The Medford City Council convened on July 16, 2025, at 6:00 PM, with all seven council members present, confirming a quorum for the meeting. The session began with a brief report from City Manager Field, who announced that his updates would be deferred until the next meeting.

The agenda progressed to community recognitions, led by HR Director Bonnie Barish, who celebrated several employees for their long-standing service. Public Works Technician Cody Vol and Police Crime Analyst Carrie Bone were both recognized for 20 years of service, while Police Sergeant Steve Furst was honored for an impressive 30 years of dedication to the city.

Following employee recognitions, Parks and Recreation Director Rich Rosenthal presented the 2025 Friends of Parks and Recreation Awards. This annual event acknowledges individuals and organizations that have significantly contributed to local parks and recreation initiatives since its inception in 2005.

The awards ceremony highlighted six honorees. James Levingston received recognition for his extensive volunteer work at the historic IOOF Eastwood Cemetery, contributing over 320 hours of service. Ginny Franklin was also honored for her volunteer efforts, totaling over 230 hours in park maintenance and community service.

In the business category, Schmidl Orthodontics was acknowledged for its support of community events, particularly the father-daughter and mother-son dances since 2016. The Rogue Valley Umpires Association, led by Jerry Eklund, was recognized for its vital role in youth baseball, covering over 1,700 games annually.

The Southern Oregon Futsal League received accolades for providing affordable recreational opportunities to over 4,000 youth in the area, with volunteers coordinating games for local children. The ceremony concluded with the prestigious Olsruid Family Lifetime Service Award, presented to Bill Mance for his longstanding impact on the community.

The meeting underscored the city’s commitment to recognizing the contributions of its employees and community members, fostering a spirit of appreciation and collaboration within Medford.