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Hermiston council advances LID 323 for Northwest Second Street improvements after public hearing
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Summary
Council moved to advance ordinance 23-71 to form Local Improvement District (LID) 323 to build curb, gutter, sidewalk and stormwater infrastructure on Northwest Second Street between Elm and Cherry; council set final adoption for Sept. 22 after a 7-1 procedural vote and staff said benefiting properties will be assessed about 86% of the cost.
Hermiston City Council advanced the creation of Local Improvement District (LID) 323 on a procedural vote and directed staff to proceed to ordinance consideration and design work. Assistant City Manager Mark Morgan told the council the ordinance would form LID 323 to build street pavement, curb, gutter, sidewalk and stormwater on Northwest Second Street between Elm Avenue and Cherry Avenue.
The city’s staff report described the project as a response to Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) plans to install traffic-separating barricades on Elm Avenue near U.S. 395 that would change neighborhood access. Assistant City Manager Mark Morgan said the LID would assign “approximately 86% of the cost to the adjacent benefiting properties.” He also noted the city negotiated a $75,000 payment from previously opposing property owners to remove remonstrances that had delayed the project earlier this year.
Councilors voted 7–1 to continue the public-hearing record into the ordinance presentation and possible adoption; Councilor Linton cast the lone opposing vote on the procedural motion. Because the earlier remonstrance issue prevented unanimity in May, the council set a final reading and possible adoption of ordinance 23-71 for Sept. 22, 2025. If adopted, staff said they would start design work immediately, advertise for bids in the fall and anticipate construction in the spring. After construction is complete the final assessments will be calculated; property owners may pay in a lump sum or use the city’s financing option over 10 years.
Councilors asked about neighborhood safety and maintenance. One councilor asked whether speed bumps would be included; staff replied that speed bumps are not part of the city’s street standards. The police chief said he could not identify an immediate difference in emergency response between paved and unpaved roads but added driving on pavement is generally safer.
Council discussion stressed the history of the issue: Morgan said the council first considered the project in March, mailed notice to property owners in late March and received remonstrances in May. That earlier non-remonstrance agreement error required further negotiation; staff said the $75,000 settlement removed property-owner opposition and allowed the LID to proceed by a simple-majority vote.
Action summary: the council voted to move the issue forward to ordinance 23-71, set the final reading for Sept. 22, 2025, and authorized staff to proceed with design and bidding. Actual assessments and the construction schedule remain contingent on final bids and the outcome of the ordinance adoption.
The council’s decision does not change ODOT’s planned barricades on Elm; council members clarified the barricades are an ODOT action and not a city decision.
The city will present final cost figures after construction and place levies on benefited parcels per the LID rules.
