Water-and-sewer fee increases were passed by the Independence City Council – but they will be less than predicted, thanks to gains made by MINET in paying down debt owed on the municipal fiber optic. The water rate increase will be $0.51 to the average residential base. For sewer customers, the increase is $1.99. That’s one percent below the rate hike recommended this past year by an outside consultant. 

A long-sought change to remove the ban on vinyl fencing has stalled due to absenteeism in the planning commission. Commissioners had voted in favor to abolish the current prohibition on vinyl fencing, but public hearings had to be delayed twice due lack of a quorum. However, the last time the planning commission met, one of the commissioners was able to participate remotely, fulfilling the need for a quorum. 

 At its first scheduled meeting this month, the Planning Commission again was cancelled. As of this writing, the ordinance – which would undo the ban on vinyl fencing -- seems likely to come up for adoption in February, according to the general timeline established by the city.

Two new inserts will debut in the next issue of The Independent, which is the annual “Utility Issue,” and will take a look at water-sewer issues and at MINET. The first insert in the February issue of The Independent, The Police Box, will examine the growing, combined use of alcohol and marijuana -- and the challenge it presents to local law enforcement. The second one, The Green Bee, will cover community environmental and science topics, beginning with a presentation on local-dwelling lampreys, which is being sponsored by the Luckiamute Watershed Council Wed, Jan. 9. 

 The Police Box is an effort to get safety information, including community trends and statistics, into a hopefully easy-to-read format. The first Police Box will cover the “saturation patrol” and related activity by the Independence Police Department on New Year’s Eve. On Dec 31, the local police department hosted law enforcement representatives from agencies across Polk County, to raise awareness of drugged-and-drunk driving. 

Led by Lt. Michael Iwai, of the Oregon State Police, the event was held in partnership with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and convened in the Civic Center by Independence Police Chief Robert Mason. Also in attendance was Officer Pete Roy, who shared his knowledge of the increasingly common combination of liquor and marijuana by users of both. The Police Box will provide more coverage.

NOTE: A generous scholarship program that awards winners of oratorical essays on the US Constitution is being held by The American Legion Post 33, with a mid-January deadline. Look for more information in the next few days, to be carried in The Linking Letter follow-up of tonight’s city council meeting.

FINAL NOTE: Congratulations to new City Councilor Shannon Cockayne, who is scheduled to be sworn in tonight. However, the city council now has a vacant seat -- the result of resignation by Odi Campos-Santos, who is moving out of Independence.

The assistant city manager of Sherwood, Tom Pessemier, will be the new city manager in Independence. An engineer by training, Mr. Pessemier served as interim city manager for that city and was one of two finalists in the city-manager search by the town of Sisters, in central Oregon. Mr. Pessemier and his family reportedly will continue to reside in Sherwood. 
 
--  Current City Manager David Clyne’s last scheduled council meeting will be mid-December. Mr. Pessemier is set to begin in early December.
 
--  Shannon Cockayne is expected to be named to the Independence City Council this Tuesday, following a close vote in which long-time councilor Diana Lindskog was defeated. 
 
-- A new director for The Heritage Museum is scheduled to be announced, as well. City officials have said they see the museum as part of a tourist-appealing package currently being undertaken, as the hotel at Independence Landing moves toward completion. (The Independent will take another look at tourism in 2019, in an edition scheduled to coincide the hotel’s certificate of occupancy, which typically is received when doors open for customers). 

Licenses for home-based occupations are scheduled to come before the city council Tuesday, which would require a $225 fee for businesses conducted in houses, garages and accessory buildings. 
 
In another potentially wide-ranging change, development and construction fees for permits and planning reviews are headed upward – in some cases, to several times above the current cost. It’s an effort to keep pace with the times, stated contracted City Planner Zach Pelz in a note of explanation that accompanied the proposed new fee schedule. Noting that some of these charges were listed at zero, Mr. Pelz observed that the new dollar amounts were designed to “more closely align with the actual cost incurred for a given review type.”

The first onsite certified city planner in Independence’s history will be leaving his post at the civic center shortly. Zach Pelz, who has worked under a contractual agreement the City of Independence forged with AKS Engineering in Tualatin, confirmed he is “winding down” office hours between now and December while the city looks for a replacement. Meanwhile, he will be working alongside a planner from the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments to provide planning services. “I’ll certainly miss it,” said Mr. Pelz, who was widely regarded for his urban planning expertise and his amiable and authoritative presence at meetings of the Independence Planning Commission.

Independence City Councilor Marilyn Morton’s bid to give more city funding to the Monmouth-Independence (M-I) Chamber of Commerce was withdrawn by her at the last meeting, but she reported the request would be re-introduced in early 2019. In a strongly worded memo, city Manager David Clyne had recommended against allocating the money.  
Councilor Morton, who proposed $2,500 dollars be awarded to the M-I Chamber, called it an organization “worthy of this city’s support beyond a membership fee.”   Several years ago, Ms. Morton managed the M-I Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Clyne countered that the city already has staff fulfilling similar functions. “The City is partnered with Monmouth, Dallas and Polk County to hire a county-wide tourism professional in partnership with Travel Salem,” he wrote. Independence also has a downtown manager and an event coordinator, he added. “In truth I don’t see the benefit,” he concluded. Councilor Morton’s postponement of the issue was seen as a way to delay the vote until new city manager is in place.

The long-planned reconstruction of the F Street Bridge is moving forward under a new agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation – and it requires the city to chip in $230,000, according to a report submitted on the project at the city council meeting in late September. 
 
Upgrades to the bridge won’t be implemented right away; The construction, which was proposed in 2015, isn’t expected to be completed until 2021.
 
In another development, the city’s share of the current MINET debt payment will be about $173,000, according to figures released by the MINET board. The sum was confirmed by Gloria Butsch, city finance director.

Recent guest editorials by the two Independence mayoral candidates on the November ballot have drawn questions, following publication of their essays in The Independent. In one, the current mayor, John McArdle, identifies himself as a retired Olympic athlete, though he didn’t compete in the games. His opponent, Jack Waddell, states the city is to blame for delays on a townhouse complex he’s trying to build, though records indicate he stopped pursuing it. 
 
The November issue of The Independent will address the topic of campaign claims in the column The Civics Lesson. However, both men were asked about their assertions. Mr. McArdle, the incumbent mayor, explained that he qualified as a hammer thrower for the 1980 Olympic team. A boycott of the Olympics had been announced by President Jimmy Carter before the trials were held. Mr. McArdle later did attend a global competition under the Olympic charter – the Pan Am games – but he and a dozen other athletes departed without participating after it was announced that sensitive drug-testing methods were going to be used there. At the time, Mr. McArdle was reported to have stated – in an interview with the New York Times – that a majority of athletes used steroids. 
 
However, any athlete who makes the Olympic team at the trials can be called an Olympian, according to a spokesperson for the US Olympic Committee. 
 
Mr. Waddell wrote that he has been trying to get a 12-unit townhouse complex on the parcel behind Moothart’s on Main, with “no offers of assistance” from the city. However, he ceased the effort after being billed $4,200 by the city to continue – which he contends is an unacceptable sum because he hasn’t been issued a “permit to build.”  
 
The 27,000-foot lot also includes two 500-foot commercial spaces on the two corners, which he included in order to meet zoning restrictions, he said. Mr. Waddell also said he temporarily put the property on the market, after becoming frustrated with the process. 
______________________  
NOTE:The City of Independence won an Award of Excellence for rural-town revitalization at the annual conference of the League of Oregon Cities.  

The developer of a subdivision in southwest Independence was unable to give even a brief presentation to the Planning Commission because of widespread absences at the last meeting. 
 
Only two commissioners were present: Corby Chappell, who chairs the planning commission, and Eric Smith, a longtime commission appointee. Zach Pelz, the contracted city planner and staff contact for the commission, also was present. Four current commissioners were absent. 
 
Harvey Cummings, the developer of the planned 40-lot project, wasn’t allowed to discuss, even informally, the reason for his visit. To do so would have been a likely violation of official protocol, explained Karin Johnson, city recorder. Mr. Cummings, who resides in Damascus, said in a brief interview -- as he was exiting the meeting -- that he would “return any time” his schedule allows it, despite the commute involved.

The youngest, newest member of the Independence City Council cast the only no vote against financing a sculpture for Main Street -- a statute to honor a former downtown merchant and his dog, with an estimated price tag of $20,000.
 
Councilor Odi Campos-Santos said he believe there should be a process for deciding which public art merits spending tax dollars. “This seems expensive without having that process” in place, he said. After the vote, Councilor Campos-Santos explained that the issue seemed sudden and inexact to him. For example, the city’s actual contribution wasn’t clearly defined, he pointed out. 
 
It’s possible some funds may be raised as donations, but it isn’t known how much of the $20,000 that’s needed will be generated that way, said City Manager David Clyne. 
 
City staff had been approached by a proprietor of the “River Gallery” in downtown Independence to create a bronze image of recently-deceased business owner Dan Weaver, who operated “Main Street Antiques.”
 
During the meeting, Mr. Clyne pointed out that, as city manager, he can spend up to $50,000 without the city council’s permission -- so the proposal didn’t require formal approval. However, it was taken to the council session for a public airing. “It seems like it’s going the right direction,” said Mayor John McArdle. 
 
Councilor Tom Takacs called on the council to proceed cautiously. “I’d like to see a lot of public support for this,” he said. However, when the vote was taken, he voted yes with councilors Marilyn Morton, Michael Hicks and Diana Lindskog. (Councilor Kathy Martin-Willis was absent). Councilor Campos-Santos cast the lone dissenting vote. At 34, Councilor Campos-Santos is the council’s youngest member. He was appointed several months ago to fill the seat vacated by former City Councilor Ken Day, who resigned due to his relocation to Arizona.
 
Former Councilor Day said during his resignation that he hoped his seat would be taken by someone willing to challenge issues that affect tax-paying citizenry. Asked about this philosophic statement after the meeting, Councilor Campos-Santos said he is attempting to represent everyone -- young or old, home-owner or renter. “I consider everyone my constituent,” he said. 

An administrator to manage and direct the Heritage Museum will be hired in the next few months as part of the city’s plan to upgrade the museum in the years ahead. The announcement was made by City Manager David Clyne. 
A power-point presentation by Vickie McCubbin, chair of the Heritage Museum Commission, offered a new step-by-step strategic plan for the museum. One priority is to “professionalize” it, she said. Mr. Clyne said a search for museum director is the first step in that direction. [The November issue of The Independent will take a more complete look at plans for the Heritage Museum -- and overall tourism potential in Independence -- on the cusp of hiring a new city manager.] 

A four-unit apartment building to house veterans got a thumbs-up from all members of the planning commission who attended last night’s hearing on a site design for the fourplex, to be built at 210 S. 9th Street in the city. Speaking in support of the affordable housing facility, Eric Enderle, veteran services officer for Polk County, noted that he had just spoken with two veterans who might benefit from it. One was using a car for shelter, the other was living outdoors, he said. 
 
The Ash Creek Terrace Apartments, as the complex has tentatively been named, was supported by Rep. Paul Evans, who wrote to the commission urging “speedy passage,” and predicting “it will transform lives.” The site design is expected to go before the Independence City Council at one of its summer sessions. 

Interviews with candidates for the new Independence city manager are scheduled to be held in mid-October, which makes the deadline for settling on a selection criteria the end of the summer, said Heather Gantz, branch director of Waldron, the Portland-based consulting firm hired by the city to conduct the search. 
 
At a city council work session held earlier this month, she told councilors that “the important piece of this are the short and long term goals of the city.” Several councilors urged public involvement. Online surveys on the city website, as well as printed materials available at the library, will be made available for soliciting citizen input, Ms. Gantz said. Additionally, town hall meetings are expected to be held this fall. 

A “big package” of coding provisions – including a change that would allow vinyl fencing -- will be discussed for possible amendment at the city council meeting this October, Zach Pelz confirmed at the planning commission last night. Mr. Pelz, the city’s contracted planner, told commissioners they would get a chance to look at the list of regulations in the city’s development code, as well, at a future meeting.  In a brief interview, Mr. Pelz acknowledged that there were some items in the development code that seemed to need a second look, “so we are going to moving that forward,” he said. 

The Independence City Council sent more than two million dollars into the coffers of the city’s Urban Renewal District (URD) after councilors voted at their last meeting to allocate $2,054,608 to the URD and to loan a combined $200,000 to its projects fund, as well.

Councilor Marilyn Morton asked about repayment plans for the new loans; She was told that the URD fund is in a deficit. Current loans aren’t expected to be repaid any time soon, explained Gloria Butsch, the city’s finance director. However, incremental payments on existing URD debt are underway, Ms. Butsch said in a brief interview following the meeting.

In a resolution for fiscal year 2018-19, the city council approved a city budget sum of $26,793,646 with appropriations in the amount of $26,667,167.

Apparently alluding to the budget constraints, City Manager David Clyne announced the city’s planned pump-station upgrades will be postponed, the result of the bids exceeding the engineer’s estimate.  “We cancelled the bids,” Mr. Clyne said. Proposed contracts will be solicited again this winter – a time when costs may come down, he noted.

In light of recent city growth, a new transportation plan also is needed – the last one is more than a decade old, said Shawn Irvine, the city’s economic development director. However, it is hoped that the estimated cost of $150,000 largely will be paid by a future grant, he said, adding that he plans to apply for one in the next several months.

The councilors also passed the annual “ad valorem” property tax – essentially the same city tax of past years – a rate of nearly 4.6% per thousand dollars of assessed value. Last year, a survey of towns in Polk County showed the Independence “ad valorem” tax to be the highest of any city county-wide. The councilors also allocated $420,469 for debt service of general obligation bonds. [The Independent will take a fresh look at city indebtedness in the August issue.]

An impassioned plea by a local resident to allow vinyl fencing on her corner property convinced the city council to reconsider a coding change that essentially made the plastic fencing material unlawful inside city limits.

After Victoria Kruljac passed around renderings of her proposed enclosure, which showed a scalloped fence with crowned posts – the councilors decided a decision made a few years ago to bar vinyl might currently be outdated. “I think the quality probably has gotten much better,” said Councilor Tom Takacs, who was on the planning commission in 2012 when the ban was adopted. “I don’t see any problem with this,” observed Councilor Marilyn Morton.

Mayor John McArdle asked City Manager David Clyne to look into whether an exception could be legally granted and whether a staff report could be generated on the issue of vinyl fencing. Both pieces of information were requested to be presented at the next city council meeting.