Council authorizes city administrator to sign MOU to pursue statewide crisis-intervention radio grant

The City Council convened a special meeting on July 3, 2026, and voted to authorize the city administrator to sign a memorandum of understanding to participate in a Statewide Crisis Intervention Program grant application that could provide radios valued in the transcript at $56,414.50.

Josette told the council the lead agency would be the Columbia County Sheriff's Office and that the participating agencies would include the City of Saint Helens police department and the Vernon Police Department. She emphasized the award described in the application covers products only and said the listed figures are "actual cost for specific numbers of radios," not estimates. The chair described the opportunity as "like a donation of $56,414.50 for with no string attached." The council moved, seconded, and voted aye; the chair announced, "Motion carried." The motion authorized the city administrator to sign the MOU immediately, and the chair indicated he would sign the paperwork at the meeting.

The discussion included operational questions about whether vehicle docking hardware would need replacement and whether programming and frequency changes would be required. Josette said programming would be handled by Communications Northwest or Raycom (or equivalent vendors), citing the need for specific encryption keys. Council members also asked when the grant award would be announced; Josette said she did not know and would need to ask Sheriff Pixley for the timeline. The council did not record a roll-call vote by name in the transcript, only vocal affirmations of "aye." The council adjourned at 10:15 p.m.