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Umatilla council approves general-obligation bond plan for new police station
Summary
City council voted to pursue a general-obligation (GO) bond (option 3) to fund a new police facility and instructed staff to begin bond-related procurement; councilor Darren DeFloft declared a potential conflict of interest and withdrew an earlier motion.
The Umatilla City Council voted to pursue a general-obligation bond (option 3) to fund construction of a new police department building, directing staff to begin the bond procurement process and retain bond counsel.
The decision came after a workshop and staff presentations outlining financing options. City Manager Dave Stockdale told the council the paperwork to notify the county is due before February and that staff would issue a request for proposals for bond counsel the next day. "The paperwork is due to the county prior to the February. So our next step will be tomorrow. I will be sending out an RFP to several different law offices to retain bond counsel, and we'll be bringing back an authorizing resolution to you at your next meeting," Stockdale said.
Why it matters: The council's vote starts a multi-step process that includes hiring bond counsel, possibly undergoing a credit rating, and holding a public election; bond results would be known in May and would require a budget amendment if approved.
Council discussion focused on funding structure, taxpayer impact and next procedural steps. Council members said option 3 — a 20-year term at roughly $0.30 per $1,000 of assessed value as presented at the workshop — was the preferred approach to take to voters. Several council members emphasized they would still consider other financing if the bond failed, but that any alternative financing would be discussed separately.
Conflict of interest: Councilor Darren DeFloft announced a potential conflict of interest because a family member is employed in the police department. He withdrew an initial motion and later formally declared the potential conflict on the record before the final motion passed. "For the record: At 07:41, Darren DeFloft did declare a potential conflict of interest," the mayor announced.
Next steps and timeline: Staff will issue the RFP for bond counsel immediately, return with an authorizing resolution at the next council meeting, and hold other bond preparations (municipal advisor, underwriter, credit rating) after the election. Stockdale said other steps will not proceed until after the election but that bond counsel would be retained promptly.
No dollar amount was approved for construction in this vote; the council authorized pursuing the funding method (GO bond option 3) and directed staff to proceed with procurement and preparatory work.
