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Garfield council adopts two ordinances under emergency clause, approves multiple personnel and finance items
Summary
At its Nov. 13 meeting the Garfield City Council unanimously approved Ordinances 222 (water connection fees) and 223 (Hughes Road annexation) with emergency clauses, agreed to proceed with regionalizing water services, approved participation in APERS, and adopted the 2026 salary schedule after executive session.
The City of Garfield Council on Nov. 13 unanimously approved a slate of motions affecting city finance, personnel and development.
The council adopted Ordinance 222, addressing water system connection fees, after reading the ordinance by title, suspending the three‑reading rule and voting to approve the ordinance. Council then invoked the ordinance's emergency clause; the votes on suspension, approval and emergency invocation were all unanimous (Council Members Teeselink, Kitterman, Smead and Rambo voting yes). Recorder‑Treasurer Christal Allen read the ordinance title on behalf of the city.
The council also approved Ordinance 223 to annex property along Hughes Road. As with Ordinance 222, the council read the ordinance by title only, suspended the three‑reading rule, approved the ordinance and invoked its emergency clause; all actions carried unanimously.
Other formal actions taken during the meeting included: the council moved forward with pursuing water regionalization; approved participation in the APERS retirement program “at the appropriate time”; approved the 2026 salary schedule after a brief executive session that began at 7:06 p.m. and ended at 7:16 p.m.; accepted the October financial report; authorized filling the Street Department vacancy; and approved a $2,718.49 quote from Alert Alarm Systems to hardwire the city door security/access system. All recorded motions were passed by unanimous council votes.
The council set proposed 2026 budgets for the General, Street, Water and ½% Sales Tax funds and proposed 2026 water rates for a formal vote at the December meeting. A discussion of proposed Ordinance 218 was tabled until December. Mayor Gary Blackburn also reported a Nov. 10 letter requesting time extensions on the Schooley Lane erosion project and the Pinebrooke East culvert project.
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. and adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
