City Council

Mayor Council President Councilors ^aw.°F.Wood T. Scott Harden Brace Nissen John Miner Jairo Rios-Campos Lynnea Amend ?e WOOD VILLAGE CITY COUNCIL JUNE28, 2022 MINUTES PRESENT MayorT. ScottHarden,Council PresidentBruce Nissen,CouncilorsJohnMiner, JairoRios-Camposand LynneaAmend, CityAttorneyJeffCondit, City ManagerGreg Dirks, Directorof FinanceSeth Reeser, Public Works Director John Niiyama, Senator Gorsek, Chiefof StaffJason Hitzert, MCDD Evyn Mitchell, WasteManagementMikeJeffriesand interested parties. ABSENT None. CITIZENCOMMENTS (NON-AGENDA ITEMS) No comments. DIRECTOROFFINANCEREPORT Reeserpresentedthefinancereport. All revenuesareator exceedingprojectionsotherthan propertytax which is lower due to less than expected property tax revenues for Urban Renewal. The bank balance continuesto be highand interest rates havebeen increasingrapidlyoverthe last month. Staffis wrapping up purchases and contracted work for the end ofthe fiscal year. PRESENTATION:SENATORGORSEK SenatorGorsekpresented an updateon the Senatesession. SenatorGorsekserves as co-chairofthe publicsafetysub-committeewhichdealswithfundingrequestsand budgetsfor publicsafetyincludingthe state police. He also serves on the education committee and on the full ways and means committee which vets all fundingrequests and budgets. Lastyearcreatedthe rail caucusto workon buildingup rail infrastructureforfreightand passengeruses. Also on thejointtransportation, school safetyand several othercommittees. Lastsessiontheypasseda bill thatallowed communitycollegesto offer4-yeardegrees forspecial programs andjust added a 4-year cyber security program. One ofthe priority bills that will roll into nextsession involves a fundingforcommunitycolleges. The state hasnot passeda bond measurefor City Council MinutesJune28, 2022 | Page 1 funding colleges since 1976. The state has money left at the end ofthe yearfor colleges, but it requires a monetary match. Working on structuring a bill thatwould allow colleges with limited funds to apply for grants to meet some ofthe required matching funds. Gorsek is interested in what measures will help local cities and suggested Council contact him with any questions or concerns about items in the legislature. Minerhopesthe bill passesso the communitycollegescan upgradeequipmentandmaintainfacilitiesand believes the legislature should focus on the K through 14 school system and gun safety. Amend commentedthatwiththe overturningof Roevs Wadethere are lots ofconcernsaboutthe lackof privacy and rights and asked whatthe legislature is doing. She is also very concerned about gun safety. Gorsek responded that many colleagues are very disappointed, and Oregon does have state laws protecting those rights although that is not as permanent ofa fix. They will continue to maintain those protections atthe state level. The Senate did get some gun legislation passed although the Supreme Court hasbeen limiting state control ofgun regulation. Harden commented that Oregon is ranked 9th in terms of gun regulation laws and the federal legislature recently passed a gun bill regarding background checks and closing sum loopholes. The City is also planningto havea fomm on gunsafety. PRESENTATION:MULTNOMAHCOUNTSDRAINAGEDISTRICT Evyn Mitchell presenteda quickbackgroundon Columbia Riverleveesandthe creationofthe Urban Flood Safety & Water Quality District (UFSWQD) special district. The Portland Metro levee system consists of27 miles of levees, 12 pump stations, 45 miles ofslough, ditches, pipes, and culverts. The system protects highways, property, residents, jobs, drinking water and the PDX airport. The majority of Wood Village stormwater flows down into the managed floodplain before it is pumped out and this is paid for exclusively by the people who own property there. Several recent high-waterevents have revealed weakness in the levee system. There's about $200 million in vulnerabilities including levee erosion that need to be addressed to meet federal safety standards set by FEMA and the Army Corps. The district is currently working with the federal government for funding and are on track to receive about $100 million for improvements, The district is also working on developing a more sustainable revenue structure since only property owners nearthe levees are currently paying assessmentsforthe levees. This process is currentlyworkingon identifyingservices, benefits, costand who should pay. There are also discussions regarding billing and collection issues. Looking at service fees and whatthe impacts will be to residents and businesses. Also working on a ballot measure for next Mayto raisesomeofthefundsneededforcapital improvements. Nissen asked what happens ifthe runofffrom Wood Village that enters the managed flood plain is not pumped out. Mitchell responded that there are barriers preventing the flow directly into the river and without pumping the sloughswouldflood andcausea backupinthe system. Rios-Camposaskedwhatportion ofthe usageis from WoodVillage. CityCouncil MinutesJune28, 2022 | Page 2 Mitchell responded that they are still analyzing data, but the overall budget will probably be around $30 million. From the preliminary study that would be around $1 to $2 per month for a resident. Hardencommented thataddinga feeforWoodVillageresidentswouldbe difficultsincewearen'tdirectly protected by the levee. Any businesses in the flood zone could have built in non-flood areas. Wood Village residents would need to be able to vote on anyadditional fees. Harden asked aboutthe estimated $30 million operatingbudgetand howmanyemployeesthatwouldbe andthescopeofwork. Mitchell respondedthatthe budgetis notfinalizedbutthescope ofworkbasedonwhat'sinthe statute that waspassed bythestate legislature. Primarilyfloodsafety, maintainingthe pump stationsand levees. The legislature also requested the system be modernized including considering climate change and equity. There is currentlyabout35staffpeople, butthere is a lot ofduplicationwiththe separatedistrictsthatwill be reduced with the restructure into one district. Reeseraskedifall ofthe operatingbudgetsforthe currentdistrictsare paidbyjust bythe people in the districts. Mitchell responded affirmatively, however, now there is a discussion about the water shed that flows into the managedflood plainandwhetherpeopleoutsidethe districtshould be payinga portion ofthe costs. Harden asked if the fee would be based on the benefit received, so the cost of the pumping instead of assessed property values. Mitchell respondedthedistrictis looking at several benefitsreceivedand howto bestspreadthe cost. Hardenstatedweare not lookingto sharethe costwithpeoplethatchoseto live in a flood plain. Whenyou considerthat PDXisthe primaryairport in thestate, so shouldn'tthe restofthe state be paying. He also mentionedthatthisdistrictis uniquein its inabilityto bill and collectfundson its own. Mitchell replied that this new district is unique, and they knew funding would be challenging. Niiyamacommentedthatdiscussionsare still inthe earlystagesand proposalswill be broughtbackto Council. Harden stated that the City is not interested in adding this fee to the utility bill. Mineraskedhowthe districtis currentlyfunded. Mitchell replied funding is through tax assessment of properties in the managed district and the funds are not sufficient to maintain the system. PUBLICHEARING:SOLIDWASTERATES Hardenopenedthe publichearingon Resolution 16-2022:SolidWasteRate increase. Dirks presented background on the Waste Management franchise agreement which enables a 10% rate of return. The last rate increasewasin 2021 dueto increaseddisposalcosts. Metro hassince increasedthe tippingfeesandWasteManagementis requestinga rate adjustmentto coverthe newtippingfees as well as other increased operating expenses. Their return for 2021 was just under the 10% and operating CityCouncil MinutesJune28, 2022 | Page 3 expenseshave increasedsincethen. Theproposed rate increaseis basedon volume ratherthan a flat percentage. Harden asked if we will be seeing more frequent rate increases. Jeffries stated that Metro is making improvements and increasing taxes and fees. That's what is driving some ofthe rate adjustments. Lastyearthere was a significant tax credit that offset some fuel expenses. That credit is no longer available, and there are also increased employee costs. Waste Management is not planning to request another rate change except to pass through disposal increases. Harden requested a holiday calendarfor residents and consistency for service daychanges and notification for inclement weather. Jeffries responded that there is supposed to be an auto call out if service is disrupted, but they can work on the notification process. Rios-Campos suggested there should be more education on recycling in various languages. Dirks commented that Waste Management does have a separate site forWood Village residents that does address some ofthe questions raised and staffcan workwith them to craft more optimal solutions. Dirks mentioned the public hearing notice was posted on the website and published in the outlook. If approvedthe ratewouldbeeffectiveJuly1, 2022. Hardenopenedthefloorforpublictestimonyandhearingnone, closedthefloor. Upon motion by Nissen, seconded by Miner and passing 5-0, Resolution 16-2022 wasapproved. Cinr MANAGEREVALUATION Harden and Nissen each presented their evaluations of City Manager Dirks. Nissen mentioned there has been progress evaluating staff capacity and project timelines, recognizing not everything has to be done immediately and can be reprioritized as things change. Harden commented that going forward would like to have DRC back in house and more robust job recruitment usingjob boards, direct solicitation, or other methods to increase applications. Harden noted there have been several supplemental budget actions over the last few years as compared to the preceding years. Dirks responded that the budget has been very tightthe past couple ofyears and there is little contingency for large, unexpectedexpenseslike mainbreaksor seweroverflows. Miner commented that using supplemental budgets is not concerning unless used for routine operational coststhatshouldhave beenanticipatedduringthe budgetprocess. Rios-Campos added that the pandemic attributed to the supplemental budget actions. CityCouncil MinutesJune28, 2022 | Page 4 Minercommentedthatthe potential property purchasewasa positive discussioneven though it didn't proceed. Also mentionedtheTinyHome conversationswith upsetresidentsandthe leadershipshown. Rios-Campos appreciates the service level the City provides, and the relationships built with community groups and area partners. Minersuggestedthatthe citymanagerbe included in the compensationanalysisandthattheevaluation questions should be included in the new councilor orientation. Miner also asked about changing the evaluation processso all Councilorscan make comments, withthe evaluationcommitteefinalizingthe evaluation. Harden noted that there is no requirement for the evaluation to be done by the Mayor and Council President if others are interested. Hardensuggestedgiving Dirksa 4% COLAincreaseanda 5% bonus. Upon motion by Harden,secondedby Minerand passing5-0, the4% COLAincreaseand 5% bonuswere approved effective July 1st. DIRECTOROFPUBLICWORKSREPORT Niiyamapresentedthe publicworks report. Thewatersystem handledthefirst heatwaveofthe yearwell. The radio reads ordered last August finally arrived. Sheetrock work at Well 3 was completed. Permits and inspectionsare lowerthan last month. Staffis taking a more proactiveapproachon codeenforcement. Rios-Campos appreciates the quick work by the public works crew on the water issue at the restrooms. CIFfMANAGERREPORT Dirkspresentedthe city managerreport. The NiteOutis July 15thandthe paradestarts atthetown center at 4:45 pm. CITfATTORNEYREPORT None MAYOR& COUNCILCOMMENTS Harden attended his last MHCRC meeting after 10 years on the board. Rios-Camposannouncedthe summerlunch programstarted andwill run until Aug 12th.Theyhave seen a goodturn out sofar. CityCouncil MinutesJune28, 2022 | Page 5 ADJOURN With no further business coming before Council, the Council adjourned at 8:27 pm. J. ^crik^^ T. Scott Harden MAYOR ATTEST: ^ ec<- 'C\jy RECORDER CityCouncil MinutesJune28, 2022 | Page 6