MAYOR NEWSLETTER

Significant City Council Actions

September 7, 2023 – Regular Session

Vacant City Council Appointment: Candidates – Damion Brewer, Kelly Brewer, Trudy Hammond, Lynda Kamerrer, Paul Scott and Chris Winchester.  Vote 1^st Round: Mayor Cutchen and Councilor Tarman voted for Lynda Kamerrer.  Councilor Kinyon voted for Trudy Hammond.  Councilor Coker, Councilor Bjarnson, and Councilor Hollett voted for Kelly Brewer.  The top 2 candidates moved on to the 2^nd round of voting. Vote 2^nd Round: Mayor Cutchen and Councilor Tarman voted for Lynda Kamerrer. Councilor Kinyon, Councilor Coker, Councilor Bjarnson and Councilor Hollett voted for Kelly Brewer.

Motion:  Councilor Kinyon moved to approve awarding the WAC Solar feasibility study to the Oregon Clean Power Cooperative.  Councilor Tarman seconded the motion. Vote: Coker (aye), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Brewer (aye), Hollett (aye), Kinyon (aye), Bjarnson (aye).  Motion passed 7-0

Motion:  Councilor Tarman moved to reduce the annual fee for non- residents to $20 effective immediately.  Councilor Brewer seconded the motion. Vote: Coker (aye), Brewer (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Hollett (aye), Tarman (aye), Kinyon (nay), Mayor Cutchen (aye). Motion passed 6-1

 Motion:  Councilor Tarman moved to declare 11 city owned vehicles listed above as surplus and all proceeds go to the police department. Councilor Coker seconded the motion.  Vote: Hollett (aye), Brewer (aye), Tarman (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Kinyon (aye), Coker (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye).  Motion passed 7-0

Motion:  Councilor Kinyon moved to request that the Oakridge Municipal Court begin publishing the court docket at least one week before the court date.  Councilor Tarman seconded the motion. Vote: Bjarnson (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Brewer (aye), Coker (aye), Kinyon (aye), Tarman (aye), Hollett (aye).  Motion passed 7-0

Motion:  Councilor Kinyon moved to approve the changes to the Oakridge City Council Rules of Procedure agreed upon during the July 13^th City Council work session and the August 3^rd City Council meeting and adopt the new 2023 version of the rules to replace the old 2020 rules and attachment A of Ordinance 930.  Councilor Hollett seconded the motion. Vote: Brewer (aye), Mayor Cutchen (nay), Tarman (nay), Coker (aye), Kinyon (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Hollett (aye).  Motion passed 5-2

Comment: I was opposed to this motion for two reasons; 1) it doesn’t support in-person attendance by city councilors at meetings; and 2) I believe the language allowing any city councilor to nominate committee members goes against the intent of the Charter, which says: “The mayor shall appoint the committees provided by rules of the council.”

Motion:  Councilor Kinyon moved to approve the expenditure for legal research by the city attorney into the issue of Administrative Warrants and Abatement ordinances.  Councilor Hollett seconded the motion. Vote: Kinyon (aye), Bjarnson aye), Coker (aye), Hollett (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Brewer (aye), Tarman (aye).  Motion passed 7-0

Comment: If the recommendations of the city attorney are incorporated into the city code, it will allow the city to enter properties violating the code and abate (remove) the item(s) causing the violation. The city could then place a lien on the property to recover the cost of the removal.  

Motion:  Councilor Kinyon moved to conduct an annual review of the three city council appointees (City Administrator, City Recorder, and Municipal Court Judge) by the end of the calendar year.  Councilor Hollett seconded the motion. Vote: Brewer (aye), Hollett (aye), Tarman (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Coker (aye), Mayor Cutchen (nay), Kinyon (aye).  Motion passed 6-1

Comment: I opposed this motion because the city recorder is already subject to an annual review by the city administrator.

 Motion:  Councilor Brewer moved to direct the CA to reject the offer for OIP lot 21.  Councilor Kinyon seconded the motion. Vote: Tarman (nay), Hollett (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Coker (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (aye), Brewer (aye).  Motion passed 6-1

 September 21, 2023 – Regular Session

Motion: Councilor Hollett moved to remove Jessica Atkins from the Library Board. Councilor Coker seconded the motion. Vote: Hollett (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye) Coker (aye), Brewer (aye). Motion passed 4-0.

Motion: Councilor Coker moved to approve the new IGA contract with LTD. Councilor Brewer seconded the motion. Vote: Mayor Cutchen (aye), Coker (aye), Brewer (aye), Hollett (aye). Motion passed 4-0.

Motion: Mayor Cutchen moved to approve the letter of support for the City of Oakridge Technical Assistance Application for an economic opportunities analysis from the Department of Lands Conservation and Development and request signing by the Mayor. Councilor Hollett seconded the motion. Vote: Coker (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Brewer (aye), Hollett (aye). Motion passed 4-0.

Motion: Councilor Coker moved to approve the contract with Cascade Collections. Councilor Brewer seconded the motion. Vote: Brewer (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Coker (aye), Hollett (aye). Motion passed 4-0.

Motion: Councilor Brewer moved to approve a reduced fee of $40 for up to three rentals for the Greenwaters Park Community building for the Boy Scouts. Councilor Coker seconded the motion. Vote: Coker (aye), Brewer (aye), Mayor Cutchen (nay), Hollett (aye). Motion failed 3-1.

Comment: With only four members of city council in attendance, a single no vote caused the fee waiver motion to fail. As stated in previous newsletters, the city is not in a financial position to give reduced or complete fee waivers.

 Motion: Councilor Brewer moved to charge $40 per day rental fees for the Dogs of Valor programs at Greenwaters Park on October 26 and /or December 1-3. Councilor Coker seconded the motion. Vote: Coker (aye), Hollett (aye), Mayor Cutchen (nay), Brewer (aye). Motion failed 3-1.

Motion: Councilor Hollett moved to waive all fees for the Dog of Valor programs at Greenwaters Park on October 26 and /or December 1-3. Councilor Coker seconded the motion. Vote: Mayor Cutchen (nay), Brewer (aye), Coker (aye), Hollett (aye). Motion failed 3-1.

Motion: Councilor Coker moved to allow the CA to sign the new Community Firewood program contract. Councilor Brewer seconded the motion. Vote: Mayor Cutchen (aye), Hollett (aye) Brewer (aye), Coker (aye). Motion passed 4-0.

Motion: Councilor Brewer moved to have the City Holiday Party and Awards Ceremony with the Oakridge/Westfir Chamber of Commerce on December 16, 2023 at Bowling Alley. Councilor Hollett seconded the motion. Vote: Brewer (aye), Hollett (aye), Coker (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye). Motion passed 4-0.

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Prescribed Burning

USFS will be conducting prescribed pile burning along the 24 road this month.

Cherry Street Project

Construction is underway repaving and improving stormwater management on Cherry Street. This was made possible through a $250,000 Oregon Dept of Transportation grant called the Small City Allotment.

Free Firewise Work

Residents of Oakridge and Westfir can get free landscaping and yard work done that makes their homes safer from a wildfire. This is available to residents who are elderly, have a physical disability or reduced income. Call Oakridge Air at 541-782-3422 ext. 2.

 Upcoming Meetings

Planning Comm. – 10/17  7pm

Admin Comm. – 10/18 6pm

City Council – 10/19

Audit Comm – 10/23 5pm

Public Safety – 10/24 6pm

WAC Funding Comm – 10/26 2pm

Charter Review Comm – 10/26 6pm

City Council – 11/2 6pm

WAC Advisor Comm – 11/6 5:30pm

RTMP/TRT Comm – 11/7 7pm

OEDAC – 11/8 5pm

Charter Review Comm – 11/9 6pm

Parks & CS Comm – 11/13 5:30pm

Library Board – 11/14 5:15pm