City of Madras

The meeting included a legislative public hearing regarding the comprehensive plan goal 10 Housing Capacity Analysis Amendment. Staff and a consultant from Echo Northwest presented details on the housing capacity analysis, which evaluates the city's housing growth expectations, buildable land availability, and needed policies. Discussions covered housing affordability, cost-burdened households, and the city's housing development pipeline, including new income-restricted projects. The staff also addressed the city's public outreach efforts and current strategies for supporting housing development.

The meeting featured a presentation of the audit for the fiscal year ending June 2022, confirming an unmodified financial report. Discussions also covered a proposed resolution to establish an urban renewal advisory committee, with commissioners expressing differing views on the necessity of adding another layer of governance versus forming a task force or allocating more time for detailed review during existing meetings. The commission ultimately decided to table the discussion for a future meeting. Additionally, the commission approved an extension of the MURA line of credit.

The meeting included a presentation from a recruitment consultant regarding the ongoing search for a new city administrator, outlining outreach efforts, applicant statistics, and screening timelines. The council discussed scheduling adjustments for an executive work session to review applications. Additionally, a public hearing was conducted regarding a supplemental budget resolution, which proposes transferring funds from the Personnel Services category to Materials and Services to hire temporary administrative support for the police department.

The meeting included a quasi-judicial public hearing regarding a conditional use and site plan review request for outdoor RV storage. The Commission addressed procedural matters involving ex-parte contacts and conflict of interest disclosures, resulting in the recusal of a commissioner from the proceedings to maintain impartiality. Staff provided an extensive overview of industrial land supply, historical comprehensive plan updates, and zoning regulations, specifically regarding the annexation process and mixed-use employment land designations within the urban growth boundary.

The council convened to appoint a City Administrator Pro Tem, resulting in the appointment of Mayor Mike Lepine to the position effective immediately. Discussions focused on the search process for an interim City Administrator, including the review of applications and the potential use of Zoom for interviews. The council also deliberated on the timeline for these actions and the possibility of scheduling future special meetings to finalize the interim employment contract once a candidate is vetted.