Fees Rise While Council Debates Hiring a Parliamentarian

North Plains residents are being asked to pay more while the city council debates whether it needs help managing its own meetings.

At Monday’s meeting, the council moved forward with updates to the city’s fee schedule, including water-related increases. Staff described the changes as inflation-related and tied to cost recovery. That may be a normal part of city budgeting, but the political context is anything but normal.

The same council overseeing higher fees also discussed hiring a parliamentarian to help conduct meetings. Council President Hagedorn previously raised the idea as a way to improve meeting efficiency, collaboration and public trust.

But residents are entitled to ask a simpler question: why does a small-town city council need a procedural referee in the first place?

North Plains is not Portland. It is not Metro. It is a small city that should be able to conduct public meetings, follow its own rules and make decisions without spending scarce resources on basic governance support.

The parliamentarian discussion comes amid a broader collapse of confidence at City Hall: repeated resignations, an appointed council majority, the sudden departure of City Manager Bill Reid, ongoing fights over the Urban Growth Boundary process and growing concern that anti-growth activism is being used to stall the city’s state-required planning work.

The meeting also included another warning sign. The North Plains Chamber of Commerce raised concerns about the newly formed North Plains Business Alliance, created by Linda Galas-Merten and Lora Dexheimer. Chamber President Russ Sheldon warned against giving business-community influence to an untested organization with ties to anti-growth activism, especially when established groups already exist to represent local businesses.

That issue matters because the fight over North Plains’ future is not only happening at council meetings. It is also being fought through side organizations, public pressure campaigns and attempts to shape who gets recognized as speaking for the community.

Residents want low taxes, safe streets, working infrastructure, local businesses, parks and a livable town. Instead, they are getting higher fees, staff turmoil, procedural distractions and more delay.

North Plains does not need more political theater. It needs competent leadership and a responsible 20-year plan.