La Grande, OR

City Council

City Council

The La Grande City Council is holding a work session to discuss the city's economic development plan with staff and consultants from Community Attributes Inc. No formal decisions or votes will occur; any action items will be scheduled for a future regular session.

• Discussion of economic development plan with Economic Development Director Timothy Bishop, City Manager John O'Brien, and Community Attributes Inc. consultants

Landmarks Commission

The La Grande Landmarks Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the historical appropriateness of a stairway cover addition at 1215 Adams Avenue, filed by Valley Insurance. The meeting also includes approval of the July 9, 2026 minutes and public comments. No other new business or old business is listed.

• Public hearing on stairway cover addition at 1215 Adams Avenue (File 489-26-000092 HLA)
• Consent agenda: approve minutes of July 9, 2026 meeting
• Public comments period for non-agenda items

City Council

The City Council will hold public hearings on establishing a public safety service fee and vacating portions of the North Cherry Street right-of-way. The body is also deciding on updated rental fees for athletic fields and pools, as well as referring a local fuel tax and charter amendments to voters.

• Public hearing: Ordinance to establish Public Safety Service Fee
• Public hearing: Ordinance to vacate portions of North Cherry Street Right-of-Way
• Resolution to approve Local Fuel Tax ballot title and referral to voters
• Resolution to approve Charter Amendments ballot title and referral to voters
• One-time 50% water and sewer utility assistance for Blue Mountain Humane Association

City Council

The City Council will hold a work session to discuss service fees with the city manager and department staff. No formal decisions or votes will occur; any action on the topic would be placed on a future regular session agenda.

• Discussion of service fees led by City Manager John O’Brien and department staff

Landmarks Commission

The La Grande Landmarks Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the historical appropriateness of a proposed roof patio at 1415 Jefferson Avenue. Other agenda items are routine: approval of March 12, 2026 minutes, public comments, and staff/commission comments.

• Public hearing on historical appropriateness for a roof patio at 1415 Jefferson Avenue (File 489-26-000070 HLA, applicant Sam Jacobson)

Urban Renewal Agency

The Urban Renewal Agency will consider a motion to determine the role of the Urban Renewal Advisory Commission in the district sunset planning process, including whether to hold joint work sessions. The agency will also approve the regular session minutes from June 3, 2026. No public hearings or other substantive items are on the agenda.

• Approve regular session minutes from June 3, 2026
• Consider motion to include Urban Renewal Advisory Commission as active partner in sunset planning and hold joint work sessions

City Council

The La Grande City Council will review several items during its July 1 regular session. Key actions include selecting a local fuel tax option for the November 2026 ballot, holding a second reading on an ordinance that establishes exclusion zones and enforcement procedures for camping on public property, and awarding contracts for sewer rehabilitation and roadway concrete work. The council will also approve a residential service line protection agreement and review a water main relocation request from Eastern Oregon University.

• Selecting a local fuel tax option for referral to the November 2026 ballot
• Second reading of an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 24 regarding camping on public property
• Awarding contracts for sanitary sewer rehabilitation and 2nd Street roadway project concrete work
• Approving an agreement for the Residential Service Line Protection Program
• Approving an OLCC liquor license application for The Rail Yard Bar, LLC

Urban Renewal Agency

The Urban Renewal Agency and Advisory Commission will consider awarding up to $350,000 in competitive grant funding for three projects under the 2026 Call for Projects program. The three applicants—Flying M Designs, Mountain West Plaza Phase 3, and Northwest Furniture—have requested a total of $160,129. No public comments will be taken during this special session devoted solely to funding decisions.

• Flying M Designs – 1423 Adams Avenue: $67,477 requested for renovation of former auto parts building into retail/manufacturing space
• Mountain West Plaza Phase 3 – 2510 Cove Avenue: project details not specified in agenda
• Northwest Furniture – 215 Elm Street: project details not specified in agenda
• Total available budget: $350,000; total requested: $160,129
• Meeting is a joint special session with no public comments

City Council

The City Council will hold a work session to discuss two potential ballot referrals for the November 2026 election: amendments to the City Charter and a local gas tax. No formal decisions will be made, but the council may give direction to proceed with placing measures on the ballot. The charter amendments, which previously failed in 2024, would eliminate position numbers for council seats, abolish the primary election, and change how mid-term vacancies are filled.

• Discussion on referring revised City Charter amendments to voters in November 2026; changes include eliminating council position numbers and the biennial primary election, and filling mid-term vacancies by appointment
• Discussion on referring a local gas tax measure to voters in November 2026
• Council to decide whether to proceed with ballot referral and what revisions, if any, to make to the previously proposed charter language
• If proceeding, ballot title must be prepared by August 14, 2026
• Staff seeks direction on community engagement options such as roundtable discussions, utility bill inserts, and website updates

City Council

The City Council work session will include a discussion with Eastern Oregon University officials about the university’s partnership with the city. Topics include the $6.6 million Ballfield Complex capital project, which comprises $4.1 million already committed and $2.5 million pending, as well as broader campus infrastructure renewal plans. No formal actions or votes will be taken during this session.

• Discussion of $6.6 M Eastern Oregon University Ballfield Complex project
• Review of $4.1 M university‑committed funding and $2.5 M additional resources
• Consideration of campus infrastructure renewal including utilities, drainage, and pedestrian access
• Potential future state investment requests for other EOU facilities ($58.25 M, $53.5 M, $24.25 M)

Budget Committee

This regular session of the Urban Renewal District Budget Committee is solely to approve the minutes of the May 11, 2026, Urban Renewal District Budget Hearing. The consent agenda includes the approval of those minutes. After this item, the committee will adjourn to the City of La Grande Budget Committee regular session.

• Consider approving Urban Renewal District Budget Hearing Minutes from May 11, 2026

Urban Renewal Agency

The Urban Renewal Agency will hold a public hearing to consider a resolution adopting the budget and making appropriations for fiscal year 2026-2027. The consent agenda includes accepting the annual intergovernmental agreement with the City totaling $438,728 and authorizing a revised three-year memorandum of agreement with La Grande Main Street Downtown. The agency will also receive an urban renewal impact study as new business.

• Public hearing on resolution adopting FY 2026-2027 budget and appropriations
• Consent: Accepting FY 2026-2027 Intergovernmental Agreement with City for $438,728 in services and fees
• Consent: Authorizing District Manager to sign revised three-year MOA with La Grande Main Street Downtown
• New business: Receiving an Urban Renewal Impact Study
• Consent: Approving regular session minutes from May 6, 2026

Budget Committee

The La Grande Budget Committee will hold a regular session solely to approve minutes from the May 11-13 budget hearings. A consent agenda includes the minutes, with no other business on the agenda. The minutes document discussions on the proposed FY 2026-27 budget, including fund balance drawdowns and staffing adjustments.

• Consent agenda: approving minutes of May 11, 12, and 13 Budget Hearings

City Council

The City Council will hold a regular session following other city board meetings. They will adopt the FY 2026-2027 budget and tax levy, and consider a first reading of an ordinance restricting camping on public property. New business includes partnership support for the La Grande School District's Tiger House project, a resolution to apply for a state grant for Pioneer Park splash pad, and initiation of vacation proceedings. After an executive session on labor negotiations, the council will ratify collective bargaining agreements with city employee unions.

• First reading of ordinance amending camping on public property (Ch. 24, Sec. 24-11)
• Adoption of FY 2026-2027 budget, appropriations, and tax levy
• Approval of General Reserve Fund expenditure and contract for new rescue vehicle
• Partnership support for La Grande School District's Tiger House project
• Resolution authoring staff to apply for Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. grant for Pioneer Park splash pad

Arts Commission

The La Grande Arts Commission will hold a regular meeting to approve minutes, hear public comments, and discuss old business including signal box wraps, asphalt art, strategic plan deliverables, and digitizing the LGAC logo. New business includes a budget update. No decisions on funding or contracts are on the agenda.

• Signal box wraps discussion
• Asphalt art project update
• Strategic plan deliverables review
• Digitizing LGAC logo
• Budget update presentation

Community Landscape & Forestry Commission

The Community Landscape and Forestry Commission will review past Arbor Month events and discuss upcoming volunteer and library programs. New business includes updates on Emerald Ash Borer and Japanese Beetle monitoring, and a proposal to revise street design standards for larger planting areas. A budget committee update is also on the agenda.

• Spring Beautification Awards recap
• Volunteer Day on 2nd Street Overpass on May 29
• Emerald Ash Borer trap installation
• Japanese Beetle monitoring update
• Update to street design standards for increased planting widths

Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission will receive updates on the Splash Pad Committee and the Budget Committee. No votes or decisions are scheduled; the meeting focuses on discussion and information sharing.

• Splash Pad Committee Update (old business)
• Budget Committee Update (new business)
• Approval of April 2026 meeting minutes

Budget Committee

The Budget Committee will hold public hearings and deliberate on the proposed General Fund, Enterprise, and Other Funds budgets for fiscal year 2026-2027. They are expected to vote on motions to approve the General Fund budget with a property tax rate of $7.4392 per $1,000 assessed value, and to approve the other budgets. The approved budgets will be forwarded to the City Council for adoption on June 3, 2026.

• Public hearing and deliberation on General Fund budget for 2026-2027
• Motion to approve General Fund budget with property tax rate of 7.4392 per $1,000 assessed value
• Public hearing and deliberation on Enterprise and Other Funds budgets
• Motion to approve Enterprise and Other Funds budgets and forward to City Council
• Budgets to be considered by City Council on June 3, 2026

Budget Committee

The La Grande Budget Committee will continue public hearings on the proposed FY 2026-2027 General Fund, Enterprise, and Other Funds budgets. The committee will review department presentations, hear public comment, deliberate, and vote on the General Fund budget, including an ad valorem property tax rate of 7.4392 per $1,000 of assessed value. Following that, they will review and vote on Enterprise and Other Funds budgets. Approved budgets will be forwarded to the City Council for adoption on June 3, 2026.

• General Fund budget review with presentations from Police, Fire/EMS, Parks, Library, and other departments
• Proposed ad valorem property tax rate of 7.4392 per $1,000 of assessed value for the General Fund
• Review of Enterprise Funds including Water, Sewer, Street, Storm Utility, and Motor Pool budgets
• Public comment periods for both General Fund and Enterprise/Other Funds budgets
• Roll-call votes required to approve budgets and forward them to City Council

Budget Committee

The Budget Committee will elect a chair and vice chair, then open public hearings on the proposed 2026-2027 city budgets. The committee will review the General Fund, including police, fire, parks, library, and other departments. If time permits, public works and other funds will also be reviewed. The meeting may continue on May 12.

• Election of budget committee chair and vice chair
• Public hearing on proposed 2026-2027 city budgets (General, Enterprise, and Other Funds)
• General Fund review: police, fire, EMS, parks, aquatics, recreation, urban forestry, library, economic development, planning
• Building Inspection and 9-1-1 Emergency Funds review
• Public Works funds review: water, sewer, streets, storm utility, motor pool (if time permits)

Urban Renewal Agency

The Urban Renewal Agency will consider approving the minutes from its March 4, 2026, regular session as a consent item, and then receive the La Grande Main Street Downtown 2025 Annual Report, which is informational only and requires no agency action. Public comments will be heard on non-agenda items. No other business or public hearings are scheduled.

• Approve regular session minutes of March 4, 2026 (consent agenda)
• Receive La Grande Main Street Downtown annual report (informational only)
• Public comments on non-agenda items

City Council

The La Grande City Council will vote on the Consent Agenda, which includes approving April 1 minutes and authorizing mutual aid agreements with Union Rural Fire Protection District and the City of Elgin. The council will hold a public hearing for the second reading of an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 32, Articles I and IV concerning right‑of‑way and utilities. A resolution to annex the property at 708 S 12th Street will be considered, and staff will discuss a proposed Residential Service Line Protection Program.

• Approve Consent Agenda items: April 1, 2026 minutes and mutual aid agreements with Union Rural Fire Protection District and City of Elgin
• Second reading of ordinance amending City Code Chapter 32, Articles I & IV (right‑of‑way and utilities)
• Resolution to annex property at 708 S 12th Street
• Discussion of proposed Residential Service Line Protection Program
• Public comments, including Tiger House Project Partnership Support by the La Grande School District Superintendent

City Council

This work session is an informal discussion, not a decision-making meeting. The council will hear an annual report from the Union County Chamber of Commerce on tourism promotion, including a proposed tourism budget for FY26-27. The proposal seeks to increase the City's Transient Room Tax allocation from $103,318 to $125,000. No votes will be taken.

• Annual report on tourism marketing and promotion program from Union County Chamber
• Proposed tourism budget: TRT La Grande allocation increases from $103,318 to $125,000
• Staffing restructuring: $34,070 to $26,250 for combined Operations & Programs Coordinator
• Marketing firm/content creation budget reduced from $29,000 to $12,000 due to in-house capacity
• Union County tourism revenue grew 12.5% year-over-year, highest in Oregon

City Council

This is a City Council work session, an informal discussion-only meeting with no voting or decisions. The sole topic is a presentation and discussion of the Service Line Program by Parks & Rec and Strategic Partnerships staff. Any formal action on the topic would be placed on a future regular agenda.

• Discussion of the Service Line Program

Community Landscape & Forestry Commission

The Community Landscape and Forestry Commission will consider an Arbor Month proclamation and spring beautification awards. The meeting also covers updates on upcoming events including Arbor Day field trips, community planting day, and a tree scavenger hunt. Staff reports on urban forestry and outreach will be presented.

• Arbor Month Proclamation discussion
• Spring Beautification Awards consideration
• Arbor Day Field Day for 4th graders at Riverside on April 24
• Community Spring Planting Day on April 25
• Greenwood Arbor Day Block Party on May 2

The Community Landscape & Forestry Commission approved the meeting agenda with a unanimous vote. It also approved the March 2026 commission minutes unanimously. No other formal actions were taken; the commission discussed upcoming Arbor Day events and tree‑planting activities.

• Approved agenda (unanimous)
• Approved March 2026 minutes (unanimous)

Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission

The commission will review previous minutes and receive updates on several park projects. Discussion includes the Splash Pad Committee and Morgan Lake signage, alongside an update regarding a request for full-time parks staff.

• Splash Pad Committee Update
• Morgan Lake Signage
• Parks Full-time Staff Request Update

The commission approved the meeting agenda and the March 2026 minutes. No new policies or funding requests were decided, though staff reported on splash pad fundraising and pool maintenance.

• Approved agenda as presented (Unanimous)
• Approved March 2026 minutes as presented (Unanimous)

Arts Commission

The La Grande Arts Commission will meet on April 8, 2026, for a largely procedural session to approve minutes, hear public comments, and review updates on existing projects. The agenda covers signal box wraps, asphalt art, strategic plan deliverables, and digitizing the commission logo. Updates on public art installations and strategic planning affect local cultural programming and community resources. No new business, contracts, or fee changes are scheduled.

• Signal Box Wraps project update
• Asphalt Art project update
• Strategic Plan Deliverables review
• Digitizing LGAC Logo initiative
• Commissioner timecard submission process

The April 8, 2026 La Grande Arts Commission meeting lacked a quorum, so no official business could be conducted. Members received an update on a $9,000 budget request for signal box wraps and heard a report from a La Grande Mainstreet meeting about a planned mural alley downtown, but no votes or decisions were taken.

• No decisions could be made due to lack of quorum

City Council

The La Grande City Council will vote on a consent agenda that includes approving the March 4 minutes, renewing a two‑year insurance agreement with Graybeal Group, and approving an OLCC liquor license for The Press Room. Public hearings will address first and second readings of amendments to the City Code, including changes to the Land Development Code. New business includes resolutions to continue reserve funds for building inspection, sewer, storm utilities, water, and to appoint citizens to city commissions.

• Approve regular session minutes (March 4, 2026)
• Authorize City Manager to sign two‑year renewal agreement with Graybeal Group Insurance
• Approve OLCC liquor license application for The Press Room
• First and second reading of amendments to the City Code, including Land Development Code changes
• Resolutions establishing continuation of building inspection, sewer, storm utility, water, and other reserve funds

Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission

The La Grande Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission will review updates on the Splash Pad Committee, consider new signage for parks, and evaluate the proposal for a Candy Cane Picnic Shelter with an attached restroom building. The meeting also includes routine items such as agenda and minutes approval, public comments, and commissioner remarks.

• Splash Pad Committee update (old business)
• Parks signs (new business)
• Candy Cane Picnic Shelter/Restroom building (new business)

The commission unanimously approved the meeting agenda and the February 2026 minutes. During public comments, the commission reached consensus to support Drew Walsh’s proposed white‑water park at Riverside Park. No other formal actions were taken at this meeting.

• Approved agenda (unanimous)
• Approved February 2026 minutes (unanimous)
• Supported white‑water park project at Riverside Park (consensus)

Arts Commission

The La Grande Arts Commission meeting will review three old‑business items: Signal Box Wraps, Asphalt Art, and the Strategic Plan Deliverables. No new business is scheduled. The agenda also includes routine items such as call to order, approval of agenda and minutes, public comments, staff reports, and commissioner comments.

• Signal Box Wraps – old business item
• Asphalt Art – old business item
• Strategic Plan Deliverables – old business item
• Public comments – open floor for residents
• Commissioners submit timecards – information item

The commission unanimously approved a limited‑competition process for one signal‑box wrap and another open to all Union County artists. The Asphalt Art item was tabled until the absent member can provide input. The commission set a deadline of April 30 to finalize and distribute a downtown‑business survey, and assigned McKayla to draft a park‑art proposal in June with completion by December 2026. Staff will be asked to obtain permission to digitize the LGAC logo.

• Approved opening a limited competition to EOU for one signal‑box wrap and a limited competition to all Union County artists (unanimous)
• Tabled Asphalt Art discussion pending absent member’s input (no vote)
• Assigned Caiti to distribute finalized downtown‑business survey by April 30
• Assigned Caiti to contact the Chamber for help, advertising, and distribution of the survey
• Decided to finish signal‑box competition specifics first, then develop park‑art proposal by Dec 2026
• Assigned McKayla to start drafting the parks art proposal in June
• Decided to seek permission from Dusty and Evie to digitize the LGAC logo
• Instructed volunteers to turn in timecards to staff member Stu