Mayor Newsletter

Significant City Council Actions

April 6, 2023 – Regular Session

Motion: Councilor Coker moved to approve the Moose Lodge’s Social Gambling Certification and to waive the $75 fee. Councilor

Hollett seconded the motion. Vote: Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (nay), Coker (aye), Kinyon (aye), Hooker (aye), Hollett (aye). Motion passed 5-1

*Comment: I was not opposed to allowing Bingo at the Moose Lodge but did disagree with the fee waiver.

Motion: Councilor Tarman moved to direct the CA to cancel the MOU contract with RAIN for fiscal year 2023-2024. Mayor Cutchen seconded the motion. Vote: Hooker (nay), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Tarman (aye), Coker (nay), Kinyon (nay), Hollett (nay). Motion failed 2-4

Motion: Councilor Hooker moved to approve the letter of support for the RISE Grant application. Councilor Tarman seconded the motion. Vote: Coker (aye), Hooker (aye), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (aye), Hollett (aye). Motion passed 6-0.

Motion: Councilor Tarman moved that we approve the staff selected art and locations for the Storm Drain and Crosswalk Art Project. Vote: Kinyon (aye), Coker (aye), Hollett (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Hooker (aye), Tarman (aye). Motion passed 6-0

Motion: Councilor Tarman moved to approve $2500 in RTMP funds for the 2022 Tree Planting Festival.
Councilor Coker seconded the motion. Motion Amendment: Councilor Kinyon moved to change the amount from $2500 to $1000 in the original motion. Councilor Hollett seconded the motion. Amendment Vote: Hooker (aye), Tarman (aye), Hollett (aye), Coker (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (aye). Motion passed 6-0. Vote on the original motion: Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (aye), Hollett (aye), Tarman (aye), Coker (aye), Hooker (aye). Motion passed 6-0 Motion: Councilor Tarman moved to approve Go Beyond Racing’s alcohol permit. Councilor Hollett seconded the motion. Vote: Hooker (aye), Hollett(aye), Tarman (aye), Coker (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye),vKinyon (aye). Motion passed 6-0

Motion: Councilor Tarman moved that we approve the May 6th Street closures on 1st Street and Commercial Street for the tree Planting Festival Parade and to approve $1000 in RTMP Funding to the Tree Planting Festival Committee. Councilor Kinyon seconded the motion. Vote: Hollett (aye), Coker (aye), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (aye), Hooker (aye). Motion passed 6-0.

Motion: Councilor Kinyon moved to allow the CA to sign change order #3 for the $12,000 in extra costs incurred during the Well #2 refurbishment project. Councilor Coker seconded the motion. Vote: Hooker (aye), Coker (aye), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Hollett (aye), Kinyon (aye). Motion passed 6-0.

Motion: Councilor Kinyon moved we approve $300 in RTMP funds and the rental fee waiver request for the Moose Lodge’s Easter Egg Hunt at Greenwaters Park this weekend. Councilor Coker seconded the motion. Vote: Hollett (aye), Coker (aye), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (nay), Kinyon (aye), Hooker (aye). Motion passed 5-1

Comment: Another fee waiver.

Motion: Councilor Kinyon moved to approve the general terms of the new draft IGA with Junction City for dispatch services and to allow the City Administrator to finish negotiating the final version of the IGA before bringing it back to Council for final approval. Vote: Hooker (aye), Coker (aye), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (aye), Hollett (aye). Motion passed 6-0

Motion: Councilor Tarman moved to approve the 1st reading of version 2 of the revised OEDAC Resolution 03-2023. Councilor Hollett seconded the motion. Vote: Hooker (aye), Coker (aye), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (aye), Hollett (aye). Motion passed 6-0

Motion: Councilor Kinyon moved to approve the 1st reading of Resolution 05-2023 Surplus Properties. Councilor Coker seconded the motion. Vote: Kinyon (aye), Coker (aye), Tarman (aye), Hollett (aye), Hooker (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye). Motion passed 6-0

Motion: Councilor Tarman moved to approve the 1st reading of Resolution 07-2023 establishing the purpose and future uses of the WAC. Councilor Hollett seconded the motion. Vote: Kinyon (aye), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Coker (aye), Hollett (aye), Hooker (aye). Motion passed 6-0

Comment: This resolution demonstrates the city’s commitment to the WAC renovation and its primary use as a social services center. It will allow the WAC Funding Committee to pursue additional grants to funding to complete the project.

By unanimous vote, the following committee actions were taken:

• Appointed Meagan Metcalf to seat 3 of the RTMP/TRT Committee for a term expiring in December 2025.
• Appointed Cyma Lovell-Beers to seat 2 of the Admin committee for a term expiring in 12/25 and to seat 4 of the Budget Committee for a term expiring in 12/25.

April 20, 2023 – Regular Session

Motion: Councilor Kinyon moved to approve the Greenwaters Park fee waiver for the 4th of July Fireworks. Councilor Hooker seconded the motion. Vote: Bjarnson (aye), Mayor Cutchen (nay), Coker (aye), Kinyon (aye), Tarman (aye), Hooker (aye), Hollett (aye). Motion passed 6-1

Comment: Yet another fee waiver. Your city council has yet to find a fee they would not waive.

Motion: Councilor Hooker moved to approve the Greenwaters Park fee waiver request for the 2023 Wildfire Safety Night. Councilor Coker seconded the motion. Vote: Coker (aye), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (nay), Hooker (aye), Hollett (aye), Kinyon (aye), Bjarnson (aye). Motion passed 6-1

Motion: Councilor Tarman moved to approve the terms of the Police & Fire/EMS services IGA Contracts with the City of Westfir for fiscal year 2023-2024. Councilor Kinyon seconded the motion. Vote: Hooker (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Tarman (aye), Coker (aye), Kinyon (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Hollett (aye). Motion passed 7-0

Motion: Councilor Hooker moved to approve the waiving of $2,500 of the $5,000 Greenwaters Park rental fee for the 2023 Go Beyond Racing “Oregon 200” race. Councilor Hollett seconded the motion. Vote: Coker (aye), Hooker (aye), Kinyon (aye), Mayor Cutchen (nay), Hollett (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Tarman (nay). Motion passed 5-2.

Motion: Councilor Tarman moved to allow golf carts to be driven from the Circle Bar Golf Club to Oakridge High School on May 6th for the Tree Planting Festival Parade. Councilor Coker seconded the motion. Vote: Kinyon (aye) Bjarnson (aye), Coker (aye), Hollett (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Hooker (aye), Tarman (aye). Motion passed 7-0

Motion: Councilor Hooker moved to approve and adopt Resolution 03-2023 after the 2nd reading. Councilor Hollett seconded the motion. Vote: Bjarnson (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (aye), Hollett (aye), Tarman (aye), Coker (aye), Hooker (aye). Motion passed 7-0

Motion: Councilor Kinyon moved to approve and adopt Resolution 05-2023 after the 2nd reading and to do the 2nd reading by title only. Councilor Hooker seconded the motion. Vote: Hollett (aye), Hooker (aye), Tarman (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Kinyon (aye), Coker (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye). Motion passed 7-0

Motion: Councilor Kinyon moved to approve and adopt Resolution 07-2023 after the 2nd reading by title only. Councilor Tarman seconded the motion. Vote: Hooker (aye), Hollett (aye), Tarman (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Coker (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (aye). Motion passed 7-0

Motion: Councilor Hooker moved to approve Resolution 08-2023 a Resolution Authorizing application for Grant for Salmon Creek Trestle Bridge Restoration Feasibility Study. Councilor Kinyon seconded the motion. Vote: Hooker (aye), Tarman (aye), Hollett (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Coker (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (aye). Motion passed 7-0

Motion: Councilor Kinyon moved to approve the 2nd reading of Resolution 08-2023 a Resolution Authorizing application for Grant for Salmon Creek Trestle Bridge Restoration Feasibility Study by title only. Councilor Tarman seconded the motion. Vote: Hooker (aye), Coker (aye), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Hollett (aye). Motion passed 7-0

Motion: Councilor Kinyon moved to approve the 1st reading of Resolution 09-2023, declaring OIP Lot 24 as a surplus property. Councilor Hollett seconded the motion. Vote: Hollett (aye), Coker (aye), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Hooker (aye). Motion passed 7-0

By unanimous vote, the following committee actions were taken:

• Appointed Sarah Altemus-Pope to Seat 3 of the OEDAC for a term expiring in December 2025.
• Appointed James Winkleman to Seat 1 of the RTMP/TRT Committee for a term expiring in December 2025 and to Seat 1 of the Planning Commission for a term expiring in December 2026.
• Appointed Marietta Thompson to Seat 3 of the Public Safety Committee for a term expiring in December 2025. Council Appointment to the OEDAC – There was no motion.

 

* The official city position is determined by a majority vote on a motion. Comments reflects my opinion and the reasoning behind my opposition to the decision made, however I will support the majority decision.

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May is Wildfire Awareness Month

Please visit the Oregon State Fire Marshal website for tips on creating a defensible space around your home and how to harden you home, making it more fire resistant.

Oakridge Area Receives Grants for Firewise Activities

The city and a local nonprofit have received three grants from the Oregon State
Fire Marshal’s Office. These grants are targeted at creating defensible spaces on city and residential properties. In the coming months, resident will be able to sign up to request a contractor do Firewise type work at their homes. Please call (541) 782-3422 for more information.

Upcoming Meetings

Parks Committee – 5/8 5:30
Budget Committee- 5/9 7pm
Charter Review- 5/10 6pm
Yard Debris- 5/13 12-4pm
Budget Committee-5/15 7pm
OEDAC – 5/16 5pm
Planning Comm.-5/16 7pm
Admin Committee-5/22 6pm
City Council- 5/18 6pm
Audit Committee-5/22 5pm
Public Safety-5/23 6pm
Budget Committee-5/24 7pm