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Stayton council adopts vision and values and updates rules; meeting-time change draws concern
Summary
On Oct. 6 the Stayton City Council adopted Resolution 25-032 (council vision and values) and Resolution 25-033 (updated council rules). Council discussed social media guidance and a change to meeting start times, drawing comments from residents and councilors.
Stayton City Council on Oct. 6 adopted two governance resolutions: Resolution 25-032, setting a council vision and core values, and Resolution 25-033, updating the council rules. Both measures passed 4-0.
The council adopted a simplified council vision and added a transparency clause to core values, staff said. Julia, city staff, described the process and noted the council replaced the consultant-drafted vision with a version proposed by Councilor Sims.
Public comment and council discussion focused on the council rules, particularly the social media and meeting-time provisions. Resident Len Hayes urged caution on changing meeting times, saying, “My first thought is, wow. Doesn't anybody want to have some time with the kids before coming to the meeting?” Councilor Sims said he favored finishing the edits and was flexible on start time: “I don't I don't either way, 6 30 or 7 for me is fine.” Councilor Patty expressed concern about earlier start times because of family schedules but said she would vote to adopt the rules so the council could move forward.
Councilors and staff clarified how the social media language should be read. Julia told the council, “these are your your rules and you are the ones that get to interpret your rules, not me,” and staff reiterated that the rule requires council members to make clear when they are expressing personal opinions rather than speaking for the city. Council discussion indicated enforcement or determination of violations would be decided by the council.
The updated rules include a start-time change that staff said is expected to take effect at the beginning of the calendar year; staff also said the council can adopt a subsequent resolution to change start times if needed. During the vote on Resolution 25-033, Councilor Patty restated her opposition to the meeting-time change but voted yes so the council could adopt the unified rules; the resolution passed 4-0.
Council also discussed practical next steps: staff will publish the clean rules and the track-changes version for public review. Councilors and staff acknowledged they can return at any time to modify scheduling or clarify rules language.
