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Dear neighbors and friends,
It’s coming up on the sixth month anniversary of my inauguration as Mayor along with the members of the City Council. For me, it’s been a whirlwind of meeting so many of you - concerned citizens, business leaders, city and county staffers, people who I’ve run into at events and everyone else. I’ve toured facilities, received so many emails, and worked with my colleagues to navigate the changes and challenges that come up in a dynamic city. It’s been exciting, surprising, rewarding and fun, and I’d like to take a moment to share some reflections on our progress as a mayor and council and what lies ahead for our wonderful city.
Looking Back at Our First Six Months
I’ve spent my entire life here in McMinnville, but sinceJanuary, I’ve dedicated myself to understand as much as I can about what makes it tick.
Part of that has been getting in touch with the dynamics of the City Council. There have been some long meetings and late Tuesdays behind the dais, but I’m glad we have a group where every voice is heard, and we can collaborate effectively, even when we don't always see eye to eye. More than ever, I’m convinced that communication in good faith is the key to getting the work done. The number of executive sessions has made me chuckle at times, but it’s been worth it.
One of our most significant undertakings was the recent budget process. We dug in deeper than perhaps ever before, scrutinizing every line item to ensure fiscal responsibility. And the citizens of McMinnville showed up to share how they felt about the city’s priorities. While it was an intense process, we came to a resolution that will work for this fiscal year, and we learned points we can improve going forward.
The budget was clearly the biggest item on the agenda over the last six months, but we also have implemented small but impactful changes to make the Council’s work for efficient and accessible to who we work for: the people of McMinnville.
Council minutes are now completed and reviewed promptly at the subsequent meeting. Councilors now have a dedicated meeting room at City Hall to meet with citizens, ensuring more professional and accessible interactions. All department heads now provide reports at our council meetings, ensuring greater accountability and transparency. There's no more "nothing to report"! Councilors can now request items to be added to the agenda, allowing for more responsive governance.
Our Council has also directly addressed key citizen concerns, including safety, parks, economic development, Municipal Court operations, and bond costs. Furthermore, I've been actively engaged in legislative meetings and have attended the monthly meetings with the other Mayors of Yamhill County, which began in January, fostering vital regional relationships.
Also, we’ve made physical changes, finishing the long-overdue repairs to the steps at City Hall (improving safety and accessibility) and added a trash can to Gormley Plaza.
The employees of this city serve this community in a variety of ways, even just adding a trash can to a space that needed one.
What Lies Ahead
In the near future, there will be the process of finding a new city manager and the Council’s goal setting sessions. Also, we’ll be engaging in critical discussions regarding our regional water resources to ensure a sustainable future, continuing to negotiate the Ultimate RB project, prioritizing essential capital improvements throughout the city, while also increasing financial transparency so the average citizen can see where their tax dollars are going. We’ll also be striving to strengthen our relationships with local businesses, our regional and state government partners and achieve our shared goals of making this the sort of city we all deserve to live in and enjoy.
And yes, some aspects of this role have been a bit surprising! The sheer number of items on my calendar in the first three months was certainly unexpected. I've also been amazed by the volume of emails I receive daily, but I truly appreciate the active involvement of our citizens and the business community.
People often ask me if I regret running for Mayor. My answer is a resounding no. I am absolutely committed to dedicating my time and effort to bring about positive change for McMinnville. It's an honor and a privilege to serve as your Mayor.
Thank you for your continued engagement and support.
Sincerely,
Mayor Kim Morris
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