Council asks staff to review existing use‑fee code and prepare hiring policy discussion

At the June 4 St. Helens work session councilors asked for a staff review of a use‑fee (fee‑for‑service) code and signaled interest in updating hiring policies.

Councilor Scholten asked whether the city plans to bring a fee‑for‑service conversation to a future work session. Staff responded that the current year’s budget does not implement a fee for service but the budget committee recommended exploring it as an advisory question for the public. Staff said the use fee already exists in city code and offered to review the code and return with a recommendation on how to implement it and when it could be brought to the public.

Separately, staff said they will begin work on personnel and hiring policies and asked whether the council wants background information or a fuller staff recommendation at the next session. “I started working on it on Monday,” one staff member said, and offered to provide materials for a constructive discussion at the next work session; the staff member said they can present remotely if needed.

Why it matters: implementing a use fee would change how certain city services are charged and could affect residents and service users; updating hiring policy affects recruitment and personnel practice across city departments.

No policy change or formal council vote was recorded during the work session; staff will prepare analysis and return with recommendations at a future meeting.