August 31, 2020 Work session minutesCOUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING
MINUTES AUGUST 31, 2020
DATE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, CITY OF WOODBURN, COUNTY
OF MARION, STATE OF OREGON, AUGUST 31, 2020
CONVENED The wdrk session convened at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Swenson presiding.
COUNCIL PRESENT
Mayor Swenson Present
Councilor Carney
Councilor Cornwell
Councilor Schaub
Councilor Morris
Councilor Ellsworth
Councilor Cabrales
Present
-via video conferencing
Present
-via video conferencing
Present
-via video conferencing
Present
-via video conferencing
Present
-via video conferencing
Present
-via video conferencing
Staff Present: City Administrator Derickson, City Attorney Shields, Assistant City Attorney
Granurn, Assistant City Administrator Row, Police Chief Ferraris, Deputy Police Chief Pilcher, ,
City Recorder Pierson
Councilor Schaub stated that she would like to make a motion. Schaub/Morris... that the
Woodburn City Council conduct a vote via no confidence for Mayor Eric Swenson.
Councilor Schaub explained that the vote of no confidence is based on the actions of the Mayor
and would like members of the Council to discuss this and make a vote.
Councilor Morris provided a presentation on the items for the Council to consider in regards to
Mayor Swenson and the no confidence vote. Those items included his discussions with Marion
County in regards to the pandemic, the BLM protest, the Father's Day Parade and a walk through
of some real estate property.
Mayor Swenson stated that he appreciates the chance to talk about these things and provided
explanations to the situations that Councilor Morris brought up.
Councilor Carney asked questions of the Mayor in regards to Marion County's Covid facility and
inquired as to why he wasn't keeping the Council informed on what was happening.
Councilor Schaub stated that she was appalled that he even suggested the Super 8 considering
where it is located in Woodburn.
Councilor Cornwell stated that she has concerns about the Mayor denying that he had anything
to do with the facility coming to Woodburn and wishes that the Mayor would have been more
honest with what had happened.
Page 1 — Council Work Session Meeting Minutes, August 31, 2020
Councilor Ellsworth stated that she understands that mistakes can be made but her main concern
is what the motivation behind all of this was and whether the Mayor was na1ve or if there were
nefarious intentions.
Councilor Cabrales stated that she understands what everyone is saying and believes that this
was a mistake and to try and think about the great things the Mayor has done.
City Attorney Shields stated that he did not know that the Mayor had spoken with the owner of
the Super 8 until he read about it in Marion County's response.
City Administrative Derickson stated that he did not know the County was looking in Woodburn
until June 16 when the County called him.
Councilor Morris stated that his biggest concern is what is going to come next that we don't
know anything about.
Mayor Swenson stated that he understands the feelings around this and the connections being
made and that there was some naivete on his part.
The Mayor called for a roll call vote on the motion. On roll call vote the motion passed 5-1 with
Councilor Cabrales voting no.
The work session items that were scheduled to take place at this meeting were: postponed to a
later date.
ADJOURNMENT
Morris/Ellsworth... meeting be adjourned. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting
adjourned at 8:36 p.m.
APPROVED
ERICSWENSON, MAYOR
ATTEST_&
Heatli r Pierson, Recorder
City of Woodburn, Oregon
Page 2 — Council Work Session Meeting Minutes, August 31, 2020