Estacada EDC recommends two applicants, then defers final appointment after seat-count confusion

The Estacada Economic Development Commission on Wednesday interviewed two applicants and voted unanimously to recommend both David Cross and Paris Fettig to the City Council, then later voted unanimously to defer a final appointment after commissioners discovered there may be only one open seat.

The commission voted 4-0 to recommend appointment of David Cross to one of its vacancies and 4-0 to recommend Paris Fettig for the other vacancy. Both recommendations were cast as motions to forward appointments to the City Council. The commission later realized there was uncertainty about how many seats were actually open and, after discussion, voted 4-0 to defer a final decision to the commission's next meeting so members could deliberate further and confirm vacancy counts with city staff.

Why it matters: The two recommendations and the subsequent deferral determine who will be positioned to advise the city on business attraction, downtown activation and the commission's forthcoming five-year economic strategy. The delay means the City Council will receive the commission's recommendation but that the commission will continue internal deliberations before finalizing appointments.

Applicant background and interview highlights

David Cross, who described himself as a longtime resident (about 17 years) and a small-business consultant, told the commission he brings marketing, fundraising and public‑relations experience. Cross said he has served on the Springwater Environmental Sciences School board and helped that organization raise money to acquire its school building. Cross said Estacada is “an amazing place” and argued the city could capture more of the consumer spending from new residents and visitors by telling a stronger economic story and improving local retention of dollars.

Paris Fettig, who grew up in Estacada and is an Oregon-licensed real-estate broker and local small-business owner, said she helps families move to and from the area and has been involved in recent local projects, including a Lakeshore development committee and the downtown building at 381 S. Broadway that now houses Estacada Athletic Arts and a candy shop. Fettig said her prior work on city grant applications and downtown projects revealed gaps she believes she can help fill, particularly in outreach to small businesses and event-led visitation.

Formal motions and votes

- Motion: Approve meeting minutes. Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Outcome: approved, vote recorded as unanimous (4-0). (See provenance below.)

- Motion: Recommend appointment of David Cross to EDC (position 8). Mover: Commissioner Luke Spencer. Second: Commissioner Brooke Wheeler. Outcome: recommendation forwarded to City Council, vote 4-0.

- Motion: Recommend appointment of Paris Fettig to EDC (position 9). Mover: Commissioner Luke Spencer. Second: Commissioner Cindy Moore. Outcome: recommendation forwarded to City Council, vote 4-0.

- Motion: Defer final appointment decision to the next Economic Development Commission meeting to allow further deliberation and verification of open seats. Mover: Commissioner Luke Spencer. Second: Commissioner Brooke Wheeler. Outcome: motion carried, vote 4-0.

Discussion vs. decision

Commissioners praised both applicants’ complementary strengths — Cross for marketing and international/business experience and Fettig for local real-estate knowledge and downtown business experience — and several commissioners said both would be assets. The commission initially moved to recommend both applicants to the City Council, then discovered uncertainty about the number of available seats and chose to postpone a final internal appointment decision so members could confirm the vacancy count and deliberate further.

What comes next

The commission will reconvene the appointment discussion at its next meeting. Staff said the commission may forward its recommendation to City Council; applicants were told to expect further contact from city staff. The commission also asked staff to clarify the exact number of authorized seats and to confirm whether council action would be required to expand the panel if commissioners want to add an additional seat.

Ending

Commissioners thanked both applicants for their time and interest and said they would follow up publicly after the commission’s next meeting.