Mayor Severson called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 pm and declared a quorum present.  Present were Councilors Hardin, Misner, Davis, Harn, Calame and Harkenrider.  Councilor Myers was excused.  Staff members in attendance were City Manager Brookshier, City Attorney Luisi, Ray Jones, Clint Spencer, Judge Creasing, Jason Edmiston, Larry Fetter, Bill Schmittle, Karen Primmer and Donna Moeller.  News media present were Neill Woelk and Holly Dillemuth of the Hermiston Herald, Anna willard of the East Oregonian and Eric Olson of KOHU-KQFM.  The pledge of allegiance was given.

Minutes

Councilor Harkenrider moved and Councilor Hardin seconded that minutes of the January 9 regular meeting be approved for filing.  Motion carried unanimously.

Unscheduled Communications From the Audience

Anne Emmons, 845 E. Kennedy, reported the January 19th neighborhood association committee meeting was cancelled due to the icy weather conditions, the meeting will be rescheduled for a later date.

Robert Hall, 1230 W. Hartley Avenue, asked if the City could find a way to add more lighting at the intersection of 11th Street and Elm Avenue, with the closure of the gas station that corner is extremely dark at night.

Manuel Gutierrez, 750 E. Quince, spoke to the recent shooting in Hermiston, stating he feels everyone should work together to help solve crime.  He would like to see Hispanic representation on committees.  Mr. Gutierrez encouraged all citizens to write letters to their State representatives giving parents back the right to discipline their children without the fear of retaliation.

Minutes & Report

Councilor Misner moved and Councilor Davis seconded that the December manager's monthly report and minutes of the January 4 airport advisory committee meeting be approved for filing.  Motion carried unanimously.

Approve Appointment to the Council Neighborhood Associations Liaison Committee

Councilor Harkenrider moved and Councilor Davis seconded the mayoral appointment of Councilor Rod Hardin as the third councilor to the Council Neighborhood Associations Liaison Committee.  Motion carried unanimously.

Approve Council Committee Appointments/Public Works Committee

Councilor Hardin moved and Councilor Davis seconded to approve the mayoral appointment of Councilors Brian Misner (Chair), Mike Calame and Lori Davis to the newly established Public Works Committee.  Motion carried unanimously.

Announcement/Planning Commission - Positions 7, 8 and 9

Mayor Severson announced standing committee vacancies on the Planning Commission - Positions #7, #8 and #9 for three year terms beginning April 1, 2012 and ending March 31, 2015.  Deadline for submitting applications is March 1, 2012.

Council Comments

Councilor Hardin encouraged citizens in the audience to consider applying for the planning commission positions, stating that is were you can make a difference in how development within our City takes place.

City Manager Comments

City Manager Brookshier reminded the councilors of the Oregon Water Coalition meeting Tuesday, January 24 at the Hermiston Conference Center.  Russ Dorran, HES Superintendent will receive an award at the luncheon for his many years dealing with water issues while he was the manager at Umatilla Electric Cooperative... stated with the creation of five new committees interested parties are encouraged to sign up... reported there will be an internal posting for the new Gang Intervention Detective position at the police department.  Subsequent to the outcome of that process the City will advertise externally for a new hire.  This position will be included in the supplemental budget for this fiscal year.

Councilor Hardin stated after reading a recent article about graffiti and that two parents were cited for failure to supervise, he asked Judge Creasing if there was enough teeth in the law to handle the graffiti problems.

Judge Creasing stated the courts have trouble holding people accountable in graffiti cases, the court can order restitution and fines but most of the time the individuals have no money.

Anne Emmons said she taught at Sandstone for 10+ years and that in the beginning there was a lot of gang education, but in her later years, not so much.

City Manager Brookshier stated one of the main focuses for the new Gang Intervention officer will be gang education in the schools.

Councilor Harkenrider stated with Hermiston's population at 16,812 and growing, he thinks the Future Task Force should look at ways to encourage businesses to locate on Main Street.

There was no other business, and the meeting was adjourned at 7:25 pm.

SIGNED:
/s/ Bob Severson, Mayor

ATTEST:
/s/ Robert D. Irby, City Recorder