anna Roberts.

Okay, Anna, you'll go next.

Welcome, SM.

You have three minutes.

Good evening, everyone.

These are some of the City of Hillsborough values you were elected to uphold and posted on your website.

Leading with ethics and integrity and accountability, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, stewardship of public trust.

I have four points I want to touch on that connect with these values.

Number one, schools.

I learned at the work session earlier this month about the 15% school tax fee that can be billed to data centers by the Hillsborough School District.

However, schools must wait years to do so.

Waiting four to five years to build these facilities for their share of taxes hurts our students today.

If schools secure these funds sooner, they can immediately invest in critical student resources like STEM access, mental health, foundational learning, targeted reading, and math programs to close achieving achievement gaps.

You must reform this billing timeline immediately.

Let's prioritize our children over corporations.

Delayed funding is a delayed opportunity.

Number two, transparency.

Change in innovation are inevitable, but they must never come at the expense of our ethical boundaries and public trust.

At the council work session earlier this month, CD manager Robbie Hammond openly admitted the city can do a better job regarding transparency and rebuilding public trust.

I am here to ask how specifically is the city manager going to enforce actionable items to deliver on that promise of transparency.

And how will you hold him accountable to that promise?

Many of us are looking forward to your answer.

Number three, reshaping the city's landscape and economy.

As these massive automated facilities facilities drive up land values, housing costs and utility rates, they create a devastating affordability crisis for our most marginalized sectors.

As I think of the students that I work with, I also think of their families.

Many of them are essential workers being left behind.

Vital care, education, service workers whose wages cannot compete with a tech inflated cost of living.

Let's ensure our city remains a home for everyone, not just big tech.

Number four, rebuilding trust.

Rebuilding public trust with a diverse community requires acknowledging that many of your residents carry the heavy trauma of historical government betrayal.

We come from places where corruption was the norm, where land was routinely stolen or decimated, and local authorities actively harm the people.

What's happening lately triggers deep valid fears and mistrust?

It is not a lack of cooperation.

You must take this.

And then who is on deck?

Guadalupe is next, and Anna Roberts will translate, and then we have Maria, who Anna will also translate for.

Okay.

Okay.

Um Mayor Payson, Council members, my name is Anna Roberts.

I'm the organizer for the relay janitors with Service Employees International Union Local 49.

That's a job that I've held for the past 20 years.

Um SEIU 49 is a union of about 15,000 workers around Oregon and Southwest Washington, including thousands of janitors who clean public and private facilities.

Janitors employed by relay resources, including those who clean City of Hillsboro facilities are members of SCIU Local 49.

As our political director, Yasmini Barra shared with you in an email earlier today.

Current relay resources employees have a union contract that creates quality jobs with fair wages with predictable increases, benefits, including paid vacation and holidays and fairness on the job.

The dispute resolution guidelines written into the union contract promote fairness for all employees, and can and I know from personal experience can be especially important for workers with disabilities who are more likely to experience discrimination and unfair treatment.

We have serious concerns about whether these elements of quality employment could disappear or be reduced by Northwest Success Inc.

employees cleaning city facilities.

State law covers situations such as this one when a service contract passes from one Oregon forward contractor, um, which is a nonprofit that primarily employs people with disabilities to another.

Under this law, Northwest Success Inc.

must retain all current relay resources employees with disabilities working at least 28 hours per week.

That's not all of them.

Um at the same time, but they would have to retain the ones working 28 hours per week or more at the same or better rates of pay and health benefits.

However, state law does not require maintaining other benefits afforded to relay resources employees under their union contract, such as future pay increases, paid time off, or other workplace rights, relays employees have negotiated with their employer.

We believe you would find the best value for public funds by investing in quality janitorial and security services from responsible union contractors such as relay resources.

SEIU maintains a list of such service providers in the online responsible contractor's guide.

If you choose to follow through with an expanded service contract with Northwest Success Inc., we ask that at the very least you closely monitor this transition of services to ensure that Northwest Success Inc.

complies with the employee retention requirements in state law.

We spoke with Valerie McRae, the city's uh facilities and fleetwood service manager who said she's been in contact with Oregon Forward Program Program Administrators.

And uh the next person coming up is Guadalupe, is that correct?

Yeah, correct.

Okay.

Okay.

And uh Anna, you are translating for Guadalupe, is that correct?

Correct.

Thank you.

Thank you for doing that.

Yeah.

Um so I'm gonna I'm just thinking here we have three minutes, but the translation is gonna take more time.

Um, which then reduces time for Guadalupe to speak.

And that doesn't seem fair to me.

Um I tell you what, I'm keeping time, and what uh when Guadalupe is speaking, I will um let the timer run.

And when you um translate for her, because you'll be translating intermittently, I will stop the timer.

Okay, thank you so much.

And your translation doesn't take time away from her.

Okay.

Really appreciate that.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Yeah, sure.

All right, um Guadalupe, go ahead.

Hi, Mayor Pace and City Council members.

My name is Guadalupe Ortiz Sepulveira.

I'm a rover for relay resources for the past six years.

That means that I clean multiple city and county buildings when the regularly assigned janitors are off work.

Una company sinunion.

I'm very concerned about the news that you want to change three buildings that relay is cleaning to the company Northwest Success, which is a non-union company.

Oh, okay.

For people with disabilities like me, it's very important to have a union because we suffer a lot of discrimination.

Even in companies who have a mission statement of providing workers work to people with disabilities, many supervisors and managers don't have the patience or ability to work with people with disabilities.

Oh, gracias.

That's why it's so important that we have our own organization, our union, to protect us.

Since it's an old building, the doors have marks that have been there for years, but we're doing everything possible to make it look nice there.

I'm asking you from the bottom of my heart to do everything possible to protect the rights of the disabled workers who clean your buildings.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Okay, um who who is next?

Sorry, who we have.

We now have Maria who Anna will also translate for.

And who's on deck?

Sandra.

Sandra's on deck.

Okay, and then uh Anna, just so you know, I will time Maria when she is talking, and I will stop the time when you are translating, that way she gets the full three minutes.

Thank you.

That's great, yes.

Thank you.

Okay.

So we have those three minutes.

Hi, Mayor Pace and members of City Council.

My name is Maria Luisa Leal.

I live and work here in Hillsborough and I clean the public works building.

I've worked for relay for 10 years.

Hillsborough is known for supporting equal opportunity and respect for all people.

People with disabilities are fighting to be useful members of society and not be a burden for the state or the country.

With a union, we can defend our rights and fight for fair pay.

Prices are going up on everything, and having guaranteed raises is very important.

If you take away union jobs and city-owned buildings, it means that less disabled Hillsborough residents have access to jobs with raises they can count on and rights at work.

We need Hillsborough to live up to its reputation and support the rights of workers with disabilities.

Thank you.

Antonia and who is after Antonia?

Tracy.

Tracy, okay.

So Sandra's up now, and then Antonia is on deck, and Tracy is after Antonia.

Okay, welcome Sandra.

You have three minutes.

I uh want to say pace that I do not appreciate you putting the blame on the community members at the beginning of this meeting when last Tuesday would not have happened if it weren't for the behavior of the appointed councillor Salgado.

On top of Councillor Claire's suggestion, I also asked that he not use his title or provide any educational events to the public.

This behavior has been going on for a while.

Many citizens have had to endure it, and concerns have been brought before this council before.

Our questions were met with hostility by Salgado and answered differently when asked by others.

But not only that, he did retaliate, and then he aggressively pushes his own narrative.

He has apologized before with an 11-minute video that he has since deleted and then doubled down on the hostility.

The apology was not for the people he harmed, and this is a behavior you're enabling if there is no reprimanding.

An apology without change is not accountability.

She continues to show us why her leadership should not be trusted.

Our community deserves better.

We deserve better.

Accountability accountability requires more than an apology.

Lastly, I also want to add that the new data centers being put up shows how little you care about our community and our students.

And it's even more gross how close to schools these new data centers are.

We've seen videos of the water quality near the data centers.

We've seen the research of how harmful the noise pollution is.

And you're doing this to students that are already being underserved and taking their funds away as well.

Next up is Antonia, and then after Antonia is Tracy.

And who is after Tracy Aubri.

After Tracy is Brown, and Antonio would like to um give a trigger warning for domestic violence for any of those who want to mute their mic or their ears.

Okay, so Antonia's going to speak.

She's given us a trigger warning regarding domestic violence.

After Antonia, we'll have Tracy.

Um Tracy, you're on deck, and then uh Mr.

Brown.

So Antonio, you have three minutes.

This is Councilor Sargado's response to one of his uh posts on his social media, telling people that I came all the way from Beaverton to harass him.

Andrew, with these gas prices, and we have an online option.

Saved her money and gas.

She should have still given her three minutes.

And I say this because I want you guys to recognize that he absolutely know what the fuck was going on on his social media, and he allowed it.

Uh Antonia, if you can refrain from using I'm reading comments from his social media that include curse words, and if I had to read them, you're gonna hear them.

Fuck this bitch, approve this nasty bitch, needs really hurt bad.

This cunt, this little tits needs to be joined.

Get another woman to slap the hoe.

Tell her to fuck off, you fat slut.

I don't know.

One guy that would sexually harass that bitch.

Damn, this ugly bitch thinks something.

You know, just say B word or C word, but please do not curse.

Okay, thank you.

Down, Chabby.

Motherfucking ho for real for real.

I wish a bitch would not cut.

Antonia, this is this is a second warning.

If you continue to curse, we will cut your mic.

Thank you.

She needs a total recall.

Tell that lady to speak English properly.

The Latino that fucking stands for the immigrant community.

And lose weight.

Go to chocolate factory lady.

You slap.

Please cut her mic, please.

Thank you.

And next up is Tracy.

Uh Tracy, come on up.

And then Mr.

Brown is after Tracy.

Antonia, uh, I asked you not to use curse words.

You continue to do it, so your time is up.

Thank you.

Okay, next up we have Tracy and after Tracy here, Mr.

And I'll ask future you know, people coming up to do testimony.

Please do not do not curse.

Uh when you do, I'll give you three warnings and then I just cut your mic.

Um, so everybody online can't hear you.

So um Tracy, you have three minutes.

Thank you, counselors and mayor, for your time.

I'm Tracy Schultz, a Hillsborough resident, here to request that we amend rule HMC 624020 to include C-weighted scales or specific instrument framework for low frequency industrial noise.

Infrasound frequencies below 20 hertz are low frequency hums that enter homes and not typically audible.

The sounds are physically felt as vibration.

Exposure to these frequencies pose physiological and psychological health risks to human and animals.

AI data center builders are aware of this, and they use the legor to the regulatory loopholes.

Since it's not a federally regulated sound thing, the it's left up to our local communities to look into this.

Public health experts use the C-weighted scale, a specific info sound framework, which capture the wavelengths and the hums.

The walls don't block them in our homes, they're actually amplified, turning homes into residence chambers, a modern acoustic nightmare that's felt rather than measured.

Residents all over the U.S.

are reporting complaints, sleep deprivation, chronic insomnia, headaches, migraines, ear pressure, vertigo, nausea, sensations of internal vibration, elevated stress, anxiety, depression, cognitive fatigue, increased heart rate, and elevated blood pressure.

Experts note that animals are even more sensitive to the low frequency vibrations.

We have wildlife, including local and migratory birds that use the level one in two protected areas of white oak forests and wetlands as their homes in our enterprise zones.

And then we have farm animals and livestock.

One more thing, too, about the new data center going in.

The National Institute of Health projects 600,000 people will be affected by asthma.

And over 1,300 people will pass prematurely before 2028.

And we put this by our schools.

What are we thinking?

We have to do better.

Thank you.

Next up is Mr.

Brown, and then after Brown, who is who's on deck, Aubrey.

And then Kareem.

Janet and then Karib.

Okay.

Uh Mr.

Brown, you have uh three minutes.

All right, I want to start by acknowledging all black, brown, indigenous Pacific Islander and Asian people that came before me and laid the foundation for the ideas that drive and inspire me to fight imperialism and the capitalism that stems for me, which prioritizes profits over people.

I've turned back, I've turned my back to these gusanos from the very first time I spoke in here because I'm not here for them.

I'm here for the working class.

I'm here to speak to all of you.

And it's ironic that this land doesn't belong to us.

Yet our leaders decide to poison us and the land with their data centers.

Land back.

Uh let's do a thought experiment real quick.

Let's say we were going to a restaurant and we order a soup.

They bring it out too and it has a hair in it.

We can pick it out and eat the soup.

It's more convenient after all, but that just protects the restaurant from any accountability.

Plus, the restaurant sees that not that even if there is hair in the soup, people won't say anything about it, and eventually hairy soup becomes the norm, and people are grateful just to have soup in the first place.

The second option is to hold the restaurant accountable and demand a replacement, a refund, or both, because that's a responsibility perhaps for having failed in the first place.

Our system has heard non-stop opposition to AI and data centers, yet according to their own words.

They want to make sure growth is planned responsibly, despite the fact that every data center has been built in or near populated areas.

We already have howitzers here in the Hillsborough, which makes us a potential military target, and data centers just make us a bigger target.

No matter what city you're located in, our leaders have sold us out to corporations and Israel.

They've sold our kids and our future in exchange for their own financial security, and it's no surprise because the system has allowed them to get away with it.

Our mayor, Beach Pace, who missed four meetings in a row, is a CEO that earned 140K, 148K in 2024 with a 20K increase every year.

Saba Avery is an engineering man manager at Intel.

No wonder they're in favor of the data centers despite public opposite opposition.

Intel, who releases 80% of the water they recycle back into the environment, full of forever chemicals, PFAs, because they're essential to semiconductor production.

Intel who gets millions in tax breaks despite being so involved with Israel, who is committing a genocide that they make up 3.5 to 5.5 of their exports.

Opposition to data centers and AI is being labeled as domestic terrorism at the same time, opposition to Zionism, not Jewishness, occupation is always also being labeled as domestic terrorism, meaning cops could have legal justification to arrest people for what they believe.

And they did the same during the era of Jim Crow laws, which, if you didn't know, inspired Hitler to do what he did.

They're adding hair to our soup because they've seen we'll do nothing about it other than complain and protest.

And if we did take matters into our head into our hands, they wouldn't think twice about calling the police to commit violence against us.

They focus more on respectability politics.

They care more about how we are expressing ourselves than what we are expressing.

They say we're being uncivil when we have logical, reasonable, human reactions to their lies.

For example, Beach Pace says the police department is getting a 95 million dollar building.

It used to be 70 million, by the way, with our with our taxpayer money to fight crime more effectively, where they couldn't even stop a racist homophobe from illegally bear bear macing multiple people, including children at the Pride event on June 6th.

Instead, they kicked me out and banned me for 90 days for snatching one of those bigots' phones and throwing it over the next step.

Christian Salgado, who does not earn his position because we didn't vote for him.

Next up is Jenna.

Um and then after Jenna is Corinne.

Mr.

Brown, your time is up.

Please leave.

And after Jenna, we have Corrine.

Hi Jenna, uh, you have three minutes.

Not for me.

Don't make the hair.

We should start the next speaker.

I feel like everything has been said, and y'all just don't care.

Or maybe you do care, but it's about your political capital and not people.

This isn't politics.

This isn't math.

This is common decency.

What will it take for you to do something?

What has to happen for you to understand the impact that the data centers under current land use laws will have on the community?

Some years ago, it was someone's wise decision to build a community of homes called Arbor Roses.

If you are unaware, this neighborhood has one road in and out.

And that road has to cross over railroad tracks to get in and out of the neighborhood.

Recently, a train was stopped across the road for several hours.

Children were stuck on school buses on one side of the tracks while their homes were on the other side.

Blocked, no way in, no way out.

Luckily, no one within the community suffered any medical emergencies because there was no way to get to them.

I see this current situation with the data centers as a similar situation.

No one thought this through.

What was it that Steve Callaway thought he was going to gain by adopting the current land use laws that allow such irresponsible use of our land?

Beware, Hillsborough.

This data centrist former mayor now wants to be on the Washington County board.

What damage does he intend to do there?

Little to nothing has been changed with our land use laws since 2017.

That's almost 10 years.

Why is the city pretending that advancements in technology aren't happening?

As the world around us changes, it is your job to keep up with those changes and ensure our land use laws are there to protect us, not corporations.

Allowing data centers to run virtually tax-free and not creating jobs should be an embarrassment to all of you.

The city council and your never around mayor.

You showed up today.

Claim your hands are tied.

That just isn't true.

Under state law, the city may impose additional conditions for businesses to participate in the enterprise zone program.

The city could choose to work on additional requirements for the remaining time period that the current zone is in effect.

The council should immediately take back administrative approval, revoke the delegated authority given to a city employee, and require a public vote on any new enterprise applications.

Call an emergency meeting and do something.

The council should immediately change the zoning code.

Require a living wage.

$28 an hour is not a living wage.

Mandate jobs per acre.

It's completely unacceptable that companies can hire one person and save millions.

I would think that the majority of you in front of me are planning to continue your political careers.

So again, I implore you to immediately call for emergency land use meetings to address the glaring land use loops that these data centers are destroying us.

And now you have to wait because I forgot, because of my work has an emergency, I actually show up.

Unlike next speaker is Kareem.

Kareem is next, and that's um I'll find out who's on deck.

Who's on deck after Kareem?

Garrett.

Garrett is on deck.

And Kareem.

Come on up.

Hello, you have three minutes.

Can you hear the button on the face?

No, but resident of Hillsborough.

We pay our employees a guaranteed minimum of $28 per hour, by the way.

People have real concerns about data centers, water, power, jobs.

Set it all aside.

I want to ask the question any business owner asks themselves.

Is this a good deal for those paying for it?

Let's see.

This council keeps telling us that any application meeting the criteria must be approved by law.

Sure.

But who sets the criteria?

The council does.

You created the zone, you reauthorized it in 2017, you expanded its boundary in 2024.

You held the door open while 17 applications came in before the state closed it.

These were choices.

Here is what those choices bought us.

A dozen data center companies holding $7.2 billion in value.

This council agreed not to tax.

And jobs, there are barely any.

School money gets equalized across Oregon, so it wouldn't all stay here.

So we forego more school revenue to tax breaks in any district in the state because some of a rate a raised fee might reach another town's kids.

With our schools and the shape they're in, that should be too embarrassing to say out loud.

This program is reserved by law for communities in real economic distress.

Hillsboro qualified by drawing a poor Southwest neighborhood into the zone, dragging the average down enough to count as needy.

Then the breaks went north to the richest companies on earth while that neighborhood only got poorer.

See, the legal creativity is always there for a corporation.

They will redraw a zone, hold the door open, leave a condition off the list.

But the second a resident needs something, the law ties their hands.

The application must be approved.

The fee cannot move.

The money would just get equalized away.

They call it pro-business.

We are giving up billions for the chance to make millions, and the richest companies in the world are laughing at how easy we've made it for them.

This council holds the levers, but they are gathering dust.

Maybe give them a try.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up is Garrett.

And who is on deck after Garrett?

Diana.

Diana, you are next.

And Garrett, you have three minutes.

Hello, Mayors, Councilor.

My name is Garrett Flunar.

Most of you know me as the first vice chair of the Washington County Democrats, although I am here tonight on a personal capacity and not representing the party.

I'm here because I feel compelled to condemn the unprofessional and shocking behavior of Councillor Salgado last week.

What I saw was extremely unbecoming of a public official, and he must resign.

I want to commend the counselors who have called for his resignation on social media.

I know how difficult it is to call for the resignation of a colleague, and I appreciate you for taking this bold step.

I urge the whole council to move forward with censure and further actions.

In my work in the Democratic Party, I have had to require that members who have violated our code of conduct attend meetings virtually, and it worked very well to reduce the disruptive and intimidating behavior similar to what we saw from Councilor Salgado.

It works well.

I recommend this path in addition to censure and along with all other actions recommended by Councillor Alcair.

I do want to ask that should Councillor Salgado resign, that the council choose to leave the spot empty until the November election.

It is very important that our community pick their representation for this seat.

If the council were to appoint a counselor so close to the election, and if that person were to choose to run for election, they would have a leg up in the process.

We have around four months until the next election, 133 days.

It's a very short time for that seat to remain open, and the best way to respect our residents and the voters is to simply wait for them to make that choice.

Additionally, I want to ask the counselors to review the appointment process.

It's clear that the current process is insufficient.

I would like the council to move to hold special elections to fill empty seats.

We live in a democracy and we trust our residents and voters to make the best decisions.

We should not exclude them from making this decision when there's a vacancy on the council.

Thank you.

Thank you, Garrett.

Uh, next up is Diana.

And who is after Diana?

Aubrey.

Paige.

All right, Paige.

Uh welcome, Diana.

You have three minutes.

All right, thank you.

Good evening, Council and Mayor Pace.

Last week, Council President Harris posted about the economic future of Hillsboro.

I appreciated your comments about the generous tax abatements being a problem.

You stated that we needed industries that truly strengthen our local economy.

Your examples were advanced manufacturing and biotech.

I agree that we need to be selective with what kind of industries we allow to take our limited resources.

We need industries that create lasting jobs for our community members and fair taxes that go to our schools, our infrastructure, and to offset the tax burden on our homeowners and small businesses.

Do we know the proposed use for the 17 data center applications for the enterprise zone?

Are they supporting advanced manufacturing and biotech or are they for AI development?

AI replaces jobs, it does not create them.

Job creation was the intended purpose of the Enterprise Zone, and I find the timing of this expansion to be curious given the nationwide expansion of AI data data centers.

The unintended consequences have done a irreversible damage to communities.

Enterprise without careful consideration is a potential disaster for our city.

This is deeply concerning to me as a parent and knowing the negative impact data centers have had across the country on people's mental and physical health.

How will a loud droning data center provide a positive learning environment for our students?

I keep hearing responsibility shifted to the state.

As a Hillsborough citizen, I want to know what you, the representatives we elected are going to do at the city level to assure us that there will be parameters put in place to protect our community, our children, and our environment.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh next up is Paige.

And who is who are the next two, Aubrey?

Talon and Simone.

Talon and Simone.

Okay.

Uh Paige.

Hello.

Uh you have three minutes.

Thank you.

Good evening, uh, Mayor and City Council.

My name is Paige Mendocino, and I live in Hillsboro as a resident.

Uh, I am here to deliver the remarks I wanted to deliver on June the 16th.

Uh, I attended the city council work session on June 9th because I think it's really important for average citizens like me to pay attention to local government.

Uh, and what I heard that night was really interesting.

So I'm going to talk for uh just a couple of minutes on only one of many of the concerning aspects about uh about the larger data center issue.

Um might not know this, so just for context, when the city allows data center development, those companies are required to pay what is called a community service fee back to the city of Hillsborough.

That fee goes into a fund.

It's managed by the city, and those monies are legally mandated to uh to go back out into the community to support workforce development and to help our uh uh our local economy.

At that June 9th meeting, I learned that this fund currently has 55 million dollars sitting in the bank.

While the city has given about five million dollars to local programs and partnerships over the last 10 years, uh this 55 million has piled up much more recently in the last couple of years, and it creates a huge opportunity now.

At the meeting, city staff said they're holding on to this money for two reasons.

One to eventually build what they called a workforce development center at some unknown point in the future, and two to keep a safety net in case data centers appeal their taxes and need a refund.

So let's be super clear.

You could keep five million dollars as a safety net for refunds and free up 50 million dollars today.

Plus, the data centers that we already have uh are going to keep paying into this fund yearly, and the money is just going to keep coming.

We do not need a fancy development center uh that someone gets to put their name on someday in the future, maybe.

We need help today.

Uh while millions are sitting in a bank account, our schools are broke, our families are struggling, and our small businesses are fighting to keep the lights on.

Under state law, the council has the power to spend this money right now.

Your hands are not tied.

That money could go to help parents pay for child care so that they could afford job train to go to job training.

You could fund career and technical classes directly in our high schools.

I'm here calling for two things free up the 50 million dollars and get it working right now.

And number two, we need a citizen over citizens oversight board so that residents actually have a say into how this money is spent.

I'll end with this.

Three of your seats are up in November.

I'm putting all of my energy, resources, and time to elect candidates.

Thank you so much.

Uh, the next up is Talon, and on deck is Simone Talon, hello.

Simone, you're on deck, and then who is after Simone Aubrey?

Ann.

Ann.

Okay.

Talon, welcome.

You have three minutes.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Councillor Salgado posted a video of Antonia, a community member, while she was expressing her concerns.

That video went viral and quickly became filled with racist, misogynistic comments and comments calling for violence against her.

Counselor Salgado did nothing to stop this.

Some of those comments you heard earlier until Tony was cut off.

And I'd like to ask, you know, those comments are going to be censored in this meeting.

Why were they allowed to stay on his Facebook page for three days?

He took it down eventually, but at that point the damage had been done.

That post, he put that post up there, and he did it antagonistically.

He did that to bully our community member.

And as comments started coming in, he made no effort to shut the post down.

He made no effort to shut these comments down.

There's a comment on there that says white power.

White power.

And Counselor Saldago, he has he had replied to a different comment after that comment had been posted.

So I would like to know.

I would like to know if the counselor was aware of that comment and he he left it there.

He left a comment saying white power, along with all of these comments advocating for the violence against one of our community members.

That is unacceptable.

And again, I am so angry that you have censored Tony as she bravely shared her story tonight.

You will censor her in this meeting, but those comments were allowed to stay up for days.

Days, actively harming our community.

The counselor was aware that these comments were being made.

He did nothing to stop this hate speech hate speech and allowed it to proliferate.

The way I see it, he cyberbullied a community member and encouraged further bullying.

This is not political, and this is not a political witch hunt.

This is abuse.

This is abuse and enabling further abuse.

And I would like an answer as to why one of our community members was subjected to this abuse.

And once more, I would like an answer to how those comments were censored in this meeting, but they were allowed to stay on that post for three days.

The counselor's post.

They were on the counselor's post for three days, and he allowed them to stay there.

And I would like an answer to that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up is Simone.

And after Simone is Ann.

Simone, welcome.

Thanks, Mayor.

You have three minutes.

I appreciate it.

I don't have a bunch of data to give you tonight.

I'm not going to recite laws as I usually do or code.

I'm going to talk about my disappointment.

My disappointment in the majority of this council.

Obviously, we're upset.

We've witnessed a lot, both in person and online.

You can do better.

You have to do better.

It's upsetting to see the behavior.

And the and the gall of the people who aren't in this room, shame on you.

You could have been here.

You didn't.

Mr.

Harris.

We I don't know why we had to work so hard to find out that the comments, the public comment could happen here tonight, and also that the comments would be at the end of the meeting.

Um transparency is the thing you're failing at greatly.

Mayor Pace is pride season.

Queer woman, a queer woman.

I want to say happy pride.

But I don't feel prideful.

I don't feel proud of my city right now.

I feel disappointment and betrayal and condescension and manipulation.

By the way, an apology without accountability is just that manipulation.

I applaud all the counselors who are calling for this appointed person to be uh censured and to have those actions against him.

I especially love the part, Olivia, about him getting some sort of help, taking a class or two, cracking a book.

I won't address him personally.

I won't even call him counselor.

He doesn't deserve it.

This is getting in the way of what's important here, what we're all trying to work on.

And that's these data centers that are destroying the land and the water and the trust from the people to you guys, our elected officials.

Of course, there's one here that was only appointed.

We ask that you keep him in check, keep him his mouth shut, and make him stand for an election against a real candidate this fall.

If I'm this quiet in general, and I'm not a quiet person, you should worry.

You should worry.

You should worry.

Stupid I am not.

Information I have.

Determination to use it, I will.

Trust that.

Trust is a weird word to hear tonight.

We don't trust you.

That must be hard to hear.

That must be hard to hear as you lay your head down at night.

Thank you very much for your time.

Next person up is Ann.

And Ari, who is who are the next two after Ann?

After Anne, we have Pam and then Jacob.

Pam and Jacob.

Okay, thank you.

Welcome, Ann.

Hello, you have three minutes.

Okay.

I'll try to make it short and sweet, and here I am prolonging.

Um I just want to say, first of all, I try to hold back chairs.

Um, it's been a very emotional night.

And I want to thank the mayor and the council for your presence.

And I know this was very weighted meeting, and that I am not even here to speak on this meeting or the content, but man, um, thank you for your presence and um and to the public too.

Thank you for your presence.

Um I am here today to just be a voice and um for the opposition of um sorry of um the expansion for um Noble Woods and I'm um so completely different subject, and I'm also for the record, not uh very opposed to the data centers, but coming back is the Century Boulevard Extension Project um is in my neighborhood.

I live in Hillsboro.

I've been there for um 20 plus years, and um it's you know it's part of my it's in my backyard basically, and it's a place where I go to um get away from the noise in this world, and um there's I just want to be a voice to the residents of Noble Woods for the trees, the birds, the squirrels, the deer.

Um I heard there's minks there, um, and then the barred owls and Noble Woods is um you know, creating this road.

I just don't think it's necessary.

I have um I never had a problem to find other many routes to get through the the city or get through the neighborhood.

And I feel that adding this is your uh disrupting nature, and it's just not necessary.

It really is not gonna save time um or efficiency, and I just really hope that and I know this is um I I should say I know this is the counties.

Um sorry, I'm losing my train of thought, but I know this is a county that is actually um responsible for the construction, but the city will take over the the um street, and so um, or will be responsible and and oversee and maintain the street and or the road.

Um, but I just want I hope that there could be consideration in of this project.

So, and I know that lastly that it's over, I think 43 million dollars.

It's just a lot to um destroy nature.

So thank you.

Thank you so much for your time this evening.

Uh next up is Pam.

And then after Pam is Jacob and um Aubrey, who is after who are the next two after Jacob.

Uh Pam, Jacob, Jody Clark, and Suzanne.

Okay.

All right.

So, Pam, welcome.

You have three minutes.

Okay.

And thank you for your words on behalf of Noble Woods Park.

Um, I want to address some things that were said today.

Y'all had a moment to present reasons for um the um options in terms of uh consequences for Mr.

Salgado.

And so I just want to present a reason for the public apology.

So um he interrupted the opportunity for me to learn about the complaints that the person was bringing forward, the person um who he reacted to and started filming, leading to the outburst that interrupted the building.

So I think that or the um meeting, so I think that there is a basis for a reason for a public apology in that I don't even still know what the person was bringing forward against him.

He interrupted them really completing explaining it.

Secondly, everybody else didn't get to say their comments.

So I'm just gonna put that out there as a reason.

Um I am actually here also to talk about the Century Um Boulevard Extension Project.

Um I actually want to speak to a conversation that I had with County Commissioner Willie yesterday.

I brought um concerns forth, hoping, you know, every step of the way, really hoping that um my doubts and you know, my lack of confidence and the um process of this extension being planned and designed were wrong.

And so I went into the meeting telling him, you know, I'm sure that you have a different perspective, and like, you know, you just didn't know that the public felt this way about the road.

And I'm you I bet it's public record, you could probably look it up.

He said in response to that, he said, well, did we go to the neighbors and really you know ask them what they thought?

No, we didn't.

He admitted that they did not engage the public on it.

I could go on.

I have been asking over and over why isn't this land an SNR?

It was revealed to me that it was, and they removed the SNR status in order to build the road, even though it has habitat waterways and um wetlands.

Um let's see here.

He said, when people buy a house, people should know that a road's gonna be built there.

I shared that with my community members because I brought all the information that he shared with me back to them to see what they thought in terms of like the reasons he gave me for continuing with the road.

That my community member said, how would people know?

And also, like this is America.

People can buy the house that they want and then also still advocate for the outdoor environment that they want to live in, especially when it's being affected using their tax paying dollars.

Um, and so he also stated that Hillsboro used to be woefully below the standard for green space per capta capita, which is just confusing, then why would you destroy more green space?

Oh, Mayor Pace, if we could talk about this more, I would really appreciate it.

And that's where I'll end.

Thank you.

Uh next up is Jacob.

And after Jacob is Jody.

Good evening, counselors.

Um, after the last few eventful weeks and the lengthy work sessions on data centers, I am stuck on the claim that Hillsboro is the economic hub of the state and county.

I don't know how that can be squared with the city selfishness uh of the rolling enterprise zone agreements.

In the work session, it was proposed to use some portion of the community service fees to fund a Powerbill credit system.

May sound nice on its face, but it's one more layer of administration with all sorts of caveats on income and the final product will probably have more.

PG ⁇ E certainly didn't ask my income when it raised electric rates practically every year for 10 years.

They just did it.

Now they're compelled through the PUC ruling to lower residential rates by 1.5% or something, and they expect kudos for that while they get 26% more from data centers, double dipping on profits and getting the best of both worlds.

Virtually zero uh residential rate repair.

Also, a lot of the time in the work session was used imagining the application of CSF funds to schools, which would be a moot point if at minimum our city didn't sign rolling renewal agreements for more than a dozen data centers and the schools were receiving their normal tax rates from these incredibly uh incredibly valuable companies.

These rolling agreements were not even likely envisioned by the state authors of the program.

And I do understand that a higher school support fee would simply change the division of funds coming from the local fees versus the state fund, not necessarily increasing budgets altogether.

Um although I find that hard to believe, uh, if higher school support fees in our area were to leave more state funds for other counties, uh, that would certainly be worth it and uh would have us living up to the name of economic hub.

Um I don't know why the city has conspired with the school boards to handicap those fees at 15% instead of the available 30.

Instead of an economic hub, uh the city seems to be acting like a parasitic CEO, lording over our own wealth and happy to hold on to our 50 million dollar slush fund while our state schools rank nearly last.

Libraries are getting budget cuts, and our county continues to tighten their budgetary belt.

The chaos in the last weeks and actions of staff and counselors opening the city up to potential and actual lawsuits, the mediocrity in response to the data center problem and the total lack of urgent and creative action is frankly pathetic.

And I'm very excited to see a newly balanced council in November that is not afraid of exercising their political will to help more than their careers or big business partnerships.

Thank you.

Okay, next up is uh Jody, followed by Suzanne.

And then Andres Andres.

Welcome, Jody.

Hi.

Let me just say no one likes to follow Jacob.

He's too good.

So this was from my last week's.

Oh my gosh, Saba, don't take on Elizabeth's role of not looking at me when I'm talking to you.

We've had some ideas.

I think it was back on the ninth that we had the big work session that didn't really address anything.

If you guys would spend a little bit of time doing what you did tonight, talking to each other in front of the audience, not just a work session.

Maybe we could figure out what you're trying to do with these data centers.

We're still lost.

It's been months.

We've been saying the same things over and over again, and you just give us that look that we have to do this for a couple hours.

It's part of our stipend.

I heard that there might be rebates and credits from the power.

That was something we'd look at.

I want to know.

Have there been any rebates and credits thought about for the past five years that we might get that the data centers were getting our power while we were helping pay for that?

Just curious.

What I wanted to talk about last week was measure 56.

We could, I know, I know.

We could have put a stop in place so we could have that hold, and we needed it.

Instead, we just push that away.

Don't like thinking about that, don't like thinking about how the water's gonna be treated, don't like thinking about anything about data centers unless we can just slough the public off and we're tired of it.

We have plans.

You may not like them, but you've got, and we don't have a whole lot of people here right now, but there are a whole lot of people getting ready for November.

I read yesterday or the day before that we have a semiconductor hub coming in town.

Yeah, that's gonna employ over 150,000 people in over 90 countries.

What's it gonna do for us?

Forty foot garage doors for trucks to pull into.

What's what are we doing about environmental concerns?

Are we looking at what, or if maybe they're all electric cars?

I don't know.

But it was fine.

Next up is Suzanne to be followed by Andres Suzanne, welcome.

Uh you have three minutes.

Thank you.

Good evening.

My name is Suzanne, and I've been a resident of Hillsborough for over 30 years.

I have three points to review with you tonight.

First, according to Hillsborough's data center webpage, there are 21 data center sites and at least five more sites planned, as far as we know.

Those numbers are very misleading to the public.

I don't think a lot of people understand that sites can have five or more data center buildings.

I asked that you update the webpage to accurately state the actual number of data centers in Hillsborough to be more transparent to the public.

Second, I also asked that the City of Hillsborough put a limit on how many data centers can be built in our community.

According to the data center map.com, Hillsboro has 34 data centers.

There are 19 US states that have fewer data centers than our little town of Hillsboro.

When will we start to say no to the multi-million dollar companies who've been lying to us and promising long-term uh high-tech jobs?

Finally, what is Hillsborough's emergency response plan regarding the data center fire fires?

Uh, have our fire crews been trained on how to uh put out lithium-ion battery fires?

In May 2025, we had a data center fire in Hillsborough.

The fire crews had to abandon their efforts and wait for five hours for the lithium-ion batteries to burn themselves out.

The reality is that lithium-ion battery fires don't behave like ordinary fires.

They burn much hotter, they release highly toxic gases, and can reignite hours or days later.

Having so many data centers near the Hillsborough Airport should terrify everyone.

Our airport is home to one of the largest helicopter schools in the country and a training academy for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air pilots.

In addition to the inexperienced pilots flying over our city, we have a huge air show every year.

And the number of flights per day will be increasing soon due to the Sky Harbor Project.

Having so many data centers near the airport is poor planning and a disaster waiting to happen.

Maybe you should ask the data center companies to provide their own first responders, or at least give us additional money to support our city's infrastructure.

Or did we miss our chance to do that when you gave them massive massive multi-year tax breaks?

Okay, thank you.

Uh next up is Andres.

Andres, welcome.

You have three minutes.

All right.

Hello.

I am Andrés Perez, and I have lived in Hillsborough my entire life.

I've grown to love it as one of the most beautiful cities I know.

Unfortunately, my and many others' love for the city is being belligerently attacked by the biggest scam in taxpayer history in Hillsborough taxpayer history.

After I learned about the 2000s uh 2003 school uh district budget fiasco, I thought that would be the worst this city has ever done for a citizens in recent memory.

But you all have somehow proven us wrong.

Not a single soul in the city wants data centers.

My household got a pamphlet about data center transparency, but we don't want that.

We want them gone.

This blatant corruption makes me ashamed to call Hillsborough my city, but not as ashamed as you all should be for stabbing your constituents in the back.

We are sick.

And if you think I'm being harsh, try living with dirty drinking water, smoggy air, and stole stolen jobs.

For once, listen to the people before you and put human lives over corporate profits.

Thank you.

Correct.

Thank you.

So we will move on to uh so thanks everybody for coming out tonight to speak.

I'll now turn the time over to our city manager Robbie Hammond.

Thank you.

Two uh items to report tonight uh in the city manager report.

Uh first, uh I want to announce that starting next month.

I'm going to be also submitting a written city manager report that's going to accompany uh each council meeting agenda.

Um, there are two things that are going to be included in this report as well as some other um summary from each month.

Uh the first one actually was a great suggestion by counselor alcare, and that is um any uh verified ICE activity that occurred in those first two weeks or in the previous two weeks, we're gonna go ahead and include in that written statement uh is part of the city manager report.

This will be similar information that we've shared on our on our website, but it's just an attempt to try to get more information out about ICE activity.

Uh, the second thing is any new enterprise zone applications that the city receives, we will also include in every city manager report that is included in the packet.

So you can expect to start seeing those next week.

If there are no uh uh known ICE activity or no uh new enterprise zone, it will be listed as no activity or no new applications.

Um, this is just another attempt again, based on some good feedback that we received about how we can be more transparent with the with the council with the community as well.

Um, second, uh I wanted to acknowledge that we're in the busy summer event season with Pride Month continuing.

Uh, we have the Tuesday night market now in full swing, showtime concerts uh starting this Thursday at Schum Park.

And I want to also thank the Washington County Chamber of Commerce's Black Advisory Business Council for organizing this past weekend's Juneteenth celebration.

Um they had great music and food uh to support black owners, uh black owned vendors and businesses uh to connect and appreciate each other is more important than ever.

Big thanks to the Black Advisory Business Council for bringing us together to celebrate Juneteenth for the fifth straight year.

Thank you.

Uh, thank you, Robbie.

All right, uh moving on now on to council comments.

Uh council members have up to three minutes if they have comments.

And um, would I ask, and this is what we agreed upon that the council should not engage in any deliberation or debate or any comments or topics raised during the portion of the agenda, other than expressing general support uh for adding a topic to a future addenda.

If the majority of council supports moving an item forward, the item will be referred to the city manager for scoping.

You are not required to make a comment, um, but we have created this opportunity for ourselves.

And again, we have three minutes to make comments.

Would any counselors wish to provide a comment this evening?

I see councillor Salgado and Councillor Amory with their hands raised.

So, Councillor Sagato, go ahead and your three minutes starts.

Yeah, I just want to address the video that these people that aren't even living in Hillsborough brought up.

Uh, that video got nearly two million views in 72 hours.

There's no way that I can manage the comments.

I turned out I deleted the video, and I'm turning off all my comments on my social media because I'm just by myself.

I'm a volunteer, I don't have a team to manage that.

So sorry that you had to see that.

That's not okay that they were making those comments.

Violence is never good.

That's actually my whole point in recording in the meeting last time, is because people were calling for violence in the audience.

And I'm glad she mentioned that video because I want to bring up two points before I make my comment.

Number one, a few months ago, we had a safety protocol meeting where we talked about what would happen if we had a situation where we felt like the public was creating a threat for the council.

I felt like that situation, especially that video captured it.

This person was not, should not have been allowed to run up on me and put their hands on me, right?

Who's responsible for that?

Who didn't follow the safety protocol?

Was it the mayor?

Was it the city manager?

Was it a police officer?

My fellow counselors haven't been able to answer that.

And they don't seem to care that that this happened, and it's really concerning because it's a real safety risk.

The second point is you're not the parents of these people in the public.

If they want to engage me on social media and they want to attack me, if they want to say that I'm complicit in the genocide of brown people, because I took a picture with the senator, I'm allowed to respond back and say that's wrong, right?

For you all to come up here and try to be the mom of these people that are trying to engage in me.

I'm gonna I'm gonna give you some advice.

I want you to read the constitution so you can see what your rule is not to sit here and mitigate this conversation that these people are engaging with me online.

That is not okay.

That actually looks bad on you uh to try to sit there and be the mom of these people.

Some of my fellow council members are taking liberties but interpreting the council rules.

So let me interpret a rule that violated uh they violated by choosing a political tactic that is rooted in racism.

To call the act of live streaming a meeting antagonistic violates council rule E3K, which says we'll focus on policy issues and will not criticize or attack each other.

You're impugning my intentions with reporting.

In fact, my fellow counselors should have shown up prepared, knowing that I'm allowed to report.

There should have they should have defended me, right?

But instead, they sided with the agitators.

Not one of my fellow counselors stood for me during that time.

I have to wonder if you agree with the tactics being used by this group.

I did not assume either of you on this council were comfortable with making fun of disabilities.

George Wallace changed how racist politicians talked about racial politics.

His team figured out that overt racism was losing steam, but that underlying fear in the public still existed.

My wife has taught me that some women end up having fear of men of all the negative experiences that women have with these men over their lifetimes.

Knowing that that my wife has taught me that women carry this inherent fear of men, or some women carry this.

Thank you, Counselor Sagato.

Your time is up.

Your time is up, Counselor Sogato.

Okay.

Uh counselor Anvery.

Um, you have three minutes.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh I would like to request to get some more information regarding the relay and the Northwest success.

Uh uh companies.

Uh uh that did go through council.

Uh, I would like to understand.

Uh do they use each other's employees and and I mean there's only the uh management change and the people remain the same, and they just move from one company to the other.

And if that happens, because that that sort of that that is what it sounded like to me.

And if that does happen and they're going from being being in a union to not being in a union, I I would like to understand that and see and learn learn um and and maybe change it because uh that that was not my understanding.

Um, so I would like to request that topic, please.

Okay, thank you, Counselor Ambry.

Um I I'm also interested in that too.

Mayor, if I could any other counselors care to make a comment, counselor Sinclair, Counselor Rawcare.

Mayor, this is Robbie.

If I could just quickly respond, we have information that we'll share tonight uh regarding that information.

Both are both really resources and um the uh Northwest Success are both called Oregon forward programs.

So I think that's what Councilor Amver is reporting to uh referring to.

We have information prepared that I'll be sending to the council this evening on that.

Okay, thank you very much.

Okay, uh council.

Well, counselor Harris, you have your hand up, but counselor all care, counselor sinclair.

Did you want to make a comment?

It's uh again, that's not required, but just want to make sure I'm including everyone.

Okay, no.

Okay, counselor Harris.

We went away on council Harris excuse me, Council Harris.

And then you you'll go after Counselor Harris.

Is that what I'm hearing?

After counselor uh Alcare, who also has our mic on.

Thank you, Mayor Packer.

Okay, okay, great.

So we'll go counselor Harris, Counselor Alcair, Counselor Sinclair.

Thanks.

After um looking at the garbage rate increases and some of the other increases we've had over the past year or two.

I've been on council at least.

I was wondering whether it would be a good idea to have our staff look at all the utility type increases we've had annually over the last several years.

Let us give us a sense of how the affordability uh is affecting or lack of affordability or these increases are affecting our residents.

Um I know there may not be a lot we can do.

I understand there's contracts, there's studies and everything, but I'd like to get a grasp on on the burden, the utility burdens of uh our residents as a whole.

Thank you, Counselor Harris, for making that request.

Uh Counselor Alcare.

Yeah, I don't have any comment.

Thanks.

Okay, thank you, Counselor Sinclair.

Yeah, um, I have to say it is very it is overwhelming, and it is disheartening to see the division amongst our council and amongst the audience toward us that there is clearly trust lost, and that our community uh some aspects of our community feel that they are not heard, and that is valid.

And um I'm wondering if there's an opportunity for there to be not I do not want to drag things on, but I do want to address is there any way that us as a body can do a one-day retreat where we get some kind of training on how to be more effective together because what I witnessed on uh our last meeting, it was a complete breakdown overall.

And um I it's unfair to our community, it's unfair to us as counselors.

There's been extremely intense subject matter that us as a body has had to work through, and we're in unprecedented times and making major decisions, and there is a lot of emotions elevated, and I'm hoping that there's an opportunity for us to have some type of retreat to where we have better tools to communicate with one another.

So uh counselor sinclair, I hear that you're recommending that we have a council retreat to talk about communication.

Um I'll ask the council to send an email if they're in support with that to Robbie.

Sure.

Is that did I capture that, Counselor Sinclair?

Yes, thank you, Mayor.

Okay.

So if you want to.

I'm sorry, Kara, I do have something that I want to add.

Okay.

Um and that I wanted um, because I made a request to Chad, and this is including uh Salgado in this, but I really believe that we need to have a DEI-led diversity, equity, and inclusion led workshop on what leadership is and what our expectations of leadership are, what our communities' expectations of leadership are.

I want to have that kind of conversation, and I want it to be centered in DEI, because I do not feel that we are equitable with each other.

We are not equitable with this community that we are serving.

I haven't seen anger and displaced expectations.

Well, we're requiring more of our public to behave in specific ways as they are facing a lot of betrayal and concern.

I think we could do better.

So I think we need to have a DEI training, and I've brought this up before, and some of you have been afraid to engage in that.

Don't be afraid.

Do the work uh thank you, Counselor Allcare.

So um Counselor Allcare has uh recommended a DI facilitated leadership training.

If other counselors support that, please send an email to Robbie.

Uh Counselor Sinclair has recommended a council retreat to improve on communication.

If any other counselors support that, please send an email to Robbie to let him know of your support.

Are there any other counselors that would like to use their three minutes for comments?

Okay, thank you to all the counselors uh for speaking out.

Uh moving to item nine, advice and information.

Uh please sign up to receive happening in Hillsborough or Cresciendo Juntos email news update or email updates, excuse me, from the city of Hillsborough.

As always, community members who want to be informed and engaged in city council matters can sign up to receive happening in Hillsborough email newsletters.

Uh, and the Spanish language updates are also available through our Cresciendo Juntos email newsletter.

And with that, our City Council meeting is adjourned.

Thank you, everyone.