City Council

City Council Meeting Minutes ___________________________________________________________________________________________ THURSDAY May 20, 2021 VIA CONFERENCE CALL Phone: 425-436-6318 Access Code: 752011* CITY OF COLUMBIA CITY, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON AGENDA ITEM 1 CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: CONVENED: Mayor Casey Wheeler called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:15 pm. Public access and comment was available via published conference call number. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Casey Wheeler Councilor Gordon Thistle Councilor Katrina Claridge Councilor Jeff Reinan Councilor Sue Ziglinski COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: Mike McGlothlin, City Administrator/Recorder ATTORNEY PRESENT: None A quorum was present and due notice had been published. AGENDA ITEM 2 CITIZEN INPUT: Gina Wilson, of 2450 Seventh Street, provided citizen input to Council in regards to policing and crime in Columbia City. The City Administrator provided departmental and City overview of public safety resources within the City, a synopsis of recent theft activity within the City, and proposed steps for moving forward with providing law enforcement services for the community. Gina Wilson asked for ways to assist the City with this issue, suggested better lines of communication, and also expressed interest with assisting with neighborhood watch group formation. The City Administrator shared that he and the Police Operations Sergeant are holding coordination meetings with a citizen who is starting the formation of this group. Kim West, of 2440 Seventh Street, also provided input to Council in regards to law enforcement services within the City. She inquired as to agenda item # 7.2; where the Columbia County Sheriff, Brian Pixley, had provided the City Administrator with a proposal for contracting with the City for law enforcement services. Mayor Wheeler explained to Kim West that it was an initial and tentative proposal that was offered by Sheriff Pixley, that the City was within the final year of the currently re-certified local option levy for police operations, and that the City intended to run for another five-year re-certification of this levy during the November 2021 General Election. Kim West also shared law enforcement concerns that she had within the community and the City Administrator replied that he was aware of the issues that she raised and that the Police Department was addressing them. 2 - Regular City Council Meeting May 20, 2021 AGENDA ITEM 3 COUNCIL REPORTS: None AGENDA ITEM 4 STAFF REPORTS: 4.1 Activity Report from the Police Operations Sergeant: A written report from the Police Operations Sergeant, Jerry Bartolomucci, was submitted for the previous months activities. AGENDA ITEM 5 CONSENT AGENDA: 5.1 Bills paid with check numbers 33104 through 33157 during the month of April, 2021. 5.2 Check number Memo and Approval Request in regards to check numbers 32688-89 and 32735-42, as submitted by the City Administrator. 5.3 Financial Report for the month ending April 30, 2021. 5.4 Minutes of the April 15, 2021 Regular City Council Meeting. 5.5 Minutes of the April 22, 2021 Special City Council Meeting. 5.6 Minutes of the May 4, 2021 Audit Committee Meeting. COUNCIL APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE. AGENDA ITEM 6 UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None AGENDA ITEM 7 NEW BUSINESS: 7.1 First Reading of Council Bill 21-925: An Ordinance Declaring the City’s Election to Receive State Revenues. COUNCIL CONDUCTED THE FIRST READING OF COUNCIL BILL 21-925. 7.2 Review and discussion of City of Columbia City/Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Contracted Workshop, as submitted by Sheriff Brian Pixley. THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR REVIEWED WITH COUNCIL THE INFORMATION THAT HE HAD GATHERED; CONSISTING OF A HARD COPY OF THE WORKSHOP INFORMATION IN POWER POINT FORMAT AND AN EXAMPLE OF A PRICING FORM, IN ATTENDING A LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTRACT WORKSHOP WITH SHERIFF BRIAN PIXLEY. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE REVIEW IT WAS THE CONSENSUS OF COUNCIL TO SEEK ANOTHER FIVE-YEAR LOCAL OPTION LEVY RE- CERTIFICATION AT THE NOVEMBER 2021 GENERAL ELECTION IN ORDER TO CONTINUE PROVIDING POLICING SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY VIA THE COLUMBIA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT. THIS EFFORT WAS DECIDED TO SERVE AS A GAUGE OF CITIZEN SUPPORT FOR THE CONTINUED PROVIDING OF PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES AS EARLIER NOTED. 7.3 Council Bill 21-926: A Resolution Authorizing a Transfer of Appropriations within the General and Street Funds During the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2020. MOVED (THISTLE), SECONDED (ZIGLINSKI), AND APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE COUNCIL BILL 21-926. 7.4 Council discussion regarding River Club Estates (RCE) Overlay and City R-2 3 - Regular City Council Meeting May 20, 2021 Zoning Amendments. THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR BRIEFED COUNCIL THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS WORKING ON BOTH OF THE REFERENCED ISSUES AND THAT THE MATTERS WOULD BE COMING BEFORE COUNCIL FOR ACTION WHEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD FINISHED THEIR REVIEW AND WAS IN A POSITION TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL. 7.5 Review, discussion and consideration of City’s answer to Petition filed regarding the attached Columbia County Validation Petition; Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance; Columbia County Circuit Court No. 21CV12796; as submitted by Sarah E. Hanson, Columbia County Counsel. UPON REVIEW AND DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL IT WAS DECIDED BY CONSENSUS THAT THE CITY OF COLUMBIA CITY WOULD ELECT NOT TO RESPOND TO THE PETITION. COUNCIL DIRECTED THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO INFORM COUNTY COUNCIL OF THE DETERMINATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. AGENDA ITEM 8 OTHER BUSINESS: 8.1 The City Administrator/Recorder and Council discussed the following issues and activities: The most recent information available specific to the American Relief Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 was discussed. Guidance to states, counties, and large metropolitan areas; along with some funding, has been released. Small cities and town are still waiting on further guidance, other than previously released, from the Unites States Department of the Treasury. The City Administrator will keep Council advised as material and information is gained. Mr. Arlyn Aldrich, of 2620 Sixth Street, spoke with the City Administrator regarding a counter-proposal to address the utility billing at his residence. Mr. Aldrich proposed that since he is selling his home in the near future, and while his primary residence remains outside of the City, that the City waive the monthly minimum water/sewer fees and also provide mowing services at the residence until the point that it successfully sells. After deliberation the City Council agreed by consensus to the counter-proposal as made by Mr. Aldrich. AGENDA ITEM 9 ADJOURNMENT 9.1 There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm. APPROVED: _______________________________________ Casey Wheeler Mayor ATTEST: ___________________________________ Michael S. McGlothlin City Administrator/Recorder