Keizer volunteer committee forwards planning, arts and youth nominees to city council; members debate appointment process

The Keizer Volunteer Coordinating Committee on Aug. 14 forwarded nominees for multiple volunteer positions to Keizer City Council and discussed whether the committee should revise how it conducts interviews and votes.

The committee voted to put forward three candidates for the planning commission — Matt Blair, Jaren (Jeremy) Grant and Larry Strut — all for three-year terms effective Oct. 1, 2025, through 2028. It also moved Jesus Escobar forward for a Keizer Public Art Commission seat (term ending June 2028), recommended Felicia Dacto as the city’s youth counselor for the 2025–26 school year (roughly Sept. 1, 2025–May 30, 2026) and recommended Cassidy Turner as the arts commission youth liaison for the 2025–26 school year.

Why it matters: These volunteer panels advise the city on land use, arts programming and youth engagement, and their membership affects which perspectives reach City Council and staff. Committee members also flagged recurring confusion about how the VCC tallies and presents votes when multiple positions are open — a procedural issue the group agreed to revisit at future meetings.

The interviews and votes

- Matt Blair, planning commission chair, spoke about the planning commission’s recent work, public outreach and code changes, and asked the committee to recommend him for another term. Members praised his service and moved him forward to council. The committee’s roll-call-style tally produced a majority and the motion passed; the committee did not record a detailed per-member vote in the minutes.

- Jaren Grant (appearing as Jaren/Jeremy Grant), a Keizer resident and planning commission member, said he sought a third term and cited engineering and land-use experience. During the vote for planning position 2 the committee recorded a tally of 3 votes for Grant, 2 for Larry Strut and 1 “no recommendation”; Grant received the majority and the committee forwarded him to council.

- Larry Strut, an applicant with background in strategic planning and local engagement, was selected by majority for the third planning position and will be forwarded to council.

- Jesus Escobar was represented at the meeting by Terry Romero, who read a letter from Escobar and spoke on his behalf. Romero described Escobar’s community volunteer work and arts interest; Romero said Escobar is “very well liked in the community” and that he “cares passionately about kids and how to incorporate art.” The committee moved Escobar forward to City Council for the Public Art Commission, term ending June 2028; the motion passed.

- Felicia Dacto, an applicant for the youth counselor slot, described local volunteer experiences and a leadership program in Washington, D.C. She told the committee she is “committed to learning, working hard, and serve with integrity.” The committee voted unanimously to forward Dacto to City Council for the youth counselor position for the 2025–26 school year.

- Cassidy Turner, an applicant for the arts commission youth liaison, described school-based arts work and local volunteer experience. She said she wanted more opportunities for youth to create visible public art. The committee moved Turner forward to City Council for the 2025–26 school year; the motion passed.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of June 2025 minutes — motion passed (committee voice vote). - Planning Commission, position 1 — Matt Blair forwarded to City Council (majority; per-meeting record: motion carried). - Planning Commission, position 2 — Jaren (Jeremy) Grant forwarded (tally recorded in meeting: 3 for Grant, 2 for Strut, 1 no recommendation). - Planning Commission, position 3 — Larry Strut forwarded (majority; motion carried). - Keizer Public Art Commission, position 1 — Jesus Escobar forwarded to City Council for term ending June 2028 (motion passed). - Youth counselor (school-year appointment) — Felicia Dacto forwarded to City Council for Sept. 2025–May 2026 term (motion passed unanimously). - Arts commission youth liaison — Cassidy Turner forwarded to City Council for 2025–26 school year (motion passed).

Procedure and process discussion

After the appointments, committee members spent substantial time discussing the committee’s appointment rules and voting flow. Several members said the current requirement to vote by numbered position (position 1, 2, 3) can split votes in ways that do not reflect members’ true preferences when all positions carry the same term and responsibilities. Member Larry Strut and others described a prior practice of casting a single “slate” ballot (voting for up to N candidates rather than ranking them into numbered positions) and said that approach avoided the “vote-splitting” observed under the current process.

Some members asked that the VCC place the appointment-procedure rules on a future agenda for revision and consider drafting suggested changes to bring to council. Staff offered to prepare materials and the committee agreed to return to the topic at a subsequent meeting so members can propose and review edits to clarify the process and reduce confusion.

Volunteer recognition and budget note

The committee reviewed ideas and price estimates for volunteer recognition items for roughly 70–80 volunteers the city plans to acknowledge next year. Options ranged from low-cost multiuse items (pens, small flashlights) to more costly bags or kits; members favored choosing durable items and requested additional samples and quotes before finalizing purchases. Committee members repeatedly said they wanted quality items rather than inexpensive giveaways.

What happens next

All forwarded nominees will appear on Keizer City Council agendas for formal appointment decisions. The VCC will continue its discussion of appointment procedures at upcoming meetings and will request staff-prepared draft changes for review.

Ending note

The committee concluded by setting a next meeting date and agreeing to return the appointment-process topic to a future agenda so members can develop a clearer, consensus-based procedure for interviews and votes.