City Council Work Session and Regular Meeting - September 8, 2026

The City of Independence City Council met in a combined work session and regular meeting on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The agenda listed a 5:30 PM start, but the work session minutes record the call to order at 7:30 PM. The work session included presentations on special district formation and legislative priorities, followed by a regular meeting with public testimony and action on several items.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of the previous meeting’s minutes (motion by Councilor Corr, seconded by Councilor Martin‑Willis).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Aaron McIntosh: Opposed fencing open spaces; suggested removing porta‑potties and cutting power/water instead.
• Anthony Johnson: Opposed the 7.2 budget amendment until the revised budget was released, noting that citizens could not review current numbers.
• Ben Cooper: Emphasized the importance of parks and libraries, referencing the Independence Vision 2040 and arguing that community priorities had become skewed.
• Hillary Pope: Questioned the legal review that led to Riverview Park’s closure; requested detailed data on outside attorney costs and asked about public records retention for social‑media comments.
• Martha Jockins: Asked for exact legal‑cost figures from the last two to three years and expressed concern about the timing of the in‑house attorney position.

Discussion Items

Work Session: Special Districts

City Attorney Gregory Goebel presented an overview of special‑district formation. The process is citizen‑led, overseen by the county. If a proposed district includes territory inside the city, the City Council must consent by resolution. Discussion focused on a potential library district, including funding through levies, feasibility studies, and the roles of the city and county. Council members asked about boundaries, duplication of services, and the timeline (normally several years). City staff involvement in promoting or opposing a ballot measure must be minimized to comply with election law.

Work Session: League of Oregon Cities Legislative Priorities

City Manager Kenna West led a review of the LOC’s 2027‑2028 legislative priorities ballot. Council considered 27 proposed priorities and narrowed them to five for submission: Infrastructure Funding, Public Meetings Law Clarity, Land Availability and Land Use Streamlining, Strengthening Economic and Workforce Development, and Ratepayer Assistance. Other items discussed included administrative‑procedure reform and municipal cybersecurity.

Regular Meeting: Pacific Power LED Street Light Conversion

Public Works Director Dustin Bugnetti presented a proposal to convert 407 Pacific Power schedule‑51 street lights to LED. The city would advance approximately $85,841; $75,000 would be reimbursed by the Energy Trust of Oregon, leaving a net cost of about $10,500. Conversion qualifies the city for a lower utility rate, saving an estimated $13,000 annually (up to $500,000 over 40 years). Funding would come from the transportation fund, not the general fund. Councilor Boisvert asked about negotiating the $10,500 fee, but staff reported Pacific Power declined. A temporary transfer from the transportation fund contingency is needed. A motion by Councilor Corr, seconded by Councilor Martin‑Willis, passed. Resolution 26‑1660 authorizing the budget amendment also passed.

Regular Meeting: Regional Infrastructure Fund Grants

The assistant city manager proposed two grant applications.

• Wetland Mitigation Feasibility Study: A grant to hire a consultant for a study on wetland‑credit shortages hindering development. No matching funds required; no commitment to future action. Councilors supported the grant‑funded nature and potential economic benefits, though some expressed concern about focus and workload. A motion (mover unclear from transcript) passed.
• Habitat for Humanity Infrastructure: A grant for water, sewer, and road infrastructure to support a 10‑unit townhouse development on 7th Street. Councilors expressed strong support. A motion by Councilor Martin‑Willis, seconded by Councilor Corr, passed.

Regular Meeting: Judge Butterfield Municipal Judge Agreement

City Manager West presented an updated contract for Judge Butterfield, increasing monthly compensation to $1,000 (including a one‑time $3,000 retroactive payment) due to increased caseload (often over 100 cases per month). Funding is from the court fund, not the general fund. Councilor Roden opposed the retroactive payment. A motion by Councilor Corr, seconded by Councilor Martin‑Willis, passed with one dissenting vote (Roden).

Regular Meeting: Parks Liability and Volunteer Policy

City Attorney Goebel discussed recent state legislation that expanded recreational immunity for maintained pathways, which requires city opt‑in. Resolution 26‑1661, opting in, was presented alongside a draft policy for a volunteer parks‑maintenance program and discretionary immunity. Council discussed risk management, public communication, and the need for further work on the volunteer component. The resolution was adopted by a motion from Councilor Martin‑Willis, seconded by Councilor Corr, with no recorded dissent.

Executive Session

The council convened an executive session to discuss real property transactions, adhering to ORS 199.6602. No decisions were made.

Key Outcomes

• Approved – Pacific Power LED street light conversion and associated budget amendment (Resolutions 26‑1660 and the motion). (Unanimous)
• Approved – Application for a Regional Infrastructure Fund grant for a wetland mitigation feasibility study.
• Approved – Application for a Regional Infrastructure Fund grant for Habitat for Humanity infrastructure.
• Approved – Updated municipal judge agreement with one dissenting vote (Councilor Roden).
• Adopted – Resolution 26‑1661 to opt in to expanded recreational immunity.
• Approved – Submission of the LOC legislative priority ballot listing Infrastructure Funding, Public Meetings Law Clarity, Land Availability and Land Use Streamlining, Economic and Workforce Development, and Ratepayer Assistance.
• Discussed – Draft parks volunteer policy; further development is ongoing.

Note: The agenda indicated a work‑session start time of 5:30 PM, while the minutes recorded the call to order at 7:30 PM. The regular meeting began at 6:30 PM per the transcript.