Making headway in North Plains

We are writing to let you know that your strong advocacy to improve the City of North Plains’ administration is working. Since the days of the referendum a clear majority of city council has put the long-term interests of the community over the short-term gains of a few. Thanks to you, that work is continuing today. At their last meeting on June 15, your City Council accepted the resignation of City Manager Bill Reid. It was the right decision for many, many reasons.  And the Council was able to make this decision because many of you stood up and showed that the councilors would be supported despite a few loud detractors who show up to Council meetings.  Thank you for making a difference.

Now that Mr. Reid (a holdover from the previous council and an architect of the failed 855-acre Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) expansion) is gone, city council can move forward with the real work of the city.  Right from the start, we expect a lot less time, money, and energy will be spent on planning for an unpopular and overly large UGB expansion. Council is now free to start rescinding the documents that have laid the groundwork for data centers and industrial areas at the doorsteps of neighborhoods. As early as the next meeting, city council might stop paying to defend the Housing Needs Analysis in court - a clear waste of taxpayer money to grandfather in old, excessive population projection figures that have since been substantially downsized.  

The benefits will extend past UGB matters. Without obstruction, excuses, and delays coming from the city manager’s office, we expect that council will make rapid progress on the audits to show the city’s actual financial position. The city is currently 4 years behind on audits and, when serious issues were becoming apparent, the City Manager slowwalked cooperating with the auditor.  

As we continue to show up, as we continue to demand and support a responsive government, we expect that the city will really start listening and taking action on things the residents want their city to do. This is a new chapter for North Plains and, while the work is far from over (three councilors are up for election the end of the year, after all), things are heading in the right direction. 

Going forward, we’ll keep you updated and share opportunities to give public comment as your city councilors move forward to improve North Plains for all. Your councilors have taken on a tremendous responsibility and they hold their duty to you very seriously. We look forward to seeing what they can accomplish.

In partnership,

Friends of Smart Growth