Cascade Locks City Council debates city hall hours, remote work

The Oregon Employment Department reports that only 8% of Cascade Locks residents work in the community, and 92% commute elsewhere to work. This schedule was set in 2023 primarily to accommodate citizens’ work hours and maximize access to city hall and city staff. Though the majority of the council supported the four day work week, none favored remote work, with Mayor Wood saying, “The remote work just isn’t working for our city.”

Presently, Financial Officer Chantia Clarke works approximately 85% remotely. The council believes this has contributed to the delay in audits. The council invited city staff to offer commentary as well, and they had a united message: The four day work week is greatly appreciated and they believe, more efficient. It allows residents access to a fully staffed city hall before and after standard working hours. City Recorder Kathy Woosley testified that City Administrator Jordon Bennett “does NOT put in a 40-hour work week,” and, in fact, works many more hours than the standard; she further stated that the delayed audits are unrelated to the staff schedule. Ultimately, the council settled on continuing the four-day work week with the extended city hall hours, and banned remote work as an option.

Bennett later delivered some good news: The city had been awarded a $100,000 grant to review the Cascade Locks housing code with the intent of nurturing middle housing inside the city. Amendments will be suggested to reduce barriers to building middle housing and to simplify the code for those who want to develop or build middle housing. Middle housing includes multi-plexes, townhouses, and cottage clusters. The grant will also help the city to update its zoning map.

Jake Ross-Bright is the Cascade Locks community liaison, also considered to be an informal code enforcement officer. Ross-Bright first reminded everyone that he is not law enforcement, and cannot issue citations. But his report indicated that he has been very busy monitoring minor ordinance infractions.

He investigates complaints and refers violations to law enforcement, though he noted that the majority of noise violation complaints are unsubstantiated. Ross-Bright’s most recent efforts focused on illegal parking, noise complaints, lighting complaints, and elder assistance. He uses a dosimeter to measure and document noise levels. The council praised his efforts at monitoring low-level infractions and helping to keep the community safe.

The next Cascade Locks City Council meeting is set for Monday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m.