Special Report:
Outcome of city council work session on raising revenue to meet coming shortfall
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, February 28, 2025
A list of possible city-owned land sales that potentially could help Independence meet a nearly $780,000 shortfall was whittled down from six parks to three during a city council work session Tuesday night.
Though the discussion wasn’t finalizing – no record of a consensus was requested – the councilors voiced tentative approval to consider selling the Sports Park, with an estimated value of $500,000; A stretch of open land known as Boise Park, with an estimated value of $500,000; And a segment of Henry Hill Park labeled “the pool property,” with an estimated value of $450,000.
The topic of city property sales followed a presentation by Museum Curator Amy Christensen and Library Director Patrick Bodily, in which they proffered a plan to combine both public-service resources. (See following article: Creative approach to joint library - museum operations.)
City Manager Kenna West had kicked off the meeting by saying options were being examined for the city's financial situation. West said all of the cost-saving that could be done in operations had been accomplished with staff consolidation and by other measures, such as outsourcing certain services, like landscaping.
Several councilors spoke strongly in favor of the library and museum remaining open.
"So, the next thing to look at is property and asset sales," West said, later cautioning that this would be "onetime" money.
In the wake of a levy this past November that was defeated by a majority of voters, one alternative suggested at the meeting was for fees to finance the library, park and museum to be added to water-sewer-stormwater bills. The idea generated no apparent support. Water bills should contain bills for water, stressed Councilor Bill Boisvert.
No public testimony was allowed, but a survey of residents is being undertaken to help set priorities – for both the city council and for this year’s budget committee, which is scheduled to begin this spring.
All three parks that remained on the list received attention as possible sites for different commercial uses.
The Sports Park, fields by the boat ramp, was suggested for development of sports competitions, with possible installations of more amenities to promote tournament use.
The defunct pool property, along 5th and I streets, was proposed as a place of interest for YMCA construction of new facilities. Boise Park, lots across Hoffman Road by the industrial area that includes former Marquis Spa offices, would likely appeal to builders due to the flat topography, said Shawn Irvine, the city’s economic development director.
To view the meeting in its entirety go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXh5VSd4JiQ&t=140s
(Note: Trammart News has submitted a public records request to the City Recorder to affirm that the land referred to as "Boise Park" isn't restricted for open green space. Previous City Manager Tom Pessemier, an engineer, had reported that a deed restriction required the lots remain open area.) ▪
Outcome of city council work session on raising revenue to meet coming shortfall
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, February 28, 2025
A list of possible city-owned land sales that potentially could help Independence meet a nearly $780,000 shortfall was whittled down from six parks to three during a city council work session Tuesday night.
Though the discussion wasn’t finalizing – no record of a consensus was requested – the councilors voiced tentative approval to consider selling the Sports Park, with an estimated value of $500,000; A stretch of open land known as Boise Park, with an estimated value of $500,000; And a segment of Henry Hill Park labeled “the pool property,” with an estimated value of $450,000.
The topic of city property sales followed a presentation by Museum Curator Amy Christensen and Library Director Patrick Bodily, in which they proffered a plan to combine both public-service resources. (See following article: Creative approach to joint library - museum operations.)
City Manager Kenna West had kicked off the meeting by saying options were being examined for the city's financial situation. West said all of the cost-saving that could be done in operations had been accomplished with staff consolidation and by other measures, such as outsourcing certain services, like landscaping.
Several councilors spoke strongly in favor of the library and museum remaining open.
"So, the next thing to look at is property and asset sales," West said, later cautioning that this would be "onetime" money.
In the wake of a levy this past November that was defeated by a majority of voters, one alternative suggested at the meeting was for fees to finance the library, park and museum to be added to water-sewer-stormwater bills. The idea generated no apparent support. Water bills should contain bills for water, stressed Councilor Bill Boisvert.
No public testimony was allowed, but a survey of residents is being undertaken to help set priorities – for both the city council and for this year’s budget committee, which is scheduled to begin this spring.
All three parks that remained on the list received attention as possible sites for different commercial uses.
The Sports Park, fields by the boat ramp, was suggested for development of sports competitions, with possible installations of more amenities to promote tournament use.
The defunct pool property, along 5th and I streets, was proposed as a place of interest for YMCA construction of new facilities. Boise Park, lots across Hoffman Road by the industrial area that includes former Marquis Spa offices, would likely appeal to builders due to the flat topography, said Shawn Irvine, the city’s economic development director.
To view the meeting in its entirety go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXh5VSd4JiQ&t=140s
(Note: Trammart News has submitted a public records request to the City Recorder to affirm that the land referred to as "Boise Park" isn't restricted for open green space. Previous City Manager Tom Pessemier, an engineer, had reported that a deed restriction required the lots remain open area.) ▪
Creative approach to joint library - museum operations
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, February 28, 2025
The city’s library director and museum curator presented a plan Tuesday night that would place the Heritage Museum within the Independence Library, potentially providing a way to save both as the city faces a $776,000 shortfall.
The proposal, though temporary until finances improve, “would allow us to still meet our mission and serve the community,” said Amy Christensen, the museum curator. The solution is “painful but doable,” affirmed Library Director Patrick Bodily.
The two appeared together to describe the concept during a work session of the City Council, which was held in the Independence Event Center and drew several residents, including members of the Museum Advisory Board and the Historic Preservation Commission.
The idea of shared space between the library and museum surfaced during a time when other community members have contacted Trammart News with funding ideas seemingly unexplored so far – and to reference a term that Bodily and Christensen didn’t use but seem to illustrate, GLAM.
A decade ago, the GLAM combination – Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums – was cited as a trend. In fact, the title of a 2017 publication about it – “The future looks GLAMorous: from resource sharing to collaboration and convergence” – forecast a growing opportunity for such cooperation. The article was by Kenn Bicknell, a digital resources scholar and librarian based in Los Angeles. He appears to have helped coin the phrase “GLAM partner.”
Such partnering is being done at Western Oregon University, for example. “Libraries and museums are very aligned in our missions, so it is a pairing that has happened before,” explained Camila Gabaldon when asked about GLAM. The pairing isn't always perfect, she noted.
“Many collections require slightly different care,” she observed – some collections can be handled, others cannot. “But the intent behind the services is ultimately the same,” to provide access to information and knowledge, to educate, and to create a space for discovery, said Gabaldon, systems/collection development librarian at WOU. In fact, the Oregon State Library at the Capitol currently features a gallery in the foyer that combines poetry, calligraphy and block prints (see sidebar below, GLAM at WOU, a lesson for other libraries?).
By using available space at the Independence Library – the front area, the back meeting room – exhibits could continue, along with the literary offerings at the site. “So, the history of Independence is still on display and people can still learn,” Bodily said. And, in this way, historical collections can be preserved until other circumstances, such as a planned library expansion, can be undertaken, Christensen suggested.
The building that now houses the museum, at the corner of C and 2nd streets, has an $85,000-a-year mortgage and a remaining debt of about $430,000, according to Independence Finance Director Rob Moody. However, the estimated sale price of $700,000 to $800,000 could mean several hundred thousand dollars in profit.
Additionally, if a commercial buyer is found, it would put the building back on the tax rolls, City Manager Kenna West pointed out.
Combining the library and museum would avoid “slashing completely” one or the other of these two, Bodily said – a feared outcome as a fiscal cliff looms.
No official action was taken at the session Tuesday night, but the proposal appeared to be met with general approval, as several council-member heads nodded during the presentation. A final decision is expected to be made over the next few months, after one or more town forums on the issue and completion of a city-wide survey.
If the plan goes forward, rotating exhibits and visiting collections could also be displayed at spaces in the Independence Civic Center, including the foyer of the second-floor reception area and in areas on the third floor above it, Christensen said. The event center, below those floors, also was suggested as a possible venue.
The move would keep the many displays and artifacts that have been assembled over the years intact, safe and as part of Independence – many could be placed in storage, Christensen added.
The museum is seen as essential by supporters ranging from retirees to parents, with different reasons for their advocacy; They vary from being able to offer “knowledge encounters” to showcasing projects by local artists.
From funding alternatives to artistic recognition, community feedback has cropped up along with this week’s national “Museums Advocacy Days.” So far, it appears to fall into three main categories.
Investigate unexplored funds. The city receives lodging-tax dollars – budgeted to be about $200,000 but falling short of that – from the Independence Hotel and local bed-and-breakfast operations, among other sources – dollars that often are used for tourism but aren’t restricted for that purpose. “We’re not under any statutory requirement as to where that money can go,” said Finance Director Moody.
There is also a provision in System Development Charges, which are fees charged to builders for construction in the city, that allows their use for recreation – and Oregon’s definition of recreation includes “viewing or enjoying historical, archaeological, scenic or scientific sites” (ORS 105.672-105.696). Would a recent radiant rocks exhibit qualify? Or celebrating the history of hops at the annual festival? Some cities seem to access those funds for similar purposes. The Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District receives SDCs and offers both historic and art programming, according to the district website.
Utilize local creators. That is just what the current special exhibit at the Heritage Museum does – there’s a gallery of vibrant animal portraits by local artist Torin Widhammer (see photo, upper right). The paintings are placed above panels of colorful knob-like buttons that, when pressed, make the same noises humans use to mimic the mammal or bird – including the way these sounds are made in languages beside English.
For example, bees in America may buzz with a bzzz, but in Germany they are said to go summ. The exhibit is titled “What Does the Fox Say: Exploring International Onomatopoeias.” The work was done by Widhammer, with the panels of buttons accomplished – with a little mechanical engineering – by Christensen, and former Museum Director Natascha Adams. The portraits also feature plants that reflect the animal depicted – a horse chestnut with the horse, a pussy willow with the cat.
Widhammer was so conscious of blending all the elements into an eye-pleasing configuration that she decided to mute a few of the backgrounds in the paintings with more neutral tones. “I wanted the colors to stand out,” she said. The exhibit runs until the end of May.
Promote Historic Perspectives. Of all the comments about important factors of the museum, several residents said it is the repository of the town’s history – and history is emphasized in almost every aspect of city promotion. “Independence has a distinct sense of place that is grounded in its history,” according to a city statement posted on the city's website.
Several residents have called for entrance fees or membership fees to help fund the museum, an idea that has been met with low enthusiasm due to the possible exclusion of families that couldn’t afford the price.
However, one out-of-town visitor urged the Heritage Museum to look into joining – and accepting – the “Museums for All” program, which guarantees low or no entry fees for some users.
In late April, the Oregon Museums Association annual conference will be hosted by the Heritage Museum, and held in downtown Independence. The new fiscal year will begin two months later.
As that date approaches, “we are doing what we can to keep the museum from closing,” said Jim Humphreys, president of the non-profit Heritage Museum Society. “We are hoping that we can keep it viable.”
––––––SIDEBAR––––––
GLAM at WOU, a lesson for other libraries? That’s what Trammart News wondered after an eloquent explanation was provided by Christopher Mansayon, assistant professor reference services & exhibits librarian at Western Oregon University.
Information from him is provided below, along with several valuable references.
There are a lot of benefits to GLAM as a concept. For example, centralizing data/information and leveraging existing data infrastructure to enhance digital visibility and access, such as integrating museum records into an online library catalog. The same can be said with regard to physical visibility, where those who visit the library may also be exposed to and interact with museum/archival/art exhibits that they typically wouldn't see, and vice versa.
Many university libraries espouse some of the benefits of the GLAM concept to end users, such as mixed gallery spaces and museum/archival exhibits (both in-house and travelling) and were purposefully designed for such mixed use.
There are students who come through our doors (and the other gallery extensions across campus) and see art that they otherwise wouldn't because they don't know about the Campbell Hall building/gallery. When there are community gallery openings, we get to meet and talk to local community members—some who sign up for community library cards—who may not have even thought about the university library as a space. The GLAM model espouses the strengths of each component toward enhanced access to collections and services as a motivator for convergence.
Here are links to two relatively new articles on the topic:
Hvenegaard Rasmussen, Casper and Birger Hjørland. 2022. “Libraries, archives and museums (LAMs): conceptual issues with focus on their convergence”. Knowledge Organization 49, no. 8: 577-621. Also available in ISKO Encyclopedia of Knowledge Organization, eds. Birger Hjørland and Claudio Gnoli, https://www.isko.org/cyclo/lam
Association of Research Libraries (2020). Research Library Issues, (300). https://publications.arl.org/rli300/
(NOTE: Other contributors to the special museum exhibit "What Does The Fox Say?" include Jo Hill and Sandeep Creek, who provided the American Sign Language for the accompanying video; Roxanne Beltz, who donated time and expertise mounting the vinyl required for the exhibit.) ▪
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, February 28, 2025
The city’s library director and museum curator presented a plan Tuesday night that would place the Heritage Museum within the Independence Library, potentially providing a way to save both as the city faces a $776,000 shortfall.
The proposal, though temporary until finances improve, “would allow us to still meet our mission and serve the community,” said Amy Christensen, the museum curator. The solution is “painful but doable,” affirmed Library Director Patrick Bodily.
The two appeared together to describe the concept during a work session of the City Council, which was held in the Independence Event Center and drew several residents, including members of the Museum Advisory Board and the Historic Preservation Commission.
The idea of shared space between the library and museum surfaced during a time when other community members have contacted Trammart News with funding ideas seemingly unexplored so far – and to reference a term that Bodily and Christensen didn’t use but seem to illustrate, GLAM.
A decade ago, the GLAM combination – Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums – was cited as a trend. In fact, the title of a 2017 publication about it – “The future looks GLAMorous: from resource sharing to collaboration and convergence” – forecast a growing opportunity for such cooperation. The article was by Kenn Bicknell, a digital resources scholar and librarian based in Los Angeles. He appears to have helped coin the phrase “GLAM partner.”
Such partnering is being done at Western Oregon University, for example. “Libraries and museums are very aligned in our missions, so it is a pairing that has happened before,” explained Camila Gabaldon when asked about GLAM. The pairing isn't always perfect, she noted.
“Many collections require slightly different care,” she observed – some collections can be handled, others cannot. “But the intent behind the services is ultimately the same,” to provide access to information and knowledge, to educate, and to create a space for discovery, said Gabaldon, systems/collection development librarian at WOU. In fact, the Oregon State Library at the Capitol currently features a gallery in the foyer that combines poetry, calligraphy and block prints (see sidebar below, GLAM at WOU, a lesson for other libraries?).
By using available space at the Independence Library – the front area, the back meeting room – exhibits could continue, along with the literary offerings at the site. “So, the history of Independence is still on display and people can still learn,” Bodily said. And, in this way, historical collections can be preserved until other circumstances, such as a planned library expansion, can be undertaken, Christensen suggested.
The building that now houses the museum, at the corner of C and 2nd streets, has an $85,000-a-year mortgage and a remaining debt of about $430,000, according to Independence Finance Director Rob Moody. However, the estimated sale price of $700,000 to $800,000 could mean several hundred thousand dollars in profit.
Additionally, if a commercial buyer is found, it would put the building back on the tax rolls, City Manager Kenna West pointed out.
Combining the library and museum would avoid “slashing completely” one or the other of these two, Bodily said – a feared outcome as a fiscal cliff looms.
No official action was taken at the session Tuesday night, but the proposal appeared to be met with general approval, as several council-member heads nodded during the presentation. A final decision is expected to be made over the next few months, after one or more town forums on the issue and completion of a city-wide survey.
If the plan goes forward, rotating exhibits and visiting collections could also be displayed at spaces in the Independence Civic Center, including the foyer of the second-floor reception area and in areas on the third floor above it, Christensen said. The event center, below those floors, also was suggested as a possible venue.
The move would keep the many displays and artifacts that have been assembled over the years intact, safe and as part of Independence – many could be placed in storage, Christensen added.
The museum is seen as essential by supporters ranging from retirees to parents, with different reasons for their advocacy; They vary from being able to offer “knowledge encounters” to showcasing projects by local artists.
From funding alternatives to artistic recognition, community feedback has cropped up along with this week’s national “Museums Advocacy Days.” So far, it appears to fall into three main categories.
Investigate unexplored funds. The city receives lodging-tax dollars – budgeted to be about $200,000 but falling short of that – from the Independence Hotel and local bed-and-breakfast operations, among other sources – dollars that often are used for tourism but aren’t restricted for that purpose. “We’re not under any statutory requirement as to where that money can go,” said Finance Director Moody.
There is also a provision in System Development Charges, which are fees charged to builders for construction in the city, that allows their use for recreation – and Oregon’s definition of recreation includes “viewing or enjoying historical, archaeological, scenic or scientific sites” (ORS 105.672-105.696). Would a recent radiant rocks exhibit qualify? Or celebrating the history of hops at the annual festival? Some cities seem to access those funds for similar purposes. The Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District receives SDCs and offers both historic and art programming, according to the district website.
Utilize local creators. That is just what the current special exhibit at the Heritage Museum does – there’s a gallery of vibrant animal portraits by local artist Torin Widhammer (see photo, upper right). The paintings are placed above panels of colorful knob-like buttons that, when pressed, make the same noises humans use to mimic the mammal or bird – including the way these sounds are made in languages beside English.
For example, bees in America may buzz with a bzzz, but in Germany they are said to go summ. The exhibit is titled “What Does the Fox Say: Exploring International Onomatopoeias.” The work was done by Widhammer, with the panels of buttons accomplished – with a little mechanical engineering – by Christensen, and former Museum Director Natascha Adams. The portraits also feature plants that reflect the animal depicted – a horse chestnut with the horse, a pussy willow with the cat.
Widhammer was so conscious of blending all the elements into an eye-pleasing configuration that she decided to mute a few of the backgrounds in the paintings with more neutral tones. “I wanted the colors to stand out,” she said. The exhibit runs until the end of May.
Promote Historic Perspectives. Of all the comments about important factors of the museum, several residents said it is the repository of the town’s history – and history is emphasized in almost every aspect of city promotion. “Independence has a distinct sense of place that is grounded in its history,” according to a city statement posted on the city's website.
Several residents have called for entrance fees or membership fees to help fund the museum, an idea that has been met with low enthusiasm due to the possible exclusion of families that couldn’t afford the price.
However, one out-of-town visitor urged the Heritage Museum to look into joining – and accepting – the “Museums for All” program, which guarantees low or no entry fees for some users.
In late April, the Oregon Museums Association annual conference will be hosted by the Heritage Museum, and held in downtown Independence. The new fiscal year will begin two months later.
As that date approaches, “we are doing what we can to keep the museum from closing,” said Jim Humphreys, president of the non-profit Heritage Museum Society. “We are hoping that we can keep it viable.”
––––––SIDEBAR––––––
GLAM at WOU, a lesson for other libraries? That’s what Trammart News wondered after an eloquent explanation was provided by Christopher Mansayon, assistant professor reference services & exhibits librarian at Western Oregon University.
Information from him is provided below, along with several valuable references.
There are a lot of benefits to GLAM as a concept. For example, centralizing data/information and leveraging existing data infrastructure to enhance digital visibility and access, such as integrating museum records into an online library catalog. The same can be said with regard to physical visibility, where those who visit the library may also be exposed to and interact with museum/archival/art exhibits that they typically wouldn't see, and vice versa.
Many university libraries espouse some of the benefits of the GLAM concept to end users, such as mixed gallery spaces and museum/archival exhibits (both in-house and travelling) and were purposefully designed for such mixed use.
There are students who come through our doors (and the other gallery extensions across campus) and see art that they otherwise wouldn't because they don't know about the Campbell Hall building/gallery. When there are community gallery openings, we get to meet and talk to local community members—some who sign up for community library cards—who may not have even thought about the university library as a space. The GLAM model espouses the strengths of each component toward enhanced access to collections and services as a motivator for convergence.
Here are links to two relatively new articles on the topic:
Hvenegaard Rasmussen, Casper and Birger Hjørland. 2022. “Libraries, archives and museums (LAMs): conceptual issues with focus on their convergence”. Knowledge Organization 49, no. 8: 577-621. Also available in ISKO Encyclopedia of Knowledge Organization, eds. Birger Hjørland and Claudio Gnoli, https://www.isko.org/cyclo/lam
Association of Research Libraries (2020). Research Library Issues, (300). https://publications.arl.org/rli300/
(NOTE: Other contributors to the special museum exhibit "What Does The Fox Say?" include Jo Hill and Sandeep Creek, who provided the American Sign Language for the accompanying video; Roxanne Beltz, who donated time and expertise mounting the vinyl required for the exhibit.) ▪
District Attorney updates county commissioners on DA Office statistics
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, February 28, 2025
As he opened his report to the Polk County Board of Commissioners Tuesday, District Attorney Aaron Felton, who has served in that role for the past dozen years, said he didn’t simply wish to put out “a bunch of statistics.”
Instead, he wanted to provide answers to three questions he considered essential issues for the public – issues that relate to the performance of the DA’s Office. Do I feel safe in my community? Is the DA's Office spending my tax dollars wisely? Is the DA's Office prepared to handle complex public safety issues when they arise?
The answers appear to be a trio of yes responses. Prosecutions are up, county needs for public defenders largely are being met, and both challenges are being accomplished with an office of eight attorneys and a support staff of 18 non-attorneys, he said.
Prosecutions have increased significantly since the beginning of the post-pandemic period. An overwhelming majority – about 75% – of the cases referred from combined law enforcement agencies are being prosecuted, Felton said.
And a push to retain public defenders has paid off – his office has been able to avoid the ongoing "public defender crisis" of other counties, by building relationships and making them a priority.
“The ability to be fully staffed has allowed us to not exist in a ‘triage’ mode – and to eliminate case backlogs and work with our public safety partners, and the courts, to develop systems that have allowed Polk County thus far not to encounter the same public defender shortages being seen in other Oregon counties,” Felton explained.
One adjustment has been the change with drug-related crimes due to abolishing key parts of Measure 110, the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act, which was passed in 2020. The state’s drug decriminalization act aimed to make police encounters a pathway to rehabilitation programs rather than jail.
But Measure 110 proved so unsuccessful that it essentially was repealed. Now, “we are seeing a significant uptick in drug crimes coming in," Felton confirmed.
Typically, individual misdemeanor prosecutors carry an average of 100 cases at any one time.
One continuing burden is cost. Expenses keep going up, with no real end in sight due to heavy reliance on technology. For example, discovery costs are increasing in terms of digital licensing fees for electronic case management system, he noted. ▪
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, February 28, 2025
As he opened his report to the Polk County Board of Commissioners Tuesday, District Attorney Aaron Felton, who has served in that role for the past dozen years, said he didn’t simply wish to put out “a bunch of statistics.”
Instead, he wanted to provide answers to three questions he considered essential issues for the public – issues that relate to the performance of the DA’s Office. Do I feel safe in my community? Is the DA's Office spending my tax dollars wisely? Is the DA's Office prepared to handle complex public safety issues when they arise?
The answers appear to be a trio of yes responses. Prosecutions are up, county needs for public defenders largely are being met, and both challenges are being accomplished with an office of eight attorneys and a support staff of 18 non-attorneys, he said.
Prosecutions have increased significantly since the beginning of the post-pandemic period. An overwhelming majority – about 75% – of the cases referred from combined law enforcement agencies are being prosecuted, Felton said.
And a push to retain public defenders has paid off – his office has been able to avoid the ongoing "public defender crisis" of other counties, by building relationships and making them a priority.
“The ability to be fully staffed has allowed us to not exist in a ‘triage’ mode – and to eliminate case backlogs and work with our public safety partners, and the courts, to develop systems that have allowed Polk County thus far not to encounter the same public defender shortages being seen in other Oregon counties,” Felton explained.
One adjustment has been the change with drug-related crimes due to abolishing key parts of Measure 110, the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act, which was passed in 2020. The state’s drug decriminalization act aimed to make police encounters a pathway to rehabilitation programs rather than jail.
But Measure 110 proved so unsuccessful that it essentially was repealed. Now, “we are seeing a significant uptick in drug crimes coming in," Felton confirmed.
Typically, individual misdemeanor prosecutors carry an average of 100 cases at any one time.
One continuing burden is cost. Expenses keep going up, with no real end in sight due to heavy reliance on technology. For example, discovery costs are increasing in terms of digital licensing fees for electronic case management system, he noted. ▪
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