MAYOR NEWSLETTER: August 2024

Significant City Council Actions

August 1, 2024

Motion: Councilor Brewer moved to deny the partial refund request by the Sasquatch Duro bike race and the Oregon 200 running race but will waive 50% of their reservation fees for next year. Councilor Kinyon seconded the motion. Vote: Mayor Cutchen (nay), Brewer (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Tarman (aye), Hollett (aye), Kinyon (aye). Motion passed 5-1.

Comment: This event was forced to cancel due to wildfires and forest closure. These events return each year, bringing revenue to the city. To deny a partial refund for events beyond their control does not promote a
positive business environment.

Motion: Councilor Brewer moved to approve sending the proposed new City Charter to the City Attorney for final review and creation of a Ballot Title. Councilor Kinyon seconded the motion. Vote: Mayor Cutchen (nay), Bjarnson (aye), Hollett (aye), Brewer (aye), Tarman (aye), Kinyon (aye). Motion passed 5-1.

Comment: I opposed this proposed charter because it contained redundant guidance already covered by state law and by local ordinance. Specifically, item 11.2, “Approving or rejecting a recently passed ordinance”. This is already covered under the Oregon Secretary of State referendum manual. Additionally, item 7.2 concerning the nomination and appointment of committee members is already contained in the City of Oakridge Ordinance 930, “Council Rules of Procedure”. Both items depart from the authoritative League of Oregon Cities Model Charter guidance and are simply an emotional reaction to controversial issues which arose while the council was conducting city business. The city charter is not the place for extraneous or repetitive information.

Motion: Mayor Cutchen moved to direct the City Administrator to submit all employment contracts which exceed the guidelines contained in the employee handbook to the city council for review and approval before being finalized. This would include but is not limited to; pay which falls outside the pay table for the position; inclusion of severance pay; and differing accrual rates for sick and paid time OT. Councilor Tarman seconded the motion. Vote: Mayor Cutchen (aye), Brewer (aye), Tarman (aye), Hollett (nay), Bjarnson (nay), Kinyon (nay). Motion failed 3-3.

*Comment: I made this motion because the Charter Review Subcommittee chose not to include language I
proposed for the charter which would have given the city council oversight of employment contracts which
exceed the guidance contained in local ordinance. This significant omission has resulted in several overly
generous employment contracts being executed over the past years which have or will cost the city thousands
of dollars.

Motion: Councilor Tarman moved to approve and adopt Resolution 19-2024, referring a STAR Voting Ordinance to voters in November, after a 2nd reading by title only. Councilor Brewer seconded the motion. Vote: Tarman (aye), Brewer (aye), Kinyon (aye), Hollett (aye), Mayor Cutchen (nay), Bjarnson (aye). Motion passed 5-1.

*Comment: I opposed the motion for two reasons: 1) The Charter Review Subcommittee was responsible for
bringing this proposed ballot measure forward. This greatly exceeded the scope of what they were asked to do,
which is review the charter and recommend changes. This was brought forward by a small group of individuals
who became enamored with this new voting system and the idea of Oakridge becoming the first and only
municipality in the nation to implement STAR voting. This ballot measure should have been brought forward by a
citizen petition which would have demonstrated a significant percentage of the population was interested in
changing our voting system, not a small subcommittee. 2) STAR voting would have had limited impact on recent
local elections. This is simply an eTort by the Equal Vote Coalition special interest group to get the system
adopted by one municipality to get a “foot in the door” to serve as an example for future eTorts.

August 15, 2024

Motion: Councilor Tarman moved to approve awarding the contract for Kokanee Drive sanitary sewer system
improvements project to River Bend Construction, allow the CA to sign the contract and direct staff to prepare a
supplemental budget to use OIP funds to pay for it. Councilor Brewer seconded the motion. Vote: Mayor Cutchen
(aye), Brewer (aye), Tarman (aye), Hollett (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Kinyon (aye). Motion passed 6-0.

Motion: Councilor Tarman moved to accept the $500,000 in grant funding from the USDA for Willamette Activity
Center and authorize the City Administrator James Cleavenger to act on the city’s behalf to sign and submit all
paperwork, etc. in order for the city to receive the funds. Councilor Hollett seconded the motion. Vote: Bjarnson (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Hollett (aye), Tarman (aye), Kinyon (aye), Brewer (aye). Motion passed 6-0.

Motion: Councilor Brewer moved to direct the CA to join the application process for the grant for the EV Chargers. Councilor Hollett seconded the motion. Vote: Brewer (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Hollett (aye), Kinyon (aye), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye). Motion passed 6-0.

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

Willamette Activity Center Grant

The WAC just received a grant for approximately $332,500 to install solar panels on the roof when it is renovated.
The project will also include onsite battery storage and EV charging stations.

To date, through the efforts of city staff, city committee members, non-profit South Willamette Solutions, and city
consultants the grant funding for the WAC includes:
-A $40,000 Oregon Community Foundation grant.
-A $1,500.000 grant from the State of Oregon.
-A $30,000 Oregon Department of Energy Planning grant.
-A $500,000 Congressionally directed spending USDA grant.
-As mentioned above, an Oregon Department of Energy grant of $322,500 for solar and paired storage installation.
-Lane County Community Resilience grant for approximately $2,800.000.

This funding exceeds $5M to renovate this critical resource to our community.
The initial work will begin later this fall
and take 2 years to complete. Please
check in on the city webpage for
updates.
Upcoming Meetings
Town Hall Mtg STAR Voting – 10/2 6pm
City Council – 10/3 6pm
WAC Subcommittee – 10/7 5:30pm
OEDAC – 10/09 5pm
City Council Candidates – 10/9 6pm
Parks & CS Comm. – 10/14 5:30pm
Planning Comm. – 10/15 7pm
Admin Comm. – 10/16 6pm
City Council – 10/17 6pm
Town Hall Meeting – 10/21 6pm
Public Safety Committee – 10/22 6pm
Audit Comm – 10/28 5pm