Inform Hood River

10/27/2025

Hood River White Salmon Bridge Authority: October 27 @ 2pm. You can watch live on ZOOM (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83473763179) or later. Agenda and Packet here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1612Q6euyHe92MDAxTrpTDuiQ6umicL2a/view?usp=drive_link

This is the Bridge Authority’s first meeting since the October 1st Federal Government shutdown, so I’d expect that some reports and work with federal agencies will have been limited or postponed.

On the agenda:

- Update on the ongoing appraisals for the Fair Market Value on the parcels of land currently owned by the Port of Hood River, but updated in the 1970s using Land and Water Conservation (LWCF) grants.

The appraisals are now complete, but the Federal Highway Administration has concerns about including the non-conforming buildings in the appraisal.

These are Port buildings constructed decades ago on land that should have been reserved for only recreational use (which the Port office & DMV buildings are not). Unfortunately, from what I’ve found in the records, the Oregon Department of Parks & Recreations (OPRD) never carried out its mandatory regular reviews of lands given those LWCF grants, or they could have reacted to the non-conforming land use decades ago. Ah, yes...

We will have to watch closely for the decisions on how the Port will handle the Right of Way appraisals for land now required for the bridge’s south exit.

- Report on ongoing discussions with the Federal Highway Administration on how the grant funds from the INFRA (Infrastructure for Rebuilding America) program can be used.

An important issue the HRWSBA has been pursuing is the ability to be able to “pay on invoice,” which alleviates cash flow issues.

- Update on the geotechnical borings taking place; also confirmation that the project will require only 2 drilled shafts (instead of 4) at many of the locations, which helps saving $ and construction time.

It seems unlikely (to me) that any progress on the INFRA grant or the Bridge Investment Program grant has been made, given the shutdown. I guess we’ll hear more later.

10/27/2025

Public Meetings: Week of October 27, 2025

Monday, October 27: City of Hood River

The City of Hood River & HR’s Urban Renewal Agency both will meet on Monday, beginning at 6pm. You can watch the meetings live on their YT Channel.

Urban Renewal Presentation
The Urban Renewal Agency will provide more info about their expected “Performance and Equity Metrics” with plans going into 2052. (Note: In 1998, could any HR Urban Renewal Agency have predicted the variety of state, national, and international events that would affect demographics, economics, inflation, etc in 2025? So take the predictions for 2052 with a grain of salt.). The presentation will cover predictions for low-income housing, parks and trails, road construction, and equity.

City Council Agenda

- The City will make its first vote on a new ordinance regulating the membership of the city’s planning commission. They will remove the limit on the number of real estate professionals that could be appointed to the commission, and adopt instead language that reads: “Membership of the Commission shall comply with ORS 227.030 as it relates to occupation, business, trade, or profession.” The state has removed the limitation on real estate professionals as of January 1, 2026.

- The City will adopt what Resolution 2025-27, the “Heights Proportionate Share Study.” Basically, the City is recognizing that as housing or other developments take place that increase the number of vehicle trips in an area, the City eventually has to spend significant funds to upgrade failing intersections and roads.

Right now, developers whose new facilities will add trips that to intersections that are at a level E or lower (i.e. basically very congested or “failing”) can either install more intersection capacity as part of the project OR pay a proportionate contribution towards the intersection improvement. However, they also have to pay for a traffic impact study.

If the City instead does the impact studies in advance they can precalcuate the contributions needed to pay for future improvements.

Their studies state that “A Heights District Proportionate Share Fee of $2,520.27 per PM Peak Hour Vehicle Trip is established for the District for Fiscal Year 2025-26.” This is based on the cost of a roundabout at 13th and May,plus intersection improvements including a traffic light at Belmont and 13th, plus converting 13th Street to 2-way traffic. Those costs are estimated to be $23.2 million dollars (in 2025 $), and will accommodate 9,187 vehicles per hour capacity in 2039. You’ll find all the details starting on page 21 of the packet (https://cityofhoodriver.gov/wp-content/uploads/Meetings/10-27-2025-City-Council-Meeting-Packet.pdf)

- Mount Adams & US-30 Roundabout Proportionate Share Study

Are you getting a sense of déjà vu? Yup. More proportionate share studies. The failed intersection @ Mt Adams & US-30 is taking the blame for stopping “at least one multifamily housing project in its predevelopment stage.”

The city will hear about 2 design alternatives for a roundabout there (cost today ranging from $8 to $9 million), and how a new proportionate share plan for the Westside Urban Renewal area could gather up close to $2 milion in fees to pay for the future roundabout.

10/25/2025

The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority has moved into the design phase of building the new bridge. This design work includes the installation of the sensors that are now on the bridge - monitoring bridge movement, wind velocities, water levels, and more.

But knowing what kind and size of vessels go under the bridge will also help with as they move forward with requirements for permitting.

If you qualify for their survey because you operate or manage a vessel that passes under the existing bridge, please take the survey by November 7.

10/25/2025

Video of the October 23rd 4-county appointment meeting to fill the Senate District 26 vacancy is available. The reel provided here is about 19 minutes from a 90+ minute session.

- Here is the Inform Hood River edited version: That version shows ONLY:
--> Jeff Helfrich and Christine Drazan, who were the two candidates who received votes from HR County Commissioner. The 3rd candidate, John Grant (The Dalles) did not receive any votes from HR County so I've omitted his answers.

--> Each county was allowed 2 questions to the candidates. I only show the questions posed by HR county.

Edited video shown here but can also be found and shared on the Inform Hood River YouTube Channel: https://m.youtube.com/ Watching on YouTube gives you the opportunity to use their “CC” (closed captioning) for subtitles.

Full video taken and edited by Clackamas of the 1.5 hour meeting available here: https://youtu.be/9eSPoPTuEII?si=dYpLUdTVV0PNMtE-

10/23/2025

District 26 – Senate Appointment - Christine Drazan wins the State Senate seat vacated by Daniel Bonham.

I’ll focus on Hood River County (in the video) but here’s a summary.

The new State Senator for District 26, which includes Hood River, is Christine Drazan.

Drazan received 7 commissioner votes – but all 5 Clackamas commissioners voted for her, and with 13.8 votes per commissioner, plus 2 other commissioners, her weighted votes totaled 74.2.

Jeff Helfrich received votes of support from 11 commissioners, but the weighted total was 35.8.

Jeff’s support fell this way:
- Wasco County: Unanimous among the 3 commissioners
- Multnomah County: 4 of 5 commissioners supported him
- Hood River: Commissioners Euwer, Babitz, Moretti, and Weathers supported him. Commissiomer Muenzer supported Drazan.

Details

The Clackamas County clerk managed most of the procedural aspect of the meeting. Only a few members of the public spoke during public comment.

Per Oregon state law, only a plurality of votes were needed to win the election. A majority (i.e. whoever got the most votes; a majority is more than 50%. For this election, a majority would have been 56 votes).

The three candidates (who, by law, were the same political party as former State Senator Daniel Bonham, who resigned in September) were Christine Drazan, John Grant, and Jeff Helfrich.

Each county had 2 questions to pose to the 3 candidates. The 2 questions posed by HR County were:

1) “Since you are in the minority party, how have you demonstrated the ability to work with the majority for the good of our district?

The 2nd question posed by HR County was (in my opinion - a wasted opportunity): “Given recent rumors, how can you allay our fears that you won’t have time to serve the residents of this district, rather than focusing on running for statewide office.” This was really directed at Christine Drazan, who has been rumored to consider a second run for Oregon governor.

Candidate John Grant asked Chair Euwer to repeat the question, and then responded that he had no intention of running for any statewide race. Representative Jeff Helfrich confirmed that his interest was in serving the district, and in staying in the area, and had no aspirations beyond the State Senate role.

Christine Drazan clearly knew the question was directed at her, and mostly described her passion for doing the best in any role.

At the end of the meeting and prior to the vote, Chair Euwer expanded on the question to say that though someone who was running for another office might be very busy, anyone running for statewide office might also have connections and be willing to do a great deal.

Other county questions ranged from concerns about what Oregon would do about food support, transit issues, infrastructure funding, deploying federal troops in Oregon, and more.

Each individual commissioner had votes based on their county’s proportional voter count in the district.

Clackamas Cty: 13.8 votes per commissioner (5 commissioners; 69 votes)
Hood River Cty: : 3.4 votes per commissioner (5 commissioners; 17 votes)
Multnomah Cty: 1.8 votes per commissioner (5 commissioners; 9 votes)
Wasco Cty: 5.0 votes per commissioner (3 commissioners; 15 votes)

I'll post a short video later.

Updated 5pm: Mr. Grant corrected my original post, and I've changed it to reflect that his answer to Chair Euwer when she asked how a candidate who might run for statewide office would manage to also focus on the needs of District 26. Mr. Grant confirmed he did not plan to run for any statewide office.

Thanks for the clarification, Mr. Grant!

10/22/2025

County Commissioners Board Meeting, October 20th

I’ve posted the video from Monday’s meeting on YouTube. The full video is at the link. The benefit of viewing on the YT channel is that it provides an easier navigation format, along with a wide range of captioning services. https://youtu.be/lHv2WF_gHXc?si=5RcRHd1tshGQ1Fbf

Individual segments with links to take you to that portion of the meeting:

• The East Fork Irrigation District provides an update to work on Fir Mountain Road: https://youtu.be/lHv2WF_gHXc?si=eQ8I9sbM1sCQY0ip&t=57

• Gorge Commissioner Michael Mills and Executive Director Krystyna U. Wolniakowski presented information how the Columbia River Gorge Commission is handling rebuilding requirements for houses destroyed in the Rowena and Burdoin fires: https://youtu.be/lHv2WF_gHXc?si=ArO9dwEq7doDOSQz&t=1652

• Community Development Quarterly Update: This is the department that manages land use applications, building applications, GIS work, and more. https://youtu.be/lHv2WF_gHXc?si=6fwVWX12dt2u3nmt&t=3427

• Assessment, Records, Taxes – Update: This was a presentation by Brian Beebe, which covered changes in assessments, removals of some properties that had stopped farming from receiving farm deferrals, tax compression discussion, and more. https://youtu.be/lHv2WF_gHXc?si=ZPqoux8eoXgskC89&t=3793

In the regular meeting:

• The adoption of the FEMA Flood Plain Ordinance: https://youtu.be/lHv2WF_gHXc?si=3naS8H7HhcXR5K4S&t=6056

• Legalization of Evans Road https://youtu.be/lHv2WF_gHXc?si=tiU_s4macX-8ExWS&t=6596
• County Administrator Reports: https://youtu.be/lHv2WF_gHXc?si=arY1azHmEEpvMl02&t=7174

• Commissioner updates: https://youtu.be/lHv2WF_gHXc?si=GDs9-mnAt5awhVhR&t=7724

• Septic System decisions with annexation in Urban Growth areas & failing septic – A resolution better describing when an Urban Growth property owner wants to be annexed into the city to get sewer hookups : https://youtu.be/lHv2WF_gHXc?si=FfIfYdact4Iba5kR&t=9146

• Commissioners discuss what they’ll need to do during the discussion of the process for replacing State Senator Bonham: https://youtu.be/lHv2WF_gHXc?si=yJJgrkPB-jh7mj3z&t=9819

• County organizational & financial analysis: This is about getting an outside consultant to consider ways in which the county government and finances could be changed. The county administrator has advocated for this, given that the county’s revenues are inadequate for the existing expenses and the county’s current finances aren’t sustainable
https://youtu.be/lHv2WF_gHXc?si=cRPCos1de4xaOMZR&t=11466

Things the consultant will dig into:

o Expenditure controls
o Revenue Enhancements
o Service Reductions
o Service Delivery Model changes
Commissioner Babitz reiterated the need for the analysis to include law enforcement.

Covers the work session & business meeting. Work session presentations include East Fork Irrigation District updates, Columbia River Gorge Commission on bui...

10/22/2025

Special Session to Appoint Replacement for Oregon State Senator Daniel Bonham

This is something we don’t see a lot of. On October 23 (Thursday) beginning at 1pm, the commissioners from Hood River, Wasco, Multnomah, and Clackamas counties will meet to hear statements from 3 people who’ve applied to fill the vacant State Senate seat for District 26. This seat became vacant after Bonham’s resignation last month.

The 3 nominees are: Christine Drazan, John Grant, and Jeff Helfrich.

The public can watch the interviews and voting process online: https://clackamascounty.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RYJHesASSvCaN-tK5kxa6Q Full agenda and attachments here:https://www.hoodrivercounty.gov/vertical/sites/%7B4BB5BFDA-3709-449E-9B16-B62A0A0DD6E4%7D/uploads/10.23.2025_SD26_Agenda__Preliminary_Materials.pdf

Public comments need to arrive by 4pm Wednesday, October 22. They can be sent to [email protected]. Members of the public who wish to speak during the meeting must register in advance using the link provided above. Please note testimony will be limited to one (1) minute per member of the public (and not everyone may have time to speak).

Per state law, the votes to fill the spot get apportioned among each commissioner in the counties represented by the State Senator for the district. Each commissioner's vote is weighted proportionally to the number of registered voters they represent in the district. Clackamas County has the highest number of votes to cast (69), followed by Hood River.

Hood River has 16,809 registered voters, so our number of votes is 16,809 divided by 1000, to give us 16.8 votes, rounded up to 17.

I think (not sure!) that the nominee that receives 55 or more votes will become the State Senator for the district.

10/21/2025

Industrial Land Use Permit: HR County

The HR County planning department has a land use application from Grant Goldman of Dallesport (WA). He's applied for an industrial land use permit to construct a warehouse & distribution center building (about 48,960 square feet) .

Property is north of Hwy 35 and SE of Neal Creek Mill Road. Properties are zoned M-1 (light industrial) and are owned by the Port of Hood River (per current county web map data).

See photo for when any comments (for or opposed) are due.

A search of the applicant shows that it's likely a privately-held real estate investment company called Ambrose Property Group (https://ambrosepg.com/who-we-are/), based in Indianapolis.

10/20/2025

Port of Hood River – Updates to Port Property Ordinances

The Tuesday, October 21st Port of Hood River meeting will present a draft ordinance updating rules governing the use of Port facilities. Link to updated ordinance:https://www.portofhoodriver.com/files/b4c0fd46f/2025.10.21.Packet.RegularSession.Reduced.pdf (start at page 171)

If you use the Port’s properties, you may want to read the proposed ordinance and decide if you want to weigh in with any comments or concerns. Depending on what suggestions Port Commissioners have on Tuesday (or public comments), the ordinance will get a “first reading” on November 18th and could be adopted by the end of the year.

Meeting can be watched live: View the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com//streams

You can sign up for public comments or send them to the port to [email protected]

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

"Port Property" means all real property in Hood River County, Oregon owned or controlled by the Port, and the Interstate Bridge.

"Port Recreational Property" means the following areas: Event Site; Hook; Marina Beach; Marina Boat Basin Area; Marina Green; Marina Park; Nichols Basin; and Spit.

A few things that caught my eye among the changes called out in the legal counsel’s note:

The ordinance revisions will:
(1) clarify that fishing on Port property, except where expressly permitted by a sign, is prohibited,
(2) clarifythat cleaning or disposing of animals (including fish) on Port property is prohibited

It will also define what is meant by “𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻” 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀:
"Exclusion" means a citation and order issued by a peace officer restricting a person from coming onto specified Port Property for a duration of time due to violation of laws or Port ordinances.

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟭 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴:
SECTION 11. Hunting. No person shall discharge fi****ms, hunt, fish, or attempt to trap or injure an animal on Port Property, or otherwise clean, dismember, or dispose of animals or animal parts on Port Property.

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟯: 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 ...𝗙𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲s

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟰: 𝗞𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴
SECTION 14. Kiteboarding. (1) Location Restrictions: People shall only launch or operate a kite, kiteboard or training kite from the Marina Green, Marina Beach and where permitted by an Official Sign. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no person shall launch or operate a kite, kiteboard or training kite when prohibited by an Official Sign.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 under Section 23 (which is entirely new):

SECTION 23. Additional Regulations. The executive director is authorized to make such reasonable rules and regulations not inconsistent with this and other Port ordinances and the policies of the Board as herein enunciated, as may be necessary for the control and management of the Port Properties. All such rules and regulations shall be set forth in writing, shall be posted in conspicuous places in the areas affected thereby or on the Port’s website, for the guidance of the general public and individual users. When adopted, one copy of each set of rules and regulations shall be kept and maintained in a file for that purpose. An official sign may serve as additional Port Property regulations, if so approved by the executive director.

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟳: 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲
(1) In addition to other measures provided for violation of this ordinance, any peace officer may exclude from specific Port Property any person who violates any provision of this ordinance, any of the laws of the State of Oregon, or any rule or regulation issued by the Port.
(2) Exclusion under this section may be for a period of not more than 90 days and may apply to all Port Property, excluding public rights-of-way, the footbridge, and Port sidewalks leading up to the footbridge. The exclusion period will not begin until the 11th business day after the issuance of the exclusion or until a duly filed appeal is decided under this ordinance, whichever date is later, to allow for due process.
(3) A person excluded pursuant to this ordinance may not enter or remain upon that Port Property during the exclusion period, except to the extent necessary to appeal the exclusion, attend the appeal hearing, and conduct Bridge Toll business at the Port offices. A person who knowingly violates an order of exclusion from Port Property commits the crime of criminal trespass.

There are other parts to that section, which you can see in the full document.

10/19/2025

Hood River County Commissioners & Port of Hood River have meetings coming up (week of October 20)

10/19/2025

Meetings the week of October 20:

𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬: 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆
Work session @ 4:45pm
• Update from the East Fork Irrigation District, re culvert & Bridge replacement on Fir Mountain Road
• Timothy Wear interviews for the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council
• Columbia River Gorge Commission Update: Michael Mills & others provide an overview. NOTE: APPLICATIONS DUE BY OCTOBER 22
• Quarterly reports from the Community Development Dept (land use, building applications, code compliance, etc) and AR&E (Assessment, Records, Elections)

Regular Meeting @ 6pm
• 2nd reading of the Ordinance to amend the floodplain zone to comply with FEMA requirements
• Public hearing on legalizing the Evans Creek Road
• County Administrator reports
o Mentions a concern that Commissioner Babitz had about the status of the Post Canyon Road legalization
o Department reports
 Sheriff’s Department will mention state funding cuts to Parole & Probation and Marine Patrol (see photos for reports)

𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟭: 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝟱𝗽𝗺
Meeting packet link:https://www.portofhoodriver.com/files/b4c0fd46f/2025.10.21.Packet.RegularSession.Reduced.pdf

Among items on the agenda:
• Financial report: Bridge traffic up 2% from August 2024; still waiting for reimbursement for the June 27, 2024 report. Also, $1.26 million budgeted in this fiscal year for major bridge maintenance.
• Waterfront Parking Plan: fees, passes, fines
• Discussion of confusing signs & toll payment info on the bridge (see page 185-188 in the packet)
• It looks like the question of how the Port is reimbursed for the property that will be used by the HRWS Bridge Authority for the south exit of the bridge remains unresolved as both parties wait for the official property valuations and discussion on reimbursements.
• “State agencies have been directed to prepare 5% reduction plans across General, Lottery, and Other Funds, with cuts likely to be considered during the 2026 legislative session. Because access to Oregon’s 189$3 billion in reserve funds requires supermajority approval and economic triggers, the Legislature may instead weigh spending cuts, revenue increases, or partial decoupling from federal tax definitions to ease the impact. For ports, this signals a tight funding environment, limited appetite for new or expanded programs, and heightened competition for state dollars until revenues stabilize.” (from the Executive Director report)
• Parking revenue up 15% compared to last summer; parking lot project should be done by November 15

10/19/2025

What Happened in September with Hood River’s Planning Commission? You can watch the video or read the notes here!

Background: In December 2024, the City Council made two mistakes when appointing Tina McNerthney to a vacancy on the Planning Commission. City staff forgot about state and city laws that limited the number of real estate industry members on a Planning Commission. And when asked by the Mayor if he could just appoint Tina to the opening, he was told that her appointment was a “Mayoral appointment with Council support.”

It was surprising that people involved in multiple Planning Commission appointments by the City Council over the years forgot the usual procedures, but maybe it was part of the pre-holiday rush of things to get done?

By August 2025, the Marriott Hotel proposal with its hundreds of pages of drawings, planning staff review, etc prompted me to look at who the current Planning Commission members were, and then to send the City Council and staff an email describing the two mistakes. I asked them to correct the mistakes. I also pointed out that the way the city lists its Planning Commission member names and terms makes it very difficult for people to know when terms begin or end, causing more confusion when there are vacancies.

September 2025 Updates
The September 8th Council meeting:
· Voted to remove Tina from her role because her profession put the number of real estate industry members at 3 (Bill Irving and Bonifacio Romero both work in real estate).
· Voted to adopt the new Oregon state rules (effective January 1, 2026) that would remove the limit on real estate professionals serving on a Planning Commission.

Then the meeting got ... “interesting.” The question was whether to reappoint Tina immediately, but hold open a vacancy on the Planning Commission for her until January when she could serve again, OR to leave the spot open now to be filled by other candidates.

Councilors Mitchell and Stepina felt that Tina’s willingness to serve and the fact that the Council had mistakenly appointed her in December were factors in wanting to reappoint her immediately, to be fair to her.

Councilors Cavaleri and Polson argued that policy should be made based on principle, not personalities, and that filling the vacancy by following what Polson called due ‘order and process’ was a better outcome.

Final vote on the motion to reappoint: Mitchell, Stepina, and Blackburn voted in favor of reappointing Tina. Councilors Rivera, Cavaleri, and Polson voted against.

Councilor Goeke asked if she “had to vote.” Some would say voting on tough issues after weighing them is one of a council member’s responsibilities. After Mayor Blackburn confirmed she had to vote, she described being torn and seeing both sides and not knowing what to do. The mayor called that an “abstention.”

The motion to reappoint Tina failed with a vote of 3 to 3, and 1 abstention.

Councilor Cavaleri then moved to have Planning Staff work to bring additional candidates in for interviews and consideration.

Then Councilor Goeke spoke up asking if she could do a “weird add-on” to the motion, which was basically a suggestion that if there was still a vacancy on January 1 the Council reappoint Tina. Essentially, she wanted to do exactly what she had just abstained from doing minutes earlier – reappointing Tina in September to a January vacancy.

Councilor Mitchell pointed out that “We’re not reappointing her tonight because that motion failed.” He repeated the statement when Councilor Goeke seemed confused. The motion failed at that point for lack of a second, and staff was directed to look for other candidates.

Where did that leave things? By the next council meeting, 3 other candidates had applied and 2 (who were not in the real estate profession) were interviewed and approved by the Council. Mike Kitts and Matthew Pope joined the Planning Commission, with terms beginning in October.
�MariRuth Petzing did not reapply to retain her role on the Planning Commission, so one vacancy remains open. Applications continue to be accepted.

The City accepted my suggestion to list Planning Commissioner term expiration dates to remove the confusion about terms lengths and expirations, something that has tripped up both Planning Commission members and City Council for years.

I’d also suggested adopting term limits, as other Oregon cities have done, but we’ll have to see where that goes.

And for those keeping score, here is how often members of the Planning Commission met in 2023, 2024, and year to date in 2025:

2023: 8 times
2024: 5 times
2025: 4 times