North Plains is bringing in a short-term city manager after a wave of resignations left the Washington County city scrambling to keep its government running. The city of roughly 3,600 people has seen departures among staff and elected officials, while its public services building remains closed to walk-in visitors.
The City Council appointed Ross Schultz as interim city manager, with his first day set for Monday. His initial term runs through September 1, with a contract that pays $125 per hour and caps total compensation at $18,000, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive.
Schultz brings decades of municipal management experience, including a previous stint as Sherwood’s city manager and interim assignments in Dayton, Newport, Gladstone and Yamhill. He said he plans to begin by identifying North Plains’ most urgent problems and may seek temporary staff help from other cities.
North Plains Has Burned Through Leaders
The appointment follows the city’s separation from former City Manager Bill Reid in June and the rapid exit of Gary Marks, who resigned after about a week as interim manager. Marks cited severe staffing shortages and a lack of support, while the Forest Grove News-Times reported that Reid’s departure included an exit package totaling more than $123,000.
The turnover has not been limited to the manager’s office. Oregon Public Broadcasting reported in June that North Plains’ City Council had already seen four resignations since last July, as leaders debated whether the community should prioritize economic growth or preserve its rural character.
According to The Oregonian/OregonLive, North Plains has at least four vacant positions and has never filled its finance director job. The city is fully staffed at roughly 10 employees, and officials say most services remain functional, but public meetings have become harder to schedule and the public services building has been closed until further notice.
A Stopgap Manager During A Bigger Growth Fight
Schultz’s arrival comes as North Plains works through a contentious urban growth boundary update that could more than double the city’s footprint. The growth debate has sharpened the stakes of the staffing crisis, because the city needs enough administrative capacity to handle planning, finances, public meetings and basic resident services.
Monday’s council meeting has been postponed, officials said, underscoring how quickly staffing problems have spilled into routine government business. Schultz’s one-month assignment is meant to stabilize operations while North Plains considers what kind of longer-term leadership and staffing structure it can realistically support.
