Wilsonville council ratifies Andrew Engel to budget committee amid objections and public criticism

Wilsonville — The City Council on May 6 ratified Mayor O'Neil's appointment of Andrew Engel to the city's budget committee, voting 4-1 after a contentious exchange over the appointment process and public comments from multiple residents.

Council President Berry moved to ratify the appointment, describing Engel as a professional engineer who attends meetings and ‘‘brings a lot to the table’’ because of his engineering background and civic‑academy participation. Councilor Cunningham objected, saying councilors had been promised a structured input process before appointments that ‘‘did not occur’’ and arguing that several applicants with financial and accounting experience were bypassed.

The debate focused on how the council solicits and weighs applicants' backgrounds for advisory positions. ‘‘I interviewed all seven applicants,’’ Councilor Cunningham said during council discussion, adding that many applicants demonstrated budgeting, finance or accounting experience and that the city is facing a declining general fund that warrants strong financial oversight. Mayor O'Neil responded that Oregon law requires citizen members to be qualified electors and that there is no statutory requirement for a particular profession; he described the budget committee as a mix of council and citizen members supported by professional staff and independent audits.

Public comment prior to the vote included multiple speakers who criticized the appointment process and the council's responsiveness. John Bugayo urged civility and said he was ‘‘embarrassed’’ by how the process unfolded; Wayne Hickey and others said the appointment appeared to be predecided; Katie Dunwell said the council’s conduct illustrated a lack of diversity and fairness. Several commenters urged voters to support Measure 3‑632 to change the decision process for major spending and development questions.

After limited additional discussion and a point of order that was denied, the council called the vote. The ratification passed 4-1; Councilor Cunningham registered the lone dissent. The council did not alter the appointment or add additional conditions; the term announced for Engel begins 05/04/2026 and runs through 12/31/2027.

What happens next: Engel joins the budget committee, which advises the council on budget priorities and includes an equal number of citizen members and council members under state law. Councilors and members of the public indicated they expect continuing attention to the committee's composition given the city's projected budget pressures.