By Chelly Bouferrache
For The New Era
The Brownsville City Council at its May 28 meeting decided to change when it takes public comments during its sessions.
Councilors agreed to move the public comments to a point in the agenda following city staff reports. Prior to that decision, citizens had a chance to speak near the beginning. The council will impose a three-minute limit per speaker and a requirement to sign up before the meeting. If the public comment period exceeds 30 minutes, a vote to extend the time will be held.
City Administrator Scott McDowell encouraged residents to reach out to staff directly and emphasized the value of citizen input.
Community Events and Street Closures
Linda McCormick presented plans for the annual “Stand By Me” Day on July 26, requesting the closure of Park Avenue between Main and Averill streets. Residents on the affected street did not object to the closure, which will feature vintage cars, a fan forum at the rec center, walking tours, and a pie-eating contest hosted by the American Legion.
The event is moved to Saturday. The council unanimously approved the street closure.
The Linn County Museum requested closures of Park Avenue and Averill Street for its “Hands on History” event, expecting 300 to 400 attendees. After debate over liability concerns, particularly for emergency vehicle access, the council approved closing only Park Avenue and not Averill Street, consistent with past practice, and invited the museum to request modifications at the next meeting if they wanted to pursue the second street closure.
Budget and Revenue Sharing
Public hearings were held on the proposed use of state revenue sharing for fiscal year 2025/2026 and the city budget. No public comments were received for either item. McDowell explained that the state revenue sharing, approximately $26,000 annually, typically offsets streetlight costs, which total about $90,000 yearly. The council unanimously passed Resolution 2025.08 to certify eligibility for these funds.
Staff Reports
Linn County Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Frambes reported 32 traffic stops, with a few arrests tied to traffic violations.
Teens stole beer from the 76 gas station, and chainsaws were taken from Stella Jones, though no video evidence was available, he said. The Sheriff’s Office noted this is the busiest time of the year till October.
Public Works reported minimal updates, including a damaged fire hydrant awaiting parts, ongoing mowing, and cemetery cleanup for Memorial Day.
Park hosts Bob and Pat Raleigh began their duties on May 19 at Pioneer Park.
Librarian Sherri Lemhouse highlighted the library’s cultural passes, offering free access to Oregon state parks, the Gilbert House Children’s Museum, and the University of Oregon’s Museum of Natural and Cultural History, among others. Passes, available year-round, include a difficult-to-get Central Cascades Wilderness Permit for fee-free hiking or camping.
Elizabeth Coleman, of city planning, discussed FEMA’s review of Oregon’s National Flood Insurance Program, noting a lawsuit by Oregonians for Floodplain Protection challenging development restrictions in floodplains. McDowell also criticized Senate Bill 974, which shortens building review periods to 45 days, calling it a potential liability for smaller jurisdictions and an “affront to local control.”
City finance administrative assistant Tammi Morrow outlined the weed abatement process, active from mid-May to mid-October, requiring weeds to be kept under 12 inches to reduce fire risk. Most property owners comply after notices, with fewer than 10 formal requests for action issued this year emphasizing that the city wants to work with people to come into compliance.
Legislative Actions
A three-year agreement with Central Linn School District for youth sports field use was approved, addressing maintenance concerns.
The council approved a letter, to be signed by Mayor Craven and Administrator McDowell, addressing recent “power blips” reported by Councilor Mike Winklepleck, seeking answers from Pacific Power.
Administrator Updates
McDowell reviewed council goals, committee assignments, and an upcoming audit. The city’s new website, developed with CivicPlus, is slated for launch in the coming months. Insurance renewals for property, casualty, and vehicles were reported in good standing, and a Flagstar bond payment was completed. Councilor Felipe Eversull praised McDowell’s work on the website