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Residents, volunteers urge council to support North Plains Food Bank amid application and facility concerns
Summary
Multiple residents and the food bank's leadership urged the council to help sustain the North Plains Food Bank, citing weekly pickups of roughly 4,000 pounds of food and service to about 170 local families; councilors noted the food bank's application remains incomplete and staff will follow up on required fees and requirements.
Several residents and representatives of the North Plains Food Bank addressed the council during the Sept. 15 public-comment period and in submitted materials, urging continued support for the food bank's operations and services.
Alan Hallberg submitted a lengthy memorandum stressing the food bank's community role. Hallberg wrote that the North Plains Food Bank (NPFB) receives about 4,000 pounds of food weekly, feeds roughly 170 local families, and supports approximately 1,500 clients; he described the NPFB's “dignity-first” market model and timely handling of perishable donations, writing “Use it or Lose It” to explain the time-sensitive nature of store donations. Hallberg urged the council to facilitate a path to support the food bank's needs, including space and facilities for storage and distribution.
NPFB head Lora Dexheimer spoke in support of the food bank at the meeting, and attorney Maggie Donohue addressed legal/administrative matters for the organization. Tom Hauth and other residents also commented in favor of the food bank's continued operations. Several submitted letters and emails included calls to appoint a preferred mayoral candidate and raised transparency questions about council communications, but multiple public-comment items focused on the food bank's service and volunteer capacity.
Councilor Michele McCall-Wallace later noted the food-bank application to the city remains incomplete because it is missing a fee and other requirements. City Manager Bill Reid and staff indicated they would follow up; Councilor McCall-Wallace's comment suggests further administrative steps are required before any formal city action on facility or permit matters.
The meeting minutes include descriptions of the comments and the full texts of many submitted letters in the meeting packet. Residents seeking copies of the public comments, memos, or the NPFB's submitted materials should request the meeting packet or contact the City Recorder.
