City leaders said on Aug. 4 that they are following developments around a $45 million appropriation to the Willamette Falls Trust and that several council members are prepared to publicly support preserving the funding.

Council President Baumgardner briefed colleagues on recent engagement with regional and state leaders; he said the appropriation was approved by the legislature and then placed on the governor’s line-item veto list, and that the governor’s decision was expected later the same week. He said tribal and intergovernmental sensitivities were part of the reason the governor’s office was seeking additional review. “The deadline for a decision by the governor,” Baumgardner said, “I’ve been told is this Friday.”

Mayor Bill Stocks and Councilor Bridal said they had discussed writing or signing an op-ed supporting the funding. Bridal described the option of a mayoral op-ed and said she would consider circulating a draft for council sign-on if three or more councilors agreed. Councilor Bonnington and Councilor Groener both voiced support during the discussion; Bonnington said he trusted council leadership to represent his views if they moved forward. The mayor noted he had already sent a personal letter to the governor urging continued funding and that he would circulate that letter to council.

Nut graf: while the council did not adopt an official city-wide resolution at the Aug. 4 meeting, members expressed enough agreement that staff and the mayor’s office were directed to coordinate messaging options — including circulating an op‑ed and, if there is a formal majority, preparing a council letter or resolution.

Council staff said next steps would be to circulate the mayor’s letter and the draft op‑ed, and to advise formal procedures under council rules if council members wanted a statement made “on behalf of the council.” One councilor asked whether the governor’s motive for review was fiscal (a desire to save lottery bond funds) and Baumgardner said the line-item review reflected both fiscal deliberations and tribal interest considerations.

Ending: Councilors asked staff to circulate materials and determine whether a formal majority existed to sign onto a public statement; staff indicated they would follow up before the governor’s decision deadline.