Temporary Board Meeting Cancelled Until Recall Election Certification

Today's meeting of the Temporary Board of Other Elective Administrative Officers has been cancelled. In a statement from Josephine County Legal Counsel Wally Hicks, he says, "Pursuant to state law, the Josephine County Clerk is still tabulating the results of the January 6, 2026, recall election. The election result remains unofficial until the election is certified. The Clerk is eligible to participate in the Temporary Board of Other Elective Administrative Officers only after certifying the election, which can occur on January 28, 2026, at the soonest. The Josephine County Charter requires the inclusion of the Clerk as a member of the Temporary Board. To comply with that requirement, the January 12, 2026, meeting of the Temporary Board of Other Elective Administrative Officers has been canceled. The meeting will be scheduled for a date and time following the certification of the election." ...Read more

Rob Pell Elected Grants Pass City Council President

Rob Pell was elected President of the City Council for the calendar year 2026 on a 4 to 3 vote. Rick Riker was voted in as vice-president. The Grants Pass City Council approved an ordinance amending the city’s development code. The amendment allows new residential developments with alley-facing garages to reduce the front setback to a minimum of 10 feet, reducing the minimum of 20 feet. The amendment was passed with the goal of encouraging developers to build more housing units. A second ordinance was passed amending the municipal code to better address public safety risks associated with open flames and flammable materials in parks and exclusion orders. The amendment effectively clarifies the definitions of flammable material and cooking devices, allow the seizure and destruction of flammable materials and devices plus allow officers to designate a first offense a violation and the City Attorney to designate any ...Read more

Hicks States 30-Day Timeline Expired, Authority Transferred

With the 30-day timeline now expired, a temporary board will fill the vacant Commissioner position. During an afternoon Administration Workshop, Legal Counsel Wally Hicks told the Board of Commissioners that when schedules with the other elected officials lined up, he recommended a meeting of the temporary board, without the Commissioners inclusion. Commissioner Chris Barnett had given Hicks a memorandum, and argued there was a quorum present, notwithstanding a commissioner's recusal. He said a recusal doesn't eliminate quorum nor divest the remaining commissioner of any authority. Commissioner Ron Smith disagreed, arguing there isn't anything to strip him of his discretionary rights, and that there's no point in having an elected official if they don't have said rights. Hicks said, regarding the vacancy filling, the safest route to take would be when the second vacancy occurs. ...Read more