--- date: "2024-10-16" title: "Council Meeting Minutes 2024-10-16" source: "2024-10-16-minutes-council-monthly.pdf" --- City of Prairie City City Council Meeting October 16, 2024 Attendance: Mayor Ed Clark Councilor Pam Gangler Councilor Brook Williams Councilor Chase McClung Councilor Jenny Shaw Councilor Colby Bradford Chris Camarena, Public Works Director Marvin Rynearson, Fire Chief Shonalie Oakes, City Recorder Rob Gaslin, CPA Visitors: Frances Preston Georgia & Steve Patterson Mike Springer Sue Maloney Mary Wompler Colin Kolb Jeannine Sibley Sandy Murray Todd McKinley Debbie and Reagan Emmel Fran Bunch Mayor Clark called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm, the pledge of allegiance recited, and the roll was called. The agenda was amended to announce that no public comment will be made at this meeting, mainly for time restraints, but also provide everyone with a refresher on the City Council Meeting rules, so that the meetings may be run better. Councilor Candy Reagan was not present. Minutes: The city council meeting minutes of August 14, 2024, were considered. Mayor Clark said the City could not make the changes Councilor Gangler requested because the City’s attorney advised us not to include quotes in its meeting minutes. Councilor Gangler didn’t like that and insisted her recommended quotes be included in the minutes. Councilor Williams asked the other council members present if they thought the minutes reflected the intent of what was said. Councilors Bradford, McClung, and Shaw said yes, the minutes were an accurate summarization of the meeting. MSP: To approve the minutes from August 14, 2024, City Council Meeting. Councilor Bradford/Williams. Councilors McClung, Shaw, Bradford, and Williams account for the 4 Yay votes to approve the minutes of August 14, 2024, and Councilor Gangler was the 1 Nay vote present. The City Council Meeting Minutes of September 11, 2024, were considered. MSP: To approve the City Council Meeting Minutes of September 11, 2024. Councilor Williams/Bradford. Law Enforcement: Mayor Clark introduced Sheriff McKinley and gave him the floor. Sheriff McKinley wanted to provide clarification on the policing contract between the City of Prairie City and the County, and to explain what services the City has been paying for. Some of the key things were as follows: The contract was originally entered in 2018, and not much has really changed since then. The most recent contract was to provide 40 hours per week for $100K a year. Law enforcement has had high turnover. The County had to hire a full-time officer to be able to provide service to Prairie City for 40 hours a week. They sent their new hire to the academy for training and in the meantime their current officers have been back filling the void. They responded to 288 calls in Prairie City from January to September. The County said the total cost to employ one officer is around $130-140k per year. That dollar amount covers the hours for one officer, fuel, vehicle, health insurance, SAIF, pers, uniforms, equipment, and the necessary tools to perform their duties. The contract includes city ordinance enforcement, but it doesn’t state who covers the cost of the enforcement, such as towing, impoundment, etc. The County will not pay costs associated with enforcement, suggesting the City look at updating their ordinances as they are outdated, and most likely toeing the line with State Statutes. Sheriff McKinley said that before we get too excited about ordinance enforcement, he wants the City to have its ordinances reviewed to make sure that they are current with State law. The City’s contract with the County is currently expired but will be happy to put together something to get through the rest of the year. Mayor Clark suggested the council have a workshop to discuss the future of law enforcement in Prairie City, what that looks like and how to pay for it. Downtown Beautification Committee: Sandy Murray the president of the Downtown Beautification Committee, displayed the map and legend, describing the types of trees and plants that they have planned for the planters located downtown. Murray explained that the committee has done extensive research to determine the best types of trees and plants for our region, and best practices for planting and maintaining those trees. They consulted with nurseries to gain tree knowledge and design ideas. Some of the research included calling many eastern Oregon cities to learn what trees and practices were successful and what were not, so that they may implement the successes to their plans. The Beautification Committee called on the Council to adopt the streetscape as part of its’ parks, caring for them in the same way. Mayor Clark suggested before deciding, consulting with the City’s attorney to make sure that there is something we can do and recommended a workshop session for council members to discuss this more, a meeting was scheduled for November 6, 2024. Parks & Recreation Planning Grant: Mayor Clark announced that Prairie City was awarded $35,000.00 for a Parks & Recreation Planning Grant. Once we are updated with the details, the City will begin to schedule town hall meetings to get active community involvement and feedback from the public to provide the council with ideas and a vision of what Prairie City should look like. Fiber Fest: Fiber Fest asked the city council for consensus to allow them to use the park for one weekend a year for their annual event, for the next three years. All the Council present agreed Fiber Fest may use the park but wanted it to be clear that the City is not taking reservations for Depot RV Park. Accounts Payable: Rob Gaslin the City’s CPA read aloud the financial overview, and the appropriations review. The council reviewed the check detail. MSP: To pay the City’s bills, Councilor Williams/Gangler. All the members present voted in favor. Public Works Report: Public Works Director Chris Camarena said the City recently had a sewer emergency with one of its mainlines running through the Emmel’s property. Public Works contained and repaired the broken pressure line immediately, following DEQ’s guidelines and procedures for abatement, also working closely with the property owners to do so. Public Works has been working on an agreement with the Winegar’s and Wendal Black/Coombs Ranches to attain an easement through their properties to the City’s Faiman Well. OTEC walked the property with Winegar to show him where the power poles will be placed on his property and to receive input from the property owner. Camarena called on the City Recorder, Shonalie Oakes, for an update from the City’s insurance for the damaged slide at the park. Oakes said the invoice for the new slide has been submitted and was recently approved by CIS for reimbursement, and that we may also turn in the man hours our public works employees spend installing the new slide. Fire Report: Fire Chief Marvin Rynearson announced that burn barrel permits are now available to be issued lifting the burn ban for barrels and small campfires. Chief Rynearson also reported that the radio repeaters are not working properly, and that this is a countywide issue that could potentially affect the City if there is an emergency. Adjourn: MSP: To adjourn the City Council Meeting, Councilor Williams/Shaw. All members present voted in favor. Approved by the City Council on this 30th day of December 2024 and signed by the Mayor. Ed Clark, Mayor Attested: Shonalie Oakes, City Recorder