Dundee council approves water-rate hike, public-works contracts and an urban-renewal grant

DUNDEE, Ore. — The Dundee City Council on April 1 approved a package of measures the city said it needs to shore up utility finances and advance local development, including a multi-tier water-rate increase, a $30,000 PFAS study contract and a $125,000 urban-renewal grant for the Olive Branch development.

The votes came as the council and staff described a budget shortfall and several near-term infrastructure and permitting decisions. Council members approved a resolution setting new water-consumption rates and associated charges (Resolution 2025-O3), awarded a contract for a PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) study, authorized temporary street closures and noise variances for an event, and approved several smaller contracts and appointments.

Most measures passed with routine procedural votes. The council approved the consent agenda (minutes; financial report; and a brewery LFCC application), approved hiring Kennedy James Consultants for a PFAS study, accepted a sewer-rate study proposal, granted the requested temporary street closure and noise variance for “Refueled by Fine Wine,” and appointed Shannon Stuckel to the budget committee. The council also approved an urban-renewal contribution of $125,000 for the Olive Branch project and directed staff to proceed with related paperwork.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 2025-O3 (water rates): Adopted. The resolution raises the base water rate and updates consumption tiers. The resolution also establishes a $0.50 monthly technology fee on water bills and adds an annual adjustment tied to consumer price measures, with the resolution text specifying a start date shown in staff materials. (Discussion and vote recorded in meeting minutes.) - PFAS study contract (Kennedy James Consultants): Approved. Council approved a personal-service contract not to exceed $30,000 to perform a PFAS study and report. Staff said the state had reviewed the contract. (Motion and vote recorded.) - Temporary closure / Refueled by Fine Wine event (5K and half-marathon): Approved. Council granted the temporary closure and noise variance as requested; staff noted prior events had caused neighborhood parking and noise concerns in some years. (Motion and vote recorded.) - Sewer-rate study (Oregon Association of Water Utilities): Approved. Council accepted a $12,000 proposal to perform a sewer-rate study and update. Staff said $40,000 existed in the budget for similar work and roughly $9,000 had been spent to date. (Motion and vote recorded.) - Urban-renewal contribution — Olive Branch project: Approved. Council voted to develop an agreement to provide $125,000 from the urban-renewal fund to help pay infrastructure costs tied to the Olive Branch development. Staff presented a line-item estimate submitted by the applicant, and council members discussed project scale and projected tax increment revenue before approving the contribution. (Motion and vote recorded.) - Consent agenda: Approved. Includes minutes, financial report ending Feb. 25 and a brewery LFCC application. - Appointment: Shannon Stuckel approved to the Dundee budget committee for a three-year term.

What passed and what happens next Council directed staff to prepare the formal documents needed to implement each measure: the city administrator will finalize contracts, and the engineering and planning teams will incorporate council direction into public-works permit drawings (for projects such as Ninth Street modifications and the Olive Branch infrastructure). Several items will appear in upcoming budget and urban-renewal paperwork and will be tracked as part of the city’s capital-improvement planning.

The council did not change any staff recommendations on the clerk’s or attorney’s procedural matters during the votes. Where timing or effective dates were not specified in the meeting debate, staff said the implementation schedule and precise effective dates would be included in the formal documents returned to council or in subsequent budget committee materials.

Ending Council members said they expect follow-up work on the water and budget topics at the next budget meeting; staff noted several upcoming meetings with the rural fire district and other partners to discuss public-safety funding.