City of Umatilla

The City Council meeting included discussions on community recognition, including Citizen of the Year and Business of the Year awards, and the release of the Umatilla visitor and business guide. Key agenda items involved public commentary on several city matters: concerns regarding the mayor suing the city, a request for sidewalk continuation on Power Line Road for pedestrian safety, inquiries about mandatory park space allocation (20% of gross land area) for new developments on South Hill, and opposition to a proposal to convert tennis courts at McNary Park into pickleball courts while removing the playground. Staff provided updates on extensive construction projects, including roadwork on Power Line and Madison Streets, and street closures for the Business Center project. The council also began the first reading for Ordinance 876, which seeks to amend the public parks code to update regulations regarding alcohol sales/consumption at Umatilla Marina Park and Big River Golf Course, and to address golf cart and tobacco use exceptions at those locations. This ordinance follows a previous failed attempt (Ordinance 875) to pass similar updates using an emergency clause, which raised procedural concerns.

The City Council meeting commenced with roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance. Key discussions included the approval of the agenda (with the removal of item 9.3 due to an excused absence) and a brief City Manager report with no action on paid invoices. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Community Development Annual Report, covering application statistics (conditional use permits, subdivisions, replats, variances), administrative applications, housing growth (179 lots, 89 acres), and new industrial growth, including a data center project. Updates were provided on the Economic Opportunities Analysis and the revision of Chapter 9 of the comprehensive plan. Construction progress on the new business center was detailed, focusing on interior finishing, roof drainage redesign due to design issues, and IT/security integration, with a revised substantial completion date set for mid-to-late February 2026. The Parks department reported on logistics changes for seasonal activities, including moving the combined Breakfast with Santa, Christmas Tree Lighting, and ice skating rink to Kuana Park, with the kick-off event scheduled for December 6th. General announcements covered upcoming community events like Kids Bingo, the 'book bunch' library event, and a 'dump your junk' clean-up day on Saturday, excluding mattresses, tires, and hazardous waste. A public comment was heard from a resident regarding her investment in the community and her application for the Planning Commission.

The City Council meeting commenced with the approval of the agenda. City Manager Dave provided announcements regarding lost and found items from Landing Days and invited council members to a Municipal Fundamentals Training hosted by the League of Oregon Cities focusing on public meetings law and land use. The Police Chief presented the semiannual report, noting the department is fully staffed, reporting on seven use of force incidents without injuries, and highlighting significant specialized training completions for staff in areas like trauma-informed interviewing and human trafficking recognition. The Police Department also secured reaccreditation and held a successful golf tournament raising over $7,000 for scholarships. The Parks and Recreation report detailed ongoing golf course construction, high activity at the marina including passing both county health and Oregon State Marine Board inspections (scoring 97% for the clean marina program), and staff training in event management. A public resident addressed concerns regarding accessibility and restroom provisions for disabled persons during Landing Days. Another segment included community announcements from the Chamber of Commerce regarding business open houses and credit repair courses. A significant discussion point involved item 9.2 concerning the police station replacement project, with public comment urging for a community-based committee to address cost and involvement concerns before proceeding. The council also approved the consent agenda which included minutes from previous meetings and the adoption of the Hash Park Master Plan.

The City Council meeting commenced with a roll call and the pledge of allegiance. A significant agenda addition was a motion to create a resolution supporting a new police bond. Staff announcements introduced new personnel in Public Works and Parks, including an administrative assistant and a new Park and Recreation Coordinator. An update was provided by the Police Standing Committee regarding the installation of lights on 7th and 8th Streets, and plans to explore grant applications for residential lights and cameras, as well as reviewing franchise agreements with utility providers. Community members expressed concerns regarding the volume and speed of current city projects and spending, and requested the scheduling of regular town hall meetings for open question and answer sessions to foster better communication between council and citizens. Discussions also touched upon the need for the city to address community needs considering resident income levels.

The meeting began with establishing quorum and approving the minutes from the previous session. The primary focus was on New Business item 5.1, a public hearing regarding the Magnetos variance V-3-25, which requested moving a setback 10 ft instead of 20 ft to ensure a clear view of the driveway due to property location near Highway 730. Staff recommended approval, noting that the reduced setback did not pose a safety issue for emergency access. The commission unanimously approved the variance and closed the record after confirming no conflicts of interest. Following deliberation, the commission voted to approve the variance. The second major item, 5.2, involved a review and recommendation to the City Council concerning the 2025 Economic Opportunities Analysis (EOA) and proposed language updates for Chapter 9 (Economic Development) of the Comprehensive Plan. Consultants presented findings projecting significant job growth (nearly doubling employment to almost 6,000 jobs by 2045), driven largely by four known data center projects and associated indirect/induced employment, alongside household growth impacting retail demand. The discussion centered on translating this job growth into corresponding land needs for commercial and industrial uses.