North Plains Has a Strong Council. Let's Keep It That Way.
If you want to see good governance in action, look at what North Plains City Councilors Warrington, Weber, Shurts, and De Forge spearheaded at their October 19 City Council meeting:
The Council voted unanimously to move forward with a data center ban.
They moved to restore the neglected Urban Renewal Area business grant program,
They finally addressed the long-delayed cleanup of city-owned Glencoe property, and
They reversed an illegal, unsafe loading-zone decision affecting the North Plains Food Bank.
Four consequential actions. One meeting. A council focused on getting the job done.
This is the difference strong leadership makes.
The council inherited a mess. The Lenahan/Sheldon administration pursued an aggressive growth agenda, promoted North Plains as a destination for industrial development spilling over from North Hillsboro, and left serious management problems in their wake. Their economic development plan mentioned data centers 58 times. Former City Manager Bill Reid pushed a massive expansion that threatened to bring industrial development south of Sunset Ridge and Atfalati Ridge Elementary School.
After Reid left, Interim City Manager Ross Schultz documented failures in basic city administration: no one was assigned human resources duties, and some employees were awarded raises and benefits without a fair process or notification of council. More importantly, one person (Reid) held the offices of City Manager, Finance Director, and de facto Planning Director all at once - an untenable work load - and there was no plan of succession.
The current council didn't create these problems. It is fixing them, and looking forward at the same time.
This council is restoring sound management, protecting public resources, supporting local businesses, and changing the direction of development. Their vote to proceed with a data ban is a clear statement that North Plains will not simply serve as an industrial overflow zone for its neighbors.
Now supporters of the old guard want voters to blame the current council for the turmoil your new, responsible councilors inherited. Don't be distracted by their mailers. Look at the record. Look at what this council has actually accomplished.
Friends of Smart Growth strongly supports Anna Warrington, Don Weber, and Melody Axe for North Plains City Council. As Councilors, they will continue the important work of responsible, responsive, and transparent government that is fiscally responsible and embraces our rural small town character.
North Plains is moving forward. Vote Anna Warrington, Don Weber, and Melody Axe for City Council.
