City Council

^ ".? CTKOF.Wood Mayor Council President Councilors John C. Miner Jairo Rios-Cam os Mark dark Dara Tan Patricia Smith Village WOODVILLAGECITY COUNCILMEETING MINUTES October 8, 2024-6:00 PM PRESENT MayorJohnC, Miner, Council PresidentJairoRios-Campos, CouncilorsDaraTanand PatriciaSmith, City ManagerGreg Dirks, PublicWorksOperationsManagerErikaNormine, PublicWorksProjectsManager Becky Gallien, Director of Finance Seth Reeser, City Attorney JeffCondit, and interested parties. ABSENT Councilor Mark dark CITIZEN COMMENTS (NON. AGENDA ITEMS) None. PUBLICSAFETYREPORT Lt. Stewart stated the property in the 23000 block of NE Glisan Street, which the City had received chronic nuisance complaints about, should no longer be an issue, Stewart thanked Dirks and the City for their assistance addressing the issue. Miner asked for any additional information if it was publicly available. Stewart explained the property was an unpermitted marijuana grow house that was generating a lot of complaints, mostly odor related, Dirksnoted PGEhaspulledtheelectric meterto prevent recurrencedueto the unpermitted electrical work. Miner asked if this was an anomaly or if it was becoming more common in the area. Stewart stated this was complaint driven and took time to address but noted it was not a chronic issue in the neighborhood. Miner asked if it was a common issue in the greater County region. Stewart stated it was a common issue. Lt. Stewartpresentedthe restofthe publicsafetyreportfor September:the highernumberofassaultswere a result of duplicates in coding for calls, including one that resulted from fruit being thrown as part of the Fred Meyer strike, noting the assault number would be more accurate around 3-4; no stolen vehicles reported; sixtrafficcrashesalong238thand Halseyareaand MCSOis workingwiththe Cityon howto addressthe issue; andan attempted theftat BestWestern again resulted in no injuriesand nothingstolen, CityCouncilMinutesOctober8, 2024 | Page 1 . and MCSOiscurrently investigatingto see ifit is connectedto theotherrecentattempted theftatthe location. Smith asked iftheJake brake issue on 238th had been addressed yet since there are still complaints about noiselate at nightandearlyin the morning. Lt. Stewart asked for clarification on the time. Smithstated itwasaround 10:00or 11:00PMin additionto the early morningaround5:00or6:00AM. Dirksmentionedthe Citywastrying to targeta specifictimewindowwithan MCSOdeputywhois Motor Carrier certified. Stewartmentionedthedeputiesare calledtruck inspectorswhoare certifiedthroughthe Stateto dofull truck inspection during stops. Dirksstated MCSOandtheCityareworkingtogetherto find an opportunityto conductthis missionanddo a full courtesy inspection. Smithasked iftherewassound monitoringequipmentthatcould alsocapturephotos. Stewartstated MCSOdid not haveanythingthatcould do so. CONSENTCALENDAR A. City Council Minutes . September10, 2024 . September24, 2024 Upon motion byTan, seconded by Smith and passing 4-0, the Consent Calendar wasapproved. RESOLUTION25-2024:ASTOUNDFRANCHISERENEWAL Dirksstated Astound Broadbandcameto the Cityin 2015fora franchiseagreement, whichincludedtwo five-year renewals. The first renewal was in October 2019, and the second renewal was slated for October 2024. Ifapproved, the renewalis goodforfive years. Miner asked for questions, None were given. Upon motion bySmith,secondedbyTanand passing4-0, Resolution 25-2024wasapproved. ORDINANCE5-2024:RETIREDDISCOUNT Dirksstated the presentationwasa considerationfordiscontinuingthe Retired HouseholdDiscount Program, whichrequired a public hearingasanordinance, Dirksreviewedthe historyandstructureofthe programand howit wouldbe impacted ifretained underthe newproposed rate structure- the benefitwould be reduceddueto lowerbaserates. Dirksnotedthe programwasrecommendedfor removal by DonovanEnterprisesas partofthe City'sfull utility rate analysis. Dirks explained the financial impacts ofoperating the program, including viewing it as a utilities loss of $17,237a yearofasbeingsubsidizedbyotherratepayers. CityCouncil MinutesOctober8, 2024 | Page 2 Dirksnoted, ifapproved, the programwouldgo awayDecember31, 2024, but-CLirrentparticipantscould applyforthe City's UtilityAssistanceProgram. Current Retired Household Discountprogram participants could benefit from this program once within the first year without income verification and then the standard program would apply. Dirks reviewed the Utility Assistance Program, noting it was means tested, only available for directly billed customers, andfunded bythe General Fund. Dirks discussed the outreach performed and feedback received regarding the Retired Household Discount program, mentioning the majority of comments were to not change the program. Miner noted even ifthe program goes away the access to assistance for people in need still exists. Rios-Camposasked ifthe Citywould be reachingoutto the current Retired Household Discount participants and explaining how they could be saving money. Dirks stated some households will and some will not be due to a higher-than-average usage among nearly halfof the participants. Dirks explained some households will have a lower bill and others will have a better ability to control their bill. Rios-Campos asked if the City would still reach out to the participants. Dirks confirmed, and Gallien mentioned another newsletter article on the rate structure changes will be in the Novemberissueand a directmailingto current participantscould also be doneexplainingthe program is ending and how to apply for the Utility Assistance program. Minerasked howmanycurrentparticipants, Dirks stated 52. Mineropenedthe publichearing. No public comment. Miner closed the public hearing. Dirks mentioned the current Utility Assistance Program is only for directly billed utility customers and that discussion around the current program structure could occur at the next Council meeting during the Council retreat discussions. Upon motion byTan, secondedby Rios-Camposand passing4-0, Ordinance5-2024wasapproved. ORDINANCE6.2024: FLOODSAFETYFEE Reeserexplainedhewould be presenting information regardingOrdinance6-2024and Resolution26-2024 combined since they were related to each other. Reeser noted the City's last utility rate analysis and change in structure was done over twenty-five years ago. Reeser reviewed reasonings for changing the rate structure, including the ability to better control costs, requests to move to a pay as you use model, and the proposed rate structure being revenue neutral. Reeserstated the changeswould be effectiveJanuary1, 2025if approved bythe Council. Reeser reviewed the current and proposed rate structures, explaining winter averaging for sewer consumption and its effect on the total bill. CityCouncil MinutesOctober8, 2024 | Page 3 Minerasked Reeser. to reviewwinter averagingagain. Reeserprovidedan example, stating ifa useronly uses3-4 unitsofwaterduringthe winterbut8 unitsin the summermonthsdueto wateringtheirlawnorfilling a pool, then the lowerwinteraveragewould be used sincenotall thewaterbeingused inthe summermonthsgoesintothe sewersystem. Reesernoted there wereno changesto the commercial ratestructure. Reeserstated the Citytypically updatesrates in Januaryand usesthe CPI-Uinflation modelto estimate rate increases, mentioning there wasa 3. 1% CPI-U increase January 2023- January 2024. City staff is recommending proposed ratesto increasewaterandstreetfeesby3. 1%and sewerby7. 1%. Minerasked if he had heardcorrectlythatthe rates had not beenchangedin 25 years. Reeserclarifiedthatthe ratestructure had not beenchangedin 25years. Minerstatedthe Councilshouldevaluatethis morefrequentlymovingforward. MineraskedaboutpotentialcostsavingsfortheCitysinceWoodVillagesewerspump into Gresham's treatment plant. Dirksstated not in the short-term sincethe agreementusesa five-yearrolling averageto reducepeaksand valleys butnoted, overtime, thatit may be possibleifpeople changetheirconsumption patterns. Minermentioned userconsumption behaviorsmaychangemoving forwardasdevices, like low-flowtoilets, become more prevalent. Reeser noted conservation is a long-term issue, but it has been trending 1 to 2% a year recently, The City structured the rates to be conscious of this trend. Reeserdiscussedthe newFlood SafetyBenefitfee, whichafterdiscussion,staffproposeshould be added as a separate line on the utility bill. This would mimic the methodology used to collect the street utility fee, and funds would be paid out of the Street fund. Reeser mentioned the City has latitude on howto collect the fee if Council has alternate options for consideration. Miner thanked Reeserforhis leadership on the interim UFSWQD board. Minerasked howthefee wouldappearon utility bills, and howthe Citywouldavoid it lookinglikean additionaltax imposed bythe City. Gallienexplained it will be called a Flood SafetyFeeon the bill, and it calculatedaround 10.5% ofa user's Street fee. Minerasked if it would includeStateor Multnomah Countyfeeon the bill. Gallien explained that it had been pointed out in previous outreach and will be again in the November newsletter. Dirks reiterated it will be a separate line on the bill. Smithasked ifanythingon the bill could pointspecificallyto the SenateBill. Gatlien explained the space for a line description on utility bills is small. Smith proposedthe line becalled TaxDueto SenateBill 1517. Rios-Campos asked if a bill insert could be included with information about the fee. CityCouncilMinutesOctober8, 2024 | Page 4 Gallien explainedthe currentbill printingandfolding system does notallowforbill inserts. Gallien reiterated thatthere is limited spaceon the billfora line-itemdescription, noting thatanyonewithquestionsabout theirbill cancall the Cityandthatstaffare awareofthe upcomingchanges. Dirksmentionedthe City'swebsite, socialmedia, and newsletterwill includeinformationon thefee. Miner asked for clarification on the space on bills for the description and asked Gallien to take the conversation into consideration when creating the new bills. Dirks stated the call out on social media and the newsletter will gather more attention than a small little specialnoticeatthe bottom ofthe bill. Reesernotedthe Cityopted notto collect an administrativefeeforcollecting theflood safetybenefitfee. Gallien explained the City is starting from a deficit since the first bill covered July 2024 up to January 2025, andthe newratewon'tappearon utility bills until January1, 2025. Reesernotedthe Citydidn'twantto begincollecting thefee whilestill trying to communicatewiththe communityaboutit andotherproposed utility ratechanges. Dirksthanked Reeser and John Niiyama and others fortheir work on the UFSWQDand the budget process. Reesermentioned he alsoassisted MayorMontrossandthe FinanceDirectorfrom the Cityof Maywood Park regarding the flood safety benefit fee. Minerthanked Reeserforfollowing upwith MayorMontross afterhe hadsuggestedMontross reachoutto Reeserata recentmayor's meeting. Miner opened the public hearing. No public comment. Miner closed the public hearing. Upon motion byTan, secondedby Smithand passing4-0, Ordinance6-2024wasapproved. RESOLUTION26-2024:UTILITYRATECHANGE Reeser presented the suggested motion and explained this is resolution is to set the rates with an effective dateofJanuary1, 2025. Upon motion bySmith, secondedbyTan and passing4-0, Resolution 26-2024wasapproved. CITYATTORNEY REPORT None. MAYORANDCOUNCILCOMMENTS Dirks stated an additional No Ivy Day has been scheduled for October 20, 2024. Gallien mentioned a ParksCommission meeting hasbeen scheduledforOctober28, 2024. Rios-Camposdiscussedthe Costume Dash, mentioning it wasthe highestregistrationyet at 102people. Tan stated her Assistant Manager really enjoyed the event. City Council Minutes October 8, 2024 | Page 5 Rios-Campos noted he will not be present at the second October-meeting as he will be attending an ORPA conference. Miner asked for the Parks Commission date again. Dirks stated October28th at 6:00 PM. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, the Council adjourned at 6:53 pm, Joh C. Miner MAYOR ATTEST: CITYRECORDER CityCouncil MinutesOctober8, 20241 Page 6