Significant City Council Actions October 3, 2024
Motion: Councilor Hollett moved to approve $2,000 in RTMP Funding to Ridgeline Magazine. Councilor Kinyon seconded the motion. Vote: Mayor Cutchen (aye), Brewer (aye), Tarman (aye), Hollett (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Kinyon (aye). Motion passed 6-0.
Motion: Mayor Cutchen moved to dissolve the Charter Review Committee. Councilor Kinyon seconded the motion. Vote: Tarman (aye}, Kinyon (aye}, Mayor Cutchen (aye}, Brewer (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Hollett (aye). Motion passed 6-0.
Comment: With the passage of Measure 20-363, the proposed new city charter, the need for this committee has passed. Another committee would be stood up when any further revisions are necessary.
Motion: Mayor Cutchen moved to permit the city staff to apply for the Brownsfield and Community Forest Grants. Councilor Brewer seconded the motion. Vote: Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (aye), Hollett (aye), Brewer (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Tarman (aye). Motion passed 6-0.
Motion: Councilor Tarman moved to approve the City Administrator to write a letter of Interest for a potential community forest. Councilor Brewer seconded the motion. Vote: Bjarnson (aye), Tarman (aye), Brewer (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (aye), Hollett (aye). Motion passed 6-0.
October 17, 2024
Motion: Councilor Brewer moved to allow the CA to sign the contract with Restorical Research. Councilor Tarman seconded the motion. Vote: Coker (aye), Brewer (aye), Tarman (aye), Hollett (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Kinyen (aye). Motion passed 6-0.
Comment: Restorical Research will investigate past insurance policies the city had in place during times when pollution may have occurred and determine if the city has an ability to make a claim. Sites would included TV Butte, Osprey Park, the Willamette Activity Center and the Oakridge Industrial Park.
Reflecting on the Election: A Message to Our Community
With the election results finalized, I am thrilled to congratulate our four newly elected councilors—Marty Scott, Thaddeus Carter, Kelly Brewer, and Aaron Davis—on their first-time victories. These councilors-elect bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the table, and I am eager to welcome them to the city council when they take their seats on January 2nd. Together, we will tackle the challenges facing our city and continue building a brighter future for our community.
To our outgoing councilors, Dawn Kinyon, Melissa Bjarnson, and Christina Hollett, thank you for your unwavering dedication and service. Your hard work and commitment have left an impact on our city, which will not be soon forgotten.
I also want to extend my gratitude to everyone who ran for office. Public service is no small undertaking, and campaigning requires significant time, energy, and resilience. Your willingness to step forward and advocate for our community is commendable.
In addition to the council races, voters weighed in on two important ballot measures. The proposal for a new city charter received overwhelming support, signaling the community’s readiness for a more modern framework to guide our city’s governance. However, the measure to pilot 5-Star Voting was defeated by an 8% margin. Despite the city’s efforts to inform residents through multiple sessions, voters were not convinced to adopt this new voting method, which has yet to be implemented in any city across the United States.
As we move forward, I encourage everyone to remain engaged in our democratic process. Your voice is vital in shaping the future of our city, and I look forward to collaborating with all members of our community in the years to come.
Thank you for your participation and commitment to making our city a better place for all.
Sustainable City Year Program
The City of Oakridge has been selected by the University of Oregon’s Sustainable City Year Program (SCYP) for a two-year partnership. SCYP will match resources from existing university courses to high priority projects identified by the City Council and the Oakridge community. These projects include:
1. Oakridge Industrial Park Development – aid in marketing lots in the OIP, research targeted industrial sectors, and research alternative energy sources including micro-hydro, geothermal, and biomass.
2. Housing Development – aid in land use planning and research housing development strategies.
3. Urban Renewal & TIF – aid in researching urban renewal best practices and determine if a TIF would be viable in Oakridge.
4. Willamette Activities Center Redevelopment – aid in planning, development, and community outreach for the WAC.
5. Website development – aid in improving the city website to build trust with the community, promote tourism, and attract new residents to Oakridge.
6. Capital Improvement Planning – aid in planning for water, sewer, and streets, parks, and other infra structure and capital improvement projects, including identifying possible funding sources.
7. Community Service Program for Oakridge Municipal Court. 8. GIS Development Identify best open source low-cost GIS products for small cities. SCYP courses to address these project ideas could include business, journalism, geography, planning, design, and public administration with more disciplines added throughout the year as project and course matches are made.
Upcoming Events
Nov 19-Planning Commission 7pm
Nov 20-Admin Committee 6pm
Nov 21-City Council 6pm-Library Winter Film Festival 6pm
Nov 26-Public Safety Advisory Committee 6pm
Dec 2 WAC Subcommittee 5:30pm
Dec 5-City Council 6pm-Library Winter Film Festival 6pm
Dec 6 -First Friday Art Walk 5pm
Dec 7 OFD Breakfast with Santa 8am-Sugar Plum Festival 9am-Yard Debris Disposal 12pm-Westfir Bridge Lighting 6pm
Dec 8-Sugar Plum Festival 10am
Dec 9-Parks & Comm. Svcs 5:30pm
Dec 11-OEDAC 5pm
Dec 12-Library Winter Film Festival 6pm
Dec 14-Holiday Light Parade 5pm
Oakridge Airport Project
The Oregon Department of Aviation was selected by the Connect Oregon initiative to receive a $1.7M grant to help fund a runway rehabilitation. The runway had only 1-2 years of useful service life left, so this funding is critical in keeping the airport open.
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
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