Molalla City Council Meetings

City Council Meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, unless otherwise noted. Meetings take place at the Molalla Civic Center, located at 315 Kennel Avenue, and begin at 7:00 PM.

Work sessions may be held prior to each City Council meeting. Work sessions and agendas will be developed by the City Manager in consultation with the City Council, or by motion with Council approval or by concurrence of the Council.

Work sessions are informal meetings scheduled to allow in-depth discussion of specific topics. No formal decisions are made during Work Sessions; however, consensus may be reached on a case-by-case basis if necessary.

The Molalla City Council may meet in Executive Session to discuss sensitive or confidential matters, as authorized under Oregon’s Public Meetings Law (ORS 192.610–192.690). These sessions are typically held to consider subjects such as Real Property Transactions, Litigation, Labor Negotiations, and other legally permitted topics, including:

• Employment, dismissal, or discipline of a public officer

• Preliminary negotiations involving matters of trade or commerce

• Performance evaluations of the City’s chief executive officer

• Negotiations concerning public investments

Executive Sessions are not open to the public. However, representatives of the news media may attend, provided they agree not to disclose the substance of discussions. While information obtained during the session may not be reported directly, it may be used as background.

No final decisions may be made during Executive Sessions. Although the Council may reach a consensus, any formal action must take place during a Public Meeting, in accordance with Oregon’s transparency requirements.

Public Hearings

Public Hearings are typically held during the Molalla City Council’s regular meetings; however, special meetings may occasionally be scheduled to address specific topics. These hearings cover a wide range of matters, including Land Use issues, Code Amendments, Capital Improvements, Master Plans, Annexations, and more.

Types of Land Use Public Hearings

Land use Public Hearings may be either Legislative or Quasi-judicial:

• Legislative hearings involve the adoption, amendment, or repeal of laws. The procedures for these hearings are more flexible, as they generally apply to broad policy matters. Public input is both expected and encouraged in these types of hearings.

• Quasi-judicial hearings involve decisions related to specific properties and require Councilors to act more like judges. Decisions must be based solely on evidence entered into the record, and all parties must have the opportunity to respond to presented evidence. Because of this, the procedures for quasi-judicial hearings more closely resemble those of a court proceeding. Off-the-record communications (also known as ex-parte contacts) regarding these matters are discouraged. Council decisions must be impartial and based on applicable land use criteria found in the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code.

The City Council occasionally meets with other entities, typically governmental, to exchange information or discuss matters of mutual interest. An example of such a meeting is the annual Joint Meeting between the Molalla City Council and the Planning Commission, held each November.

If and/or when the City Council’s schedule does not allow for a time-sensitive items to be addressed during a Regular Meeting, a Special Meeting may be scheduled to hear, deliberate, and decide on specific matters.