Despite Shortage of Baker City Councilors, Public Safety Fee Town Halls Still Planned
By Joe Hathaway on Monday, September 11th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY — Despite lacking the number of councilors needed to conduct any business, the City of Baker City still plans to hold three town halls to discuss the new public safety fee.
The Council is now down to three members after the resignations of two councilors last week.
According to the city charter, at least four councilors must be present at any meeting to constitute a quorum and thus conduct city business.
Both Johnny Waggoner Sr. and Nathan Hodgdon resigned on September 6. Boston Colton and Dean Guyer resigned in August, leaving the seven-member council with just three members.
Mayor Beverly Calder says the remaining councilors, herself, Ray Duman and Jason Spriet, intend to appoint four people to fill the vacancies and reconstitute the council.
Calder and Interim City Manager Jon France also state that three town halls over the controversial new public safety fee will go on as scheduled.
The City Council voted to approve the fee on August 22. It’s a $15 fee for residential water/sewer accounts, and $50 for commercial accounts.
Revenue from the fee, estimated at about $1 million per year, could be used only for the police and fire departments.
Before its near-dissolution, the council had suggested the fee figure could change depending on community input. Now, without a quorum necessary to conduct business and to possibly change the fee amount, the fee as voted on will go into effect on October 1.
Still, France says it’s important to hold the town halls.
“Town halls on revenue, not just the public safety fee, are non-decision sessions. We can still have the conversations. There are still basic issues to discuss concerning lack of revenue which we want to have a conversation about,” says France. “Hopefully other comments/questions come forward that talk about a wide range of subjects, not just our financial posture.”
France say the three town halls will happen as scheduled:
• Sept. 14 from 6:00pm. to 8:00pm., at Churchill School, 16th and Broadway.
• Sept. 19 from 2:00pm. to 4:00pm., at Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, 2020 Auburn Ave.
• Sept. 21 from 6:00pm. to 8:00pm., at Community Connection Senior Center, 2810 Cedar St.
Calder also encourages members of the community to attend the council’s meeting on Tuesday, September 12 share any concerns or suggestions at the beginning of the meeting.
