HERMISTON — Hermiston is going forward with building East Penney Avenue’s connection between Southeast Kelli Boulevard and Highway 395.

The Hermiston City Council at its meeting Monday night, Oct. 25, voted 6-0 to authorize accepting up to $596,600 from the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Immediate Opportunity Fund to develop and complete the road.

The city also has to provide a 50% match against the grant funding. The city has received $1.9 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds, and should receive at least that in 2022. According to meeting documents, the city can use those funds to provide the 50% match.

The council voted 6-0 to approve the agreement with ODOT to accept the grant.

The next steps are for the engineering and design firm of Anderson Perry to work on the design in the next month or so. The city plans to advertise for bids from January to February 2022, select a bid and have construction going by the summer.

The council also returned to amending a pair of ordinances it tabled at the last meeting. One is the city law regarding nuisances. The ordinance has several updates, including to a number of definitions and adds graffiti as a nuisance.

The update also clarifies the appeals process. In special circumstances when the council declares a nuisance the appeal would go to circuit court.

The council voted 6-0 to approve it and make it effective 30 days after the vote.

The second city law grants the code enforcement officer the authority to issue traffic citations, establishes a parade permit process and simplifies bicycle regulations in downtown Hermiston.

City Manager Byron Smith said the staff brought this back to the council for feedback only from the council. The council gave several suggestions. City attorney Richard Tovey suggested it would be beneficial to allow enough time to incorporate the council’s feedback to amendments and bring back a complete proposal at a future meeting. The council voted to table approval.

In related city business, the League of Oregon Cities announced Mayor Dave Drotzmann is the new treasurer for the league.