MAY 2025

What's Happening in Hermiston?

Ask 10 people where they get their news and you might get 10 different answers.

This came up during our first meeting with the 2025 Civic Leadership Class. Even people who are highly engaged with their community can have trouble finding reliable, accurate information. Social media, radio, print, television, websites, friends, meetings, neighbors, and the next table at the coffee shop are all sources. But getting all the information you need from one place can be a challenge.

The City of Hermiston's goal is to keep residents informed about decisions, events, and programs happening in the community. The purpose of this new monthly newsletter is to share the basic facts and happenings of the past month and let residents know what's coming up next month.

We will keep it simple, straightforward and transparent. It will include a brief recap of city news, a report on the previous month's council meetings, upcoming events and meetings, a monthly survey, and city job postings and RFPs. We look forward to questions or feedback and hope you will find this newsletter a healthy addition to your information diet.

Byron Smith,

Hermiston City Manager

YOUR CITY

Volunteers Plant Trees at EOTEC

The weather at the Eastern Oregon Trade & Event Center can include gusts of wind and high temperatures — sometimes on the same day. Two dozen volunteers planted 57 trees at EOTEC on Saturday, May 3 to help mitigate these effects, especially during the Umatilla County Fair in August.

This is the second year of the partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and Amazon to plant new trees at the property. Volunteers planted 25 Thujas and 32 columnar oaks, both suitable for Hermiston's climate. The Thuja evergreens will block the wind at the barns and the oaks will provide shade and aesthetic appeal along the driveway.

“We’re grateful to the volunteer help to continue developing the fairgrounds and EOTEC to make it a more welcoming place year-round,” said Brandon Artz, Hermiston Parks & Recreation Director. “These trees will bring shade and natural vegetation to the fairgrounds and improve both the aesthetics and comfort for visitors.”

• The City of Hermiston is accepting applications to fund local recreation projects through the Transient Room Tax (Hermiston website)
  
  

• Hermiston Police partners with Good Shepherd Health Care System to start a new hospital patrol beat (Northeast Oregon Now)
  
  

• Jake Noyes from the Hermiston Street Department wins the American Public Works Association Equipment Roadeo for Oregon (Hermiston website)
  
  

• Hermiston City Council approves the updated 2025 Capital Improvement Plan for water, wastewater, and road projects (Hermiston Projects)

CITY COUNCIL REPORT

Council Approves Rideshares in City Limits,
Extends Subsidized Taxi Contracts

Rideshare drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft will soon be able to get licensed in Hermiston like traditional taxi services. The City Council approved an ordinance at its Monday, April 28 meeting that will create an equal playing field for drivers.

The ordinance is modeled after others in similar cities around the state. As with obtaining a taxi license, drivers are required to complete a background check to ensure they haven’t been convicted of a felony, physical violence crime or DUII in the past seven years and aren’t on a sex offender registry. (Read the staff report)

City staff will now develop a fee schedule with the goal of covering the cost of administering the program, which City Council will consider in May. The suggested fees are $50 per year for the application paid by the driver, $1,000 per year by the rideshare company, and the usual $100 per business license fee.

The City Council also approved a two-year contract with Hermiston Taxi, LLC to continue providing the Senior & Disabled Taxi and WORC programs. Following user surveys, the City have adjusted hours of operation for the Senior & Disabled Taxi service Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Read the staff report)

More questions about transportation options in Hermiston? Read our FAQ.

Monday, April 28 Meeting Recap:

• Approved a resolution to designate the west side of Festival Street as a no parking zone. (Read the staff report)

• Approved a resolution to award a Community Development Block Grant to Columbia Engineering Group to design and build a storage building for Agape House. Funding for the project was awarded to the City for use on the project at 500 W Harper Rd. (Read the staff report)

• Adopted the March 2025 Financial Report. (Read the financial report)

• Moved the City Council meeting from Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day) to Tuesday, May 27.

• View the April 28 meeting packet.

Monday, April 14 Meeting Recap:

• Approved a resolution authorizing the city to offer $2.1 million to purchase 140 acres adjacent to the Hermiston Municipal Airport and continue negotiations. The FAA has budgeted 90% of the cost ($1.9 million). (Read the staff report)

• Adopted the 2025 Goal Setting Report, including the goals of a prosperous, safe, healthy, sustainable, and connected community. (Read the 2025 Council Goals)

• Discussed potential adult business regulations and Transient Room Tax (TRT) distribution. (No council decisions)

• View the April 14 meeting packet.

MAY 2025 MEETINGS

• Wednesday, May 7, 4 p.m.
  Airport Advisory Committee (Municipal Airport)

• Thursday, May 8, 6:30 p.m.
  Parks & Recreation Committee (Community Center)

• Monday, May 12, 7 p.m.
  City Council (City Hall)

• Wednesday, May 14, 7 p.m.
  Planning Commission (City Hall)

• Thursday, May 15, 7 p.m.
  Budget Committee (City Hall)
  

• Monday, May 19, 7 p.m.
  Hispanic Advisory Committee (City Hall)

• Tuesday, May 27, 7 p.m.
  City Council (City Hall)

• Wednesday, May 28, 5 a.m.
  Library Board (Hermiston Library)

Interested in joining a committee or volunteering in Hermiston? Find out where you can help.

COMING UP

I Love My City is a community-wide service day organized by local churches that brings together residents to beautify our city and responsibly dispose of waste. The City of Hermiston is offering a Community Recycling Event and Umatilla County will host a hazardous waste disposal on the same day.

Date: May 17, 2025

Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (specific services have varying hours, see below)

Locations:

• Community Clean-Up Events: Specific areas around Hermiston will be targeted, see ilovehermiston.com for more info or to sign up.

• Community Recycling Event, Shredding Services, and Free Mattress Removal: New Hope Community Church, 1350 S Hwy, Hermiston (9 a.m – 12 noon)

• Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event: Umatilla County Fair Office/Old Mid Columbia Bus Co., 1740 E. Airport Rd., Hermiston across from EOTEC (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

Also in May:

• Art Walk 2025 in Downtown Hermiston (Saturday, May 10)

• Armed Forces Day at Rees Training Center (Saturday, May 17)

• Family Health & Fitness Day at EOTEC (Saturday, May 17)

SURVEY

Hermiston Library Director Mark Rose leads Hermiston city councilors through a tour of the Hermiston Public Library remodel project on Monday, April 14 as part of the City Council work session.

Share Your Thoughts on the Hermiston Library

As the Hermiston Public Library is undergoing a remodel and services are temporarily being offered next door at the Carnegie Building, we are taking the opportunity to evaluate how our library services and hours of operation are meeting community needs. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey to let us know how you have been using library services and what you'd like to see as we move into the new building later this year.

NEWS & NOTES

Job Openings

• Electrical Inspector

• Lateral Police Officer

• Entry Level Police Officer

Bids & RFPs

• Food Truck Vendor at Hodge Park