I’m always glad to see people getting involved as leaders in the Hermiston community, whether it’s on a city committee, at a local nonprofit, in the schools, or somewhere else they see a need. This kind of community service is what makes Hermiston such a special place to live.

The volunteer Charter Review Committee deserves a lot of thanks for the work they did to go through the city charter line by line and bring some suggested changes for public review. The City Charter sets the rules for city government, and as the years go on it needs occasional review and modification as Hermiston grows and changes.

The City Council will decide whether to send these changes to voters for adoption, and we’ll share more about what these changes would mean. For now, you can review the suggested changes here.

Speaking of the City Council, we’re heading into election season and there’s a great opportunity to get to know the candidates who have filed for the four ward seats. The Candidate Forum is Thursday, April 16 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Hermiston City Councilors are non-partisan elected officials who serve four-year terms. You can read about the eight candidates on the city website.

Make sure to take a look at the community events coming up in April later in this newsletter. It’s a packed month starting with a weekend full of spring festivities and we hope to see you out there.

Byron Smith

Hermiston City Manager

Market-Rate Housing Coming to Hermiston

In March, developers broke ground on The Hub Hermiston, a new 276-unit market-rate apartment complex at 963 E. Diagonal Blvd. The $50 million project is expected to be completed next year. The complex will include a variety of apartment styles, a full gym, pool, spa, pickleball court and community room for tenants. 

To encourage the development, the City Council approved an incentive agreement in 2025 to pay two-thirds of the developer's property taxes between now and 2031 at a descending rate. If production stays on schedule, the total cost to the city will be about $1.3 million over six years. This payment model will allow other local taxing districts to continue receiving their full rate.

Market-rate housing, which is non-subsidized, is an important part of the housing mix that has been lacking in Hermiston in recent years. Since 2020, the city has seen about 108 single-family homes and 27 income-restricted rentals each year, but no market-rate housing. The apartments will cater to young professionals and families looking to put down roots in Hermiston. At full build-out, the apartments are expected to house about 700 people.

New Park Benches Honor Hermiston Leaders

Former Mayor Dr. Dave Drotzmann and former City Councilor Rod Hardin caught up on a recent sunny afternoon sitting on the new park bench at Riverfront Park commemorating late City Manager Ed Brookshier.

Three new benches bearing the names of Brookshier, Hardin, and Drotzmann recognize their service to Hermiston.



• At Riverfront Park, a bench recognizes Brookshier, who was Hermiston City Manager from 1991 to 2014 and helped guide major growth in parks and recreation. Brookshier passed away in 2025.
• A bench outside City Hall honors Hardin, who served on the City Council for 32 years, during which the city’s population more than doubled.
• Dr. Drotzmann, who served as mayor from 2012 to 2024, will be recognized with a bench at Funland Playground in Butte Park. He helped lead the effort to rebuild the playground after it burned down in 2019.

One-Stop Drop-Off for Recyclables

Sanitary Disposal and Circular Action Alliance have opened a new RecycleOn Center at the Sanitary Disposal Transfer Station, 81144 N. Hwy. 395. Drop off items from the list below for free, keeping these recyclables out of the landfill.

• Plastic bags and other stretchy plastics, like the wrapping around toilet paper
• Plastic lids, from containers like yogurt, salsa, and sour cream
• Plastic caps, from containers like soymilk, glass jars, and broth containers
• Plastic package handles, such as six-pack drink carriers
• Plastic buckets and pails
• Shredded paper in a paper bag that is stapled or rolled shut
• Aluminum foil and trays
• Glass bottles and jars

Recreational Funding Available — Apply Today!

Applications are now open for recreational programs and projects within Hermiston city limits that benefit the community through enhanced tourism, promotion, and marketing. The applications will be reviewed by the Recreation Projects Advisory Committee in June, which will recommend funding to the Hermiston City Council. The deadline is May 31. 

City Helps Spark Industrial Growth with SHIP Land Sale

The Hermiston City Council approved the sale of 10 acres of City-owned land in the South Hermiston Industrial Park (SHIP) at its March 23 meeting. The sale will spark immediate private investment and more than recoup the City's initial investment.

The property is part of a 44-acre site the City purchased in 2024 to support future industrial growth. With this sale, a private developer plans to construct a 30,000-square-foot light industrial building, with the potential to expand to nearly 95,000 square feet at full build-out.

The project reflects the City’s strategy of preparing land for development and partnering with private industry to attract investment, create jobs, and strengthen the local economy.

The sale also represents a positive financial outcome for the City. The property will sell for approximately $200,000 more than its original purchase price, and all proceeds will be returned to the Utility Fund reserve from which the land was initially acquired.

City Council Meeting for March 23 (Watch the meeting)

• Amended the City Code of Ordinances to increase mobile vending licenses and update other regulations. The number of annual licenses available increased from 6 to 10, 30-day licenses were increased from 3 to 5, and event licenses were discontinued. (Read the staff report)
• Updated Master Fee Schedule to create a more equitable system for Family Splash Passes to the Hermiston Aquatic Center, update rental and permit agreements at city facilities and parks to reflect actual operational costs, and make other adjustments. (Read the staff report)
• Approved purchasing UV Disinfection equipment for the Recycled Water Treatment Plant as part of the Capital Improvement Plan. (Read the staff report)
• Approved applying for $1.5 million in loan funding toward a $5.7 million project to construct about 2.5 miles of sewer main on Feedville Road. The line could serve both industrial development and future housing development. (Read the staff report)
• Awarded a contract to C&E Trenching to construct a new building to store and administer chlorine at Well #6. (Read the staff report)
• Recommended appointments of Randall Gerard to the Budget Committee and Dean Fialka and Tami Rebman to the Planning Commission.
• Approved final plats to Upland Meadows and Henry K's housing projects.
• Received the annual report from PATH/Stepping Stones Alliance. (Read the report)

City Council Meeting for March 9 (Watch the meeting)

• Approved a new 10-year enterprise zone wholly within Hermiston city limits. The enterprise zone promotes corporate investment by offering temporary property tax incentives for businesses that build and create jobs in the area. (Read the staff report) (Read the news report)
• Awarded a contract to Neuman Electric Inc. to install a new backup power generator for the Regional Water System. The generator will provide redundancy in case of a power failure for the large-scale system. The cost is shared by beneficiaries of the system, including Amazon Web Services, Calpine, and Hermiston Generating, and the City of Hermiston. The original estimated cost to the city of $665,000 was awarded through Congressionally Designated Spending from Sen. Jeff Merkley. (Read the staff report)
• Approved a new agreement with Harkenrider Senior Center Board which designates usage and management of rentals at the community facility. (Read the staff report)
• Adopted the 2026 Goal Setting Report. (Read the report)
• Confirmed the appointments of Paul Wolverton to the Budget Committee and Jacobo Gutierrez to the Hispanic Advisory Committee.

APRIL 2026 MEETINGS

• Airport Advisory Committee, Wednesday, April 1, 4 p.m. at the Hermiston Municipal Airport
• Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee, Thursday, April 9, 5:30 p.m. at the Hermiston Community Center
• City Council, Monday, April 13, 7 p.m., City Hall
• Planning Commission, Wednesday, April 15, 7 p.m., City Hall
• Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee, Thursday, April 16, 5:30 p.m. at the Hermiston Community Center
• Faith-Based Advisory Committee, Tuesday, April 21, 4 p.m., Location TBD
• Hispanic Advisory Committee, Tuesday, April 21, 6 p.m., Hermiston City Hall
• Library Board, Wednesday, April 22, 5 p.m., Hermiston Public Library
• City Council, Monday, April 27, 7 p.m., City Hall

The City of Hermiston is currently seeking members for the Budget Committee, Planning Commission, Airport Advisory Committee and Hispanic Advisory Committee. Learn more and apply to join.

Get ready for an egg-citing adventure at Butte Park (Funland) on April 3! Join us for a fun evening of carnival games, activities, and multiple egg dashes. Don't forget your basket or bag to collect your eggs that can be redeemed for prizes.


• Accessible Egg Hunt Hour (Sensory Friendly. ALL AGES including adults) 4:30-5:30pm
• Egg Dash #1 6:00-6:20pm: Recommended 4yrs and under
• Egg Dash #2 6:20-6:30pm: All kids, all ages.
• Egg Dash #3 6:30-6:40pm: All kids, all ages.
• Egg Dash #4 6:40-6:50pm: All kids, all ages.

And don't miss these Saturday, April 4 events!


• Arbor Day Tree Giveaway at Hermiston Community Center, 9-11 a.m.
• Adult Flashlight Egg Hunt at Funland Playground, 8:30 p.m.

More details on these events and more at Hermiston Live!

Job Openings


• Electrical Inspector
• Team Member - Eastern Oregon Trade & Event Center

RFPs


• Recreational Projects/Transient Room Tax

Fire District Shares Successes in Annual Report

Umatilla County Fire District #1 is excited to share its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting a year of continued growth in operational capacity, professionalism, and resilience. Throughout 2025, the district's firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians responded to more than 6,000 calls for service across 620 square miles, protecting communities in Hermiston, Stanfield, Echo, and Umatilla while safeguarding nearly $6 billion in residential, agricultural, and commercial assets.

You’ll find information about the District’s finances, staffing investments, and operational activity over the past year, along with the progress the District is making to ensure our community continues to receive dependable, high-quality emergency services.

The District also wants to hear from you! If you or a loved one had a positive experience with UCFD#1 personnel, they invite you to share your story to recognize the dedication and professionalism of local firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs.