City Council

City Council Meeting Minutes ___________________________________________________________________________________________ THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2025 – 6:00 PM COLUMBIA CITY, CITY HALL – 1840 SECOND STREET CITY OF COLUMBIA CITY, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON AGENDA ITEM 1 CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: CONVENED: Mayor Alex Reed called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:00 pm. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Alex Reed Council President Rob Forman Councilor Gordon Thistle Councilor Connie Quick Councilor Lyle Bluhm COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None. ALSO PRESENT: Kim Karber, City Administrator/Recorder Jerry Bartolomucci, Chief of Police ATTORNEY PRESENT: None A quorum was present, and due notice had been published. AGENDA ITEM 2 PUBLIC HEARINGS: None AGENDA ITEM 3 CITIZEN INPUT: 3.1 Sheriff Brian Pixley to discuss jail levy. Sheriff Pixley discussed the Jail Levy which will be on the May ballot as Measure 5-304. He stated it will stay at the same rate as the current jail levy. MOVED (THISTLE), SECOND (QUICK) FOR COLUMBIA CITY COUNCIL TO ENDORSE THE JAIL LEVY, BALLOT MEASURE 5-304. AYES: THISTLE, QUICK, BLUHM, REED NAYS: FORMAN AGENDA ITEM 4 COUNCIL REPORTS: 4.1 Audit Committee: No report. Next meeting is in May. 4.2 Hazard Committee: Chief Bartolomucci reported they are working on getting people lined up for the Prepare Fair. 4.3 Parks Committee: Chair Bluhm reported that the committee discussed their observations of Pixie Park. They also discussed the placement of a life vest station at Pixie. Due to safety concerns and the mixed message it would send with having a life vest station and signs saying not to swim, they are not recommending the placement of a life vest station. They do recommend more signage warning of 2 Regular City Council Meeting April 17, 2025 the hazards of swimming at Pixie Park be put up. Rosemary Jeffrey, 1400 2nd St, stated again that she already has about 40 life vests she will donate for the kiosk and hopes we will consider putting up the kiosk. Mayor Reed inquired about what the discussion was at the Parks meeting. Chair Bluhm explained it was weighed heavy towards not allowing it because it is so dangerous to swim there due to the wakes of the big ships, steep drop-off, no lifeguards, etc. Chair Bluhm explained that the committee also a discussed and agreed to recommend the purchase of a picnic table and two benches to put in areas by Rivers Walk but after receiving some information from Kim he recommended to hold off. Kim explained she had a meeting with the company doing the Parks Masterplan update after the Parks meeting and they recommended waiting on the purchases of equipment until after the site assessments were complete to ensure proper placement and compliance with ADA accessibility. Next meeting is May 13th and Steve with Conservation Technix will be there to discuss the Parks Masterplan update. 4.4 Streets Committee: No report. 4.5 Water & Sewer Committee: No report. AGENDA ITEM 5 CONSENT AGENDA: 5.1 Bills paid with check numbers 35395 through 35440 during the month of March 2025. 5.2 Expense vs Budget Report for the month ending March 2025. 5.3 Combined balance sheet for the month ending March 2025. 5.4 Minutes of the March 20, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting. 5.5 Activity Report from the Chief of Police for the month of March 2025. 5.6 Activity Report from the City Administrator for the month of March 2025. 5.7 Minutes of the July 30, 2024, Planning Commission Meeting. 5.8 Minutes of the September 17, 2024, Planning Commission Meeting. 5.9 Minutes of the October 15, 2024, Planning Commission Meeting. 5.10 Revenue Analysis Report for the quarter ending March 31, 2025. 5.11 Employee Cost of Living Adjustment of 5% for budget year 2025-26. 5.12 Appoint Logan Mackenzie Gilbert-Renner to the Budget Committee. 5.13 Minutes of the March 26, 2025, Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee. 5.14 Activity Report from the Public Works Superintendent for the month of March 2025. 5.15 Minutes of the April 3, 2025, City Council Workshop. 5.16 Minutes of the April 8, 2025, Parks Committee Meeting. THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE. AGENDA ITEM 6 UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 6.1 Second Reading of Council Bill No. 25-994: An Ordinance Granting a Non-Exclusive Gas Utility Franchise to Northwest Natural Gas Company, and Fixing Terms, Conditions and Compensation of Such Franchise and Repealing Ordinance No. 14- 683-Oand 14-687-O. The Council completed the second reading of Council Bill No. 25-994. MOVED (FORMAN), SECOND (THISTLE) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL 25-994. AGENDA ITEM 7 NEW BUSINESS: 7.1 Council Bill No. 25-998: A Resolution Adopting the City of Columbia City, Oregon, Water Management and Conservation Plan Dated February 2025. MOVED (QUICK), SECOND (BLUHM) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL 25-998. 3 Regular City Council Meeting April 17, 2025 7.2 Council Bill No. 25-999: A Resolution Adopting Policy Goals and Objectives for The City of Columbia City, Oregon, for Fiscal Year 2025-26 MOVED (FORMAN), SECOND (QUICK) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL 25-999. 7.3 Permit Application for Structure in Unimproved Right-of-Way as applied for by James Koenig and Christy Sanders of 1535 4th Place. Council requested additional information from the PUD and the Fire Department before deciding. It will be tabled until next month’s meeting. AGENDA ITEM 8 OTHER BUSINESS: 8.1 Mini Mart drainage issue Councilor Forman inquired about the drainage issue at the Mini Mart. Every time it rains heavily there is a big pooling of water that occurs on their property, and they pump it onto the road or sweep it over the side washing debris onto the sidewalk. Kim explained they have been warned not to do either one of those things to remove the pooling water. She also explained that he has come to the City before asking about the drainage issue and it was explained to him that as the business owner he would be responsible for tying into the storm drain. Jerry also stated that when the Mini Storage was going in and having the drainage lines installed, he talked to them and suggested it would be a good time to have the drain work done since the equipment was already there and it would probably save him some money. Kim said she would get some more information on the history of the drainage issue. 8.2 May and June Meetings Kim reported she will be out of town for May’s council meeting, but that Helen would be covering it. June’s normal council meeting is on a holiday so it will be held on the day before, Wednesday, June 18th. AGENDA ITEM 9 ADJOURNMENT: 9.1 There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 7:23 pm. APPROVED: _______________________________________ Alexander Reed Mayor ATTEST: ___________________________________ Kim Karber City Administrator/Recorder