Mayor Kate’s State of the City Address

I’m Mayor Kate, and it’s truly an honor to stand before you this morning in service to the community of Independence.  Whether you’ve lived here for generations or just recently made Independence your home, I want to thank you for taking the time to be here.

Our community is special. We are fortunate to live in a community where people still greet each other by name, where small businesses line our historic downtown, and where the river and surrounding farmland remind us of both our history and our future. We appreciate our quality of life, our strong sense of belonging, and have a deep pride in our community.

Like many communities, we have been changing. Growth brings opportunities—new businesses, new neighbors, and new energy—but it also brings challenges. I think many of us feel the pull between making sure we retain the charm of our small town and the realities of growth. And, of course, we are navigating financial pressures that require careful stewardship of our resources.

I believe in the strength of this community. I believe in the resilience, creativity, and hard work that have carried us through past challenges. I believe that we will carry on our tradition of being a “can-do” community.  And most of all, I believe in our ability to come together, to listen to one another, and to find a way forward that honors both our past and our future.

Rebuilding Trust & Strengthening Community Engagement

Part of moving forward means acknowledging where we’ve been. Trust in local government doesn’t happen overnight—it’s built through action, consistency, and willingness to listen. I, along with city staff, have made it a priority to create transparency for our residents. From holding town halls and expanding communication channels to opening up the process for boards and commissions, we are committed to ensuring that every resident has the opportunity to be heard and to be involved.

As your new mayor, I have a renewed appreciation for our community.  I’ve learned a lot from the community through the conversations I’ve been having at Town Halls, office hours, through email……and as we do in small towns, on the sidewalks and in the line at the grocery store.  People have shared what they like, don’t like, their concerns for the future, and also what they are excited about.  I sincerely appreciate you taking the time out of your day to connect and share, it is truly meaningful, and your input is valuable.

At the same time, while we acknowledge the past, we cannot remain stuck in it. The decisions made years ago, even decades ago, have shaped our present—but they do not have to define our future. What we do now, together, is what matters.

The Realities of Our Budget Challenges

We have to have an honest conversation about where we stand financially. Unfortunately, like many communities across the state, we are facing a significant budget shortfall. Going into the budget planning process, we are estimating a general fund shortage of approximately $750,000.  Over the past two years, we’ve already made difficult decisions and cuts, such as reduced staff, reduced hours for some of our amenities, and implemented charges for our summer concerts and community celebrations that used to be free.

But we are now at the point where further cuts will mean a loss of services—services that people rely on and contribute to our quality of place.

The community was clear when it voted against the levy in November, and we respect that decision. At the same time, we must face the reality that we cannot continue to fund services at the same level without sustainable revenue. We implemented a public safety fee at the start of the year to help provide essential public safety services, but we recognize this is not a long-term solution.

Resilience, Innovation, and a Community That Cares

In spite of the challenges, our city is working hard to attract new businesses and support economic development. By creating opportunities and encouraging investment, we are working to enhance job creation, expand our tax base, and help bring sustainability to our community.

We are also pursuing every opportunity to bring in beneficial resources. Our team has been highly proactive and successful in securing grants that help support essential initiatives— whether it’s improving our infrastructure, enhancing public safety, or investing in community programs. These grants allow us to stretch our budget further and continue projects that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.

And we are not navigating these challenges alone. We have strong partnerships with our legislative representatives at both the state and federal levels, and we are making sure that our city’s voice is heard. We are advocating for solutions that will bring lasting benefits—not just quick fixes—and working with leaders who understand the challenges facing communities like ours.

These efforts are a testament to the resilience, creativity, and heart of this community.

We Do Great Work

I also want to take a moment to recognize some of the incredible work happening across our city departments.

• Following an extensive search process, our own Tino Banuelos was hired as the Independence Police Chief. He is leading his team with a proven track record of dedicated service, strong leadership, and a deep sense of compassion.  
• For economic development, we are excited to announce Crystal Creek Dairy & Creamery is opening in town. They’re a dairy service company and have a rapidly growing creamery specializing in ice cream made from sheep milk.  They currently employ about ten and hope to add a few more as the creamery grows.  
• Youth Coding League at the library is continuing to go strong. A grant from Spirit Mountain allowed the program to purchase 16 new Chromebooks, allowing more coders to participate.
• The library also received a grant from Pacific Power for an Outreach Book Bike which will help the library with outreach, homebound delivery, and summer reading.
• The Summer Program had record numbers last year, with 1,112 people participating. In 2024, the Heritage Museum welcomed 6,240 visitors and benefitted from 2,811 volunteer hours.
• The museum also researched and designed five interpretive panels for the Independence Historic District, which utilized a $10,000 grant from the Braemar Charitable Trust.
• The museums spring exhibit of Radiant Rocks: Unveiling the Hidden Glow of Fluorescent Minerals was extended for an additional two months due to its popularity.
• We now have E-Permitting, which streamlines the permitting process, allowing residents to apply, track, and receive approvals online. This reduces paperwork, wait times, and in-person visits, enhancing enhances efficiency, transparency, and accessibility for homeowners, contractors, and businesses.
• The city deployed cameras to help our police department enhance public safety by enabling real-time identification of stolen or wanted vehicles and assisting in criminal investigations.
• Our Public Works department has been working on a large digitizing project to streamline asset management, work order tracking, and maintenance planning by providing real-time data and automation tools. This improves efficiency, reduces costs, enhances service delivery, and ensures better infrastructure management for the community.
• The department is also hard at work on 9th Street Pump Station Upgrade and also completed the C Street Sewer Replacement. As a resident on C Street, I was impressed by their hard work and dedication – especially when the water line sprung a leak and they were diligently fixing it at 5:30 at night, probably not how they wanted to start their weekend!
• Our planning department has been working on the development and adoption of the Central Talmadge Plan that seeks to create an additional center within the City of Independence, focused around the commercial, cultural, social, and health service activities available near Central High School.
• They have also been working on the development and adoption of the Housing Production Strategy that recommends actions, plans and policies to address housing needs in the city.
• We are working on the continued support of the operation of the Monmouth Independence Trolley, which benefits both of our communities.
• A group of residents, WOU students, and city staff came together for a work day at Sunset Park, making our newest park truly a community effort.

Closing

As we look ahead, I want to take a moment to express my deepest appreciation for the people who make our local government work.

To our City Council members—thank you. You have taken on a tremendous responsibility, volunteering your time to serve this community, to make difficult decisions, and to navigate the challenges before us. The community has placed their trust in you, and I see firsthand the weight of that responsibility. The countless evening meetings, the long hours of reading and preparation, the ongoing conversations with residents—you do this not for recognition, but because you care. And our town is better for it.

To the many volunteers who serve on our boards and commissions—your work is just as vital. You help keep this city running, providing guidance, expertise, and a commitment to the greater good. You give your time and talents to shape policies, oversee key initiatives, and ensure that our community remains a place where people can thrive. Your dedication does not go unnoticed, and I am grateful for each of you.

I also want to take a moment to thank the incredible staff at City Hall—the ones you see at the front counter, answering your calls, and helping you navigate city services, and the ones working quietly behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly. They are the backbone of this organization, showing up every day with dedication, professionalism, and a true commitment to this community. We are a team, and I’m grateful to work alongside them.

I know that these are challenging times. We are making hard choices, facing difficult realities, and adjusting to changes that are not always easy. But even in the midst of this, we have so much to be thankful for. We live in a community that values connection, that steps up to help a neighbor in need, and that takes pride in our shared home.

Now, more than ever, we need to come together. To listen, to support one another, to build understanding, and to move forward—not as individuals pulling in different directions, but as a community that believes in its future.

Staying informed and engaged is one of the best ways to help shape the future of our community. I encourage you to sign up for our city newsletter, attend meetings when you can, or watch video highlights to stay up to date. Follow us on social media to get real-time updates and share what you learn with your neighbors. The more people who are informed and involved, the stronger our community will be. Let’s keep the conversation going—your voice matters.

We may not have all the answers today, but I know this: when we work together, and when we stay engaged in the process, we will find a way forward. And I have no doubt that our best days are still ahead.

Thank you for being here, for being part of this community, and for everything you do to make Independence such a special place.