Prineville council adopts wastewater and comp‑plan updates, approves ODOT maintenance amendment

Prineville City Council on a unanimous vote approved three linked ordinances updating the city—9s wastewater and public‑facilities elements of its comprehensive plan and adopted a resolution amending the cooperative improvement agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation.

The measures, presented as a package by Josh Smith, implement technical updates to the wastewater and water system plans and revise Chapter 8 (public facilities) of the comprehensive plan. Smith told the council the text had not changed since posting and that there were no public comments submitted, allowing the council to consider first-and-final presentations.

Councilors voted on each ordinance by roll call and, in each case, the motion carried unanimously. The council then took up Resolution 16‑01, presented by Casey Keiser, which amends the existing cooperative improvement agreement with ODOT that governs the stretch of Third Street that functions as both a city street and a state highway. Keiser said the amendment "clarifies that the city is responsible for the curbs and the sidewalk that includes those ADA ramps" and that ODOT retains responsibility for the asphalt within the travel lanes.

Why it matters: the package aligns local planning documents with ongoing projects and clarifies maintenance responsibilities on a state right‑of‑way that runs through town. That clarity affects which agency pays for repairs, stripe markings and winter maintenance on parking stalls adjacent to the highway.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance No. 1292 (wastewater facilities plan update) — passed by roll call; Ordinance No. 1293 (wastewater system plan ancillary update) — passed by roll call; Ordinance No. 1294 (amendment to Chapter 8, public facilities) — passed by roll call; Resolution 16‑01 (amendment to cooperative improvement agreement with ODOT) — passed by roll call. All items passed unanimously according to council records.

The council did not receive on‑the‑record public testimony on the ordinances, and staff said the documents had been posted for the required public comment period prior to the meeting. Keiser answered a council question by explaining how storm‑drain maintenance and Vactor (vacuum) truck operations are coordinated when drains need clearing but said the physical storm‑drain infrastructure in the roadway remains an ODOT responsibility. The council closed the agenda item after the roll‑call votes and moved on to remaining business.