Illinois Valley News

Josephine County Commissioner Sandi Cassanelli was hoping to confront representatives from the city of Grants Pass about a news media ruling adopted by its council earlier this month.

But instead, Cassanelli“s efforts, especially regarding First Friday and whether there was any point for the county to be questioning a city ruling, were shot down.

The policy adopted by the Grants Pass City Council was the sole agenda item for the meeting between the city and county on Thursday, March 25 in the commission conference room at the courthouse in Grants Pass. Cassanelli had put the item on the agenda.

Members of the GP City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday, March 17 to approve an amendment to an existing resolution regarding the ability of members of the news media to attend executive (closed to the public) sessions. Members of the news media can attend, but cannot report on what happens during such sessions.

The previous city council resolution regarding media policy was adopted on Jan. 8, and contained a list of outlets that can be allowed into executive session without further application requirements. Under that policy, media outlets excluded from the list still could apply for inclusion.

That list of media outlets included a series of radio stations that do not frequently report on the city of Grants Pass. As such, city staff recommended that those stations be stricken from the list. Those stations are KSOR, KSJK, JPR, KAPL, KJKL, KMED, KISS, KRRM, KOOL, KRWQ and KZZE. Most of those stations are based in Medford.

Under the resolution passed March 17, those radio stations no longer will be automatically allowed in executive sessions, but can apply for inclusion. The Illinois Valley News still is recognized as a media outlet under the new resolution, and representatives of the publication can attend executive sessions.

During that same meeting, the GP Council considered a request by Dale Matthews to have his publication, First Friday, put on the approved media list. Councilors denied his request.

Grants Pass Mayor Mike Murphy, Assistant City Manager David Reeves and City Council President Del Renfro attended the 10-minute March 25 meeting. Cassanelli served as chairman, as Commissioner Dwight Ellis was absent.

Cassanelli asked the Grants Pass representatives why the city“s criteria for media outlets were changed and when First Friday first began being excluded from executive sessions. First Friday is an associate member of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association (ONPA).

Commissioner Dave Toler, an Illinois Valley resident, questioned why the Grants Pass media policy was being discussed. He expressed doubt that the Board of County Commissioners had any business taking it up with the city officials.

“I“m not sure the board is concerned about this,“ Toler said.

Murphy asked if the media policy was an appropriate topic for the meeting between city and county officials.

Cassanelli countered that it is “critical“ for members of the news media to be in attendance for executive sessions. Toler said that the issue already has been decided at the county level, and added that he wasn“t sure if the city“s position was relevant in relation.

“I see no indication that the board is going to change its position,“ Toler said.

Cassanelli said that her understanding was that the county was going to wait for ONPA to produce a set of guidelines for what qualifies an outlet for official media recognition. ONPA“s guidelines say to allow its associate members into executive sessions, Cassanelli said.

Toler said that ONPA did produce a set of recommendations for governing bodies, which does not conflict with the position that has been taken by the county.

Reeves said that the city wouldn“t tell the county what to do in a similar situation. Toler described the scenario as an “awkward situation“ because Cassanelli and Matthews are friends.

Murphy asked why the county would be so concerned with an internal city matter. Toler suggested to Cassanelli that she take the matter up with the city on her own time.

“It“s the city“s decision,“ Toler said. “They“ve made that decision.“

Cassanelli adjourned the meeting without any action being taken.

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