Council to Elect President, Vice President: With the turn of the new year, the Corvallis City Council seats two new members, Briae Lewis and Tony Cadena – and a new mayor, Charles Maughan. Their first meeting council meeting is slated for Jan. 3.
On the agenda, the councilors will vote for a President and Vice President for the 2023=2024 term.
“In the Mayor’s absence from a Council meeting, the President shall preside over the meeting; in the absence of both the Mayor and the Council President, the Vice President shall preside. Whenever the Mayor is unable, because of absence, illness, or other causes to perform the functions of the office, the President of the Council shall act as Mayor; in the absence of both the Mayor and the President, the Vice President shall act as Mayor,” said City Recorder, Alex Downing in a memo to council.
Councilor Stipends Start: Beginning in the 2022-2023 term, councilors are eligible for a monthly stipend. The monthly stipend for Councilors that are not the Council President or Vice President is fixed at $360; the monthly stipend for Council Vice President is fixed at $410; and the monthly stipend for Council President is fixed at $460.
Gas Agreement Continues into New Year: Also on the agenda, a renewal of the city’s agreement with Northwest Natural Gas (NWNG).
After hearing hours of public testimony, and sifting voluminous amounts of written testimony, city councilors decided earlier this month to table further talks with NWNG around the renewal of their agreement with the city until January.
At the council meeting on Dec. 19, councilors also voted to postpone further conversations until their next meeting on Jan. 3.
The current agreement expires on Jan 1, and currently the city does not have an agreement in place once the current agreement expires.
“Currently, the City receives 5% of gross sales of natural gas within the service area, $600,000 annually in General Fund revenues from the existing franchise, said Services Finance Director Kris Kelly. “The proposed agreement increases the franchise fee to 5.75% resulting in an anticipated increase of $90,000 annually. Delaying renewal and/or allowing the franchise agreement to lapse will affect this revenue stream.”
The city has received several comments from the public opposing this agreement saying this does not align with the city’s 2016 Climate Action Plan and that residents are having their “hands tied” with this agreement.
Further discussion, and a presentation to the council, is scheduled for the city council meeting on Jan 3.
By: Jennifer Williams
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