HERMISTON — They haven’t been completed yet, but the new pickleball courts being built at Hermiston’s Theater Sports Park have an official name — the Good Shepherd Health Care System Pickleball Complex.

The Hermiston City Council approved a naming agreement Monday night, Feb. 10, for the new complex in which the hospital will pay the city $100,000 for the naming rights. Last year, the council developed a naming rights policy, and the Feb. 10 action was the first time the council had the opportunity to approve a naming rights agreement.

City Manager Byron Smith and others on the council applauded the efforts of the Pickleball Committee for its efforts to secure funding for the complex.

“Our Pickleball Committee has been very active in securing donations to build the pickleball complex,” Smith said, noting that construction is underway at Theater Sports Park.

In April 2024, the council voted to approve Theater Sports Park as the location for a 10-court pickleball complex.

Smith said the new name is a bit of a mouthful and “will get shortened to something else by the people who are using it.”

Smith said the city will work with the hospital to “get the signage approved and what it looks like and making sure the logos meet their standards.”

Councilor David McCarthy clarified that selling the naming rights does not affect ownership and it will still be a city-owned and operated complex.

“This is fantastic,” Mayor Doug Primmer said. “I cannot applaud all parties involved enough.”

Also, during the meeting, Smith gave a brief overview of items that will be part of the upcoming final report of the city’s 2025 goal-setting process.

The first item involves a 10-year review of the city’s charter. Smith said any proposed changes to the charter would need voter approval.

Smith is recommending the council review any proposed changes during publicized work sessions with at least two public open houses or town hall meetings to discuss them. He also recommended the city develop a publicity campaign using all possible tools prior to the council approving them to be on the November ballot. Smith said any proposed changes must be approved by August to get them on the ballot.

“The charter for the city is basically our constitution,” Primmer said. “It’s the rules by which the city operates under. Public input is definitely going to be taken into account. It’s an opportunity to set the course of the city.”

The second item in the city’s goals is possibly updating the city’s committees and making any necessary changes.

Smith said he is looking to invite three to four committee or board heads to attend council work sessions starting in March to talk about what their committees are working on.

“I don’t know that we’ve done that in 10 years, really,” Smith said. “This will be a chance to take a fresh look at all of those. Once that is done, if there are any proposed changes, we would bring back any ordinances or documents that the council would need to approve.”

Primmer said he agrees a review of the committees is needed.

“During the time that I’ve been on the council, we’ve not really done anything of that nature,” he said. “The whole idea is to see if the committees we have are relevant to the goals and desires of us as a council and whether they are relevant to the business of the city. There may be committees that are no longer necessary. Maybe a new committee is needed.”

Councilor Josh Roberts reminded the public there are several openings on city committees and encouraged residents to apply to serve.

“It’s very important to get that public feedback.” Roberts said. “I started my time on a committee, and I just encourage the public to get involved and see what your city is doing. It’s an easy way to lend your voice and it’s not a huge time commitment. We’d love to have those committee vacancies filled.”