City Hall 101
My time on the council helped prepare me for the job of mayor. Looking back, I don’t believe I could have stepped into this role and accomplished what we have without that experience first.
Serving on the council gave me the opportunity to learn how decisions are made, how the budget works, and where the city’s authority begins and ends. I got to know our staff, understand the projects already underway, and see how much work happens between an idea and getting it done.
It also taught me that being mayor takes more than having ideas. You need to understand the responsibilities, ask the right questions, work with the council and staff, and follow through. That foundation helped me get to work from day one, while continuing to learn along the way.
That experience matters. It helped me come into the mayor’s role prepared to take on the responsibility and keep the work moving. Through City Hall 101, I want to share what I’ve learned so our community can better understand the decisions we’re making and the work that goes into them.
What Does the Mayor Do?
A lot of my work as mayor happens outside the council meetings. It’s conversations with staff, working through problems, meeting with county and state partners, and looking for ways to move projects forward without putting more strain on our residents.
It also takes understanding the responsibilities at the city, county, state, and federal levels. You need to know what you can and can’t do, who you need to work with, and what laws and requirements apply. Having an idea is one thing. Knowing how to get it done responsibly takes understanding the job.
Sometimes that means helping people work through disagreements or dealing with a problem before it becomes something bigger. It also means working with staff and legal counsel to make sure we’re following the law and protecting the city. Lawsuits are sometimes necessary, but they take time and money. If we can resolve an issue before it gets to that point, that’s what I want to do.
In Cave Junction, the mayor also votes alongside the four council members. I have a voice and a vote, and moving things forward takes preparation, cooperation, and follow-through.
I take this job seriously, and I make it a point to be as informed as I can on every issue before us. We have a good council that does a very good job of coming prepared, and I hold myself to that same standard. Before a meeting, I work through what’s on the agenda, make sure I understand the details, and come prepared to ask questions.
I also watch every Josephine County commissioners’ meeting, either live or through the county’s YouTube recordings, along with council meetings from surrounding cities. Understanding what’s happening around us helps me ask better questions and recognize issues or opportunities that could affect Cave Junction. I never want to stop learning. To me, that’s an important part of doing this job well.
Keeping you informed, answering questions, and being available to our community are part of that responsibility too. I love serving this community, and I want the work I put into this job to reflect that.
What Does the City Council Do?
The council makes decisions that shape how our city operates. That includes adopting the budget, approving city ordinances, and considering agreements and projects brought before us.
Council members also serve as liaisons, helping maintain communication between the city and the organizations or groups they’re assigned to work with. Those relationships help us stay informed, share concerns, and find opportunities to work together.
In Cave Junction, the council also serves as the Planning Commission. That brings additional responsibilities for land use and development. Those decisions require us to understand the applicable rules, consider testimony, and evaluate proposals against the criteria we’re required to follow.
Each of us has a responsibility to review the information, ask questions, listen to public input, and consider what a decision will mean for our community. We won’t always see everything the same way, and that’s part of having a council. Different perspectives help us work through the details.
As mayor, I work alongside the council to move things forward. When something requires council approval, it takes a council decision. My role is to help bring forward workable solutions and do the preparation needed for us to make informed decisions.
That’s why the work before a meeting matters. The better we understand an issue, the better prepared we are to make a responsible decision for Cave Junction.
Who Handles the Day-to-Day Work?
Our staff keeps the city running every day. Water and wastewater operations, utility billing, records, permits, maintenance, and the work that goes into preparing for meetings all take people who understand their jobs and follow through.
The council makes policy and budget decisions, while our administration and staff handle the day-to-day work within those decisions and the requirements the city has to follow. Understanding those responsibilities helps us work together and get people to the right person when they need help.
We have a small staff with a lot of responsibility. When we consider a new project or change a service, we have to consider the time, training, and ongoing work it will require, along with the cost.
That’s one reason I’ve focused on improving everyday processes and putting clear procedures in place. Helping staff work more efficiently and address problems earlier helps us take better care of our community.
I appreciate our staff and the work they do. A lot of it happens behind the scenes, but our residents depend on it every day.
Why Do Some Projects Take Longer Than Others?
Some projects we can get moving on right away. Others have more pieces that need to come together first. That might be engineering, permits, legal questions, funding, or working with the county or another agency. Knowing what needs to happen, and in what order, is a big part of getting the job done.
The Junction Inn is a good example. We know what we want to accomplish: get the unsafe building down, then sell the property with conditions that it be used for lodging. Right now, we’re working through the taxes and getting the deed so we can move into the next round of demolition funding. We’re looking at every option to get this done at minimal cost to the city.
We also need to look beyond getting something finished. What will it cost to maintain? What will it require from our staff? Is it going to solve the problem for the long term? I want us to understand those things before we spend the money.
I want to get things done. I enjoy figuring out how we can make something work, especially when it looks like there isn’t a way. Sometimes taking an extra step now saves us money and trouble later. My job is to keep pushing the work forward and make sure you understand where we’re at and what comes next.
How Can I Stay Informed and Get Involved?
There are several ways to keep up with what’s happening. Come to a meeting, watch online, or just ask me. I enjoy these conversations, and I’m happy to explain what we’re working on.
We post the agendas on Facebook and the calendar on the city website. You’ll find the Zoom information on the agenda if you want to join online. The meetings are also on the city’s YouTube channel, so you can go back and watch when you have time.
I post on Facebook and do regular updates on KXCJ as well. I’m also planning a “What’s Up, CJ?” video series, with a new video every other week on the city’s Facebook page. I’ll talk through what’s happening, answer questions, and explain what comes next. I know not everyone sees every update, so I want to make that information easier to find and follow.
You don’t need to wait for a meeting to ask a question. If you see me around town, come talk to me. Send me a message. If I know the answer, I’ll explain it. If I don’t, I’ll work on finding it. It’s your city, and I want you to know what’s going on.