North Plains residents, food‑bank attorney ask council to waive $2,296 design‑review fees as relocation looms

Attorney Maggie Donahue, speaking for the North Plains Food Bank, asked the City Council on Sept. 2 to waive two Type 2 design‑review fees required for the nonprofit’s planned move and to accelerate the review timeline. Donahue said each review costs $2,296 and “could take up to 120 days to complete,” creating a substantial financial and operational burden for the food bank as it relocates across the street from the Senior Center.

Several residents and volunteers described how heavily the food bank is relied upon. Alan Hallberg, a long‑time volunteer, said the organization distributes thousands of pounds of food weekly and serves seniors, families and homebound clients. Charity Huggett said her family “would not have food, shoes, or clothing without the food bank.” Those accounts underscored pleas that the city not let the nonprofit’s move be delayed by planning fees or lengthy review timelines.

Councilors discussed procedural requirements and, after consulting with the city attorney about how the council could act, agreed to add the food‑bank fee question to the work sessions scheduled for Sept. 15, 2025 so staff and council can consider options including fee waivers or expedited review processes. Council President Aaron Dumbrow, attending by Zoom, and other councilors agreed to a pair of 30‑minute work sessions beginning at 6:00 p.m. that night; the council also set a one‑minute public‑comment rule for the special mayor‑selection meeting that follows.

The food bank’s relocation and the cost and timing of the design reviews were raised during public comment; the council did not take an immediate vote on fee waivers at the Sept. 2 meeting and directed staff to return with options for the Sept. 15 work session.