March 24, 2020 4:40 a.m.
While it was a fairly routine agenda, Monday night’s Roseburg City Council meeting was the first following the implementation of social distancing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last week a table was added in front of the council dais for two members to use, giving more separation between councilors. Extension cords allowed the microphones for those councilors to be moved as well. With the public gathering limited to 25 people, a number of seats were blocked off. A room at the Public Safety Center showed the television feed of the meeting and had a phone ready for audience comments if overflow space was needed. As it turned out only three citizens attended the meeting. With News Radio 1240 KQEN there as well that added one to the count. With councilors and staff added in, there were 18 people in the Council Chambers, staying well within the guidelines.

Councilors declared a State of Emergency due to COVID-19. That makes some operational changes and gives City Manager Nikki Messenger additional authority to make large purchases without council approval.  It follows the state declaration and helps to make sure the City is in line for financial assistance in dealing with the situation, should it become available.
The council approved spending just over $106,000 for playground equipment as part of a plan to improve Beulah Park. The total project cost is just over $258,000. Messenger had hoped the work could be done this summer, but due to everything slowing down at the moment, said it might be September before the equipment was installed.
The council had second reading of the Airport Master Plan and had first and second reading of a housekeeping measure to make some amendments to the Roseburg Municipal Code. Intergovernmental agreements between the City and both the Roseburg School District and the Glide School District were approved. Police Chief Gary Klopfenstein said the amount charged to the districts needs to be increased to more accurately reflect the cost of those officers.