La Pine City Councilors

City Council
Guidelines for Decision Making

In their continuing effort to provide the best representation possible, City Councilors agree to uphold the following guidlelines in their relations with other City Council Members and Staff:

1. Ensure that the thoughts of each person are sought out.  Seek to understand one another’s perspective.
2. Focus on issues and not personalities.
3. Encourage open discussion and decision making.
4. Whenever possible, staff should present new proposals at the committee level or a work session. Complex issues should be discussed at the committee level or a work session before presenting the issue in regular session.
5. Be willing to table issues.
6. The City Council must demonstrate courtesy and respect for the presenting (or speaking) Council member or staff member. 
7. Council direction to staff should be done by consensus rather than by an individual Council member.
8. Once a decision is made, everyone should move on and expect that staff will implement the decision as directed.

ABOVE ALL, WORK DILIGENTLY TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS, IMPROVE COMMUNICATION, AND BUILD TRUST, RESPECT, AND COOPERATION.

MISSION STATEMENT

“To maintain the friendly small town nature of the city through considered choices and planned growth and development.”

Mayor Ken Mulenex

I am extremely pleased at having been elected by the city residents to serve as one of the cities Councilors. Most residents in the City of La Pine and the greater La Pine community, who know me, know of my long background of involvement in La Pine’s community’s affairs. They also know that my commitment to something is, “total involvement”.

I will expend a lot of effort in gaining the experience, becoming knowledgeable of the current status of the City and seeking out the input of the Cities citizens so that I may serve them, skillfully, as a Councilor.

As I go about my duties as Councilor, I will always remember the basic tenets that led us into cityhood: 1. Small town feel 2. Family wage job 3. Respect for seniors needs 4. Local control.

I believe the role of any city government especially La Pine’s, is to enhance the quality of life for those who live in, work in, or visit our community, while fostering & encouraging a balance economic growth so essential to any communities health.

I believe it is of paramount importance for the La Pine city government to have a customer-service orientation in how it does business and to have a clear and obvious open decision-making process with a lot of citizen input. Both can demonstrate to our residents that their municipal government is providing them with quality services, while prudently managing their tax dollars.

I further believe that it behooves the Council to foster the idea and actively participate in partnerships with all of our Regional partners along with the City and greater La Pine Community businesses.

I also, believe that a cooperative approach and a respectful attitude among the Councilors towards the individuality of each member of the Council is imperative to accomplishing the many tasks that the citizenry of La Pine expect of the Council.

kmulenex@ci.la-pine.or.us

Councilor Don Greiner

As a La Pine City Councilor I bring my years of experience in the non-profit sector as both a volunteer and a professional to the Council.  I have served many hours as a volunteer at the La Pine Senior Activity Center.  This has given me some insight into the problems faced by La Pine.  It is my hope that I will represent all persons who reside in La Pine and make decisions that are in the best interest of our City.  I will listen to you and your opinion on any issue. Let me hear from you.   

dgreiner@ci.la-pine.or.us

Councilor Stu Martinez

I look forward to bringing my experience as a manager of a small business, to the council along with my prior governmental experience of seven years on the board of directors with the La Pine Fire District. As well as La Pine’s first mayor. I look forward to re-engaging with the local citizens as well as with our fellow leaders at the county and state levels on open communications. I also look forward to working with our most valuable resources, our seniors and youth for their wisdom and energy. So I invite us all to come together to solve our problems, because when we do, we can do nothing but better our community.

smartinez@ci.la-pine.or.us

Councilor Dan Varcoe

The Varcoe family is now six generations deep in Central Oregon. His grandfather, E.E. Varcoe served the longest term in history as a Deschutes County Commissioner (1939-1954). Dan attended schools in Prineville and graduated from Redmond Union High School in 1969. He attended Central Oregon Community College, studied Automotive Technology, as well as Business and Marketing. Extensive training and designations in Real Estate Brokerage, Marketing and Management.

He is married with 3 children and 4 grandchildren.

Dan’s business background includes: Owner - Prineville Dairy Queen (age 19); Owner - Dan Varcoe’s Arco, Prineville; Manager - A&R Automotive, Prineville; Owner - Central Oregon Contracting Services; Owner - Prudential Real Estate, Bend; Owner – Gilchrist Real Estate Company, La Pine, Gilchrist, Prineville and Bend; Executive Director – La Pine Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center.

He has served on multiple Boards, including: Prineville Junior Chamber of Commerce, Central Oregon Association of Realtors, Salvation Army, La Pine Chamber of Commerce, Crescent-Gilchrist Community Action Team, Crescent-Gilchrist Business Association and Toastmasters Club. Member of High Lakes Christian Church in La Pine.

Dan enjoys family-time, working with folks in the community, business and marketing, travel and exploring, civic interests, outdoor activities, camping, hiking, snowmobiling, singing and music, (guitar player), wide-open spaces.

Dan’s philosophy is in alignment with the Realtors Code: Under all is the land. Upon its wise utilization and widely allocated ownership depend the survival and growth of free institutions and of our civilization. We all should recognize that the interests of the nation and its citizens require the highest and best use of the land and the widest distribution of land ownership. They require the creation of adequate housing, the building of functioning cities, the development of productive industries and farms, and the preservation of a healthful environment.

“La Pine is a wonderful Small Town with a Bright Future. By working together we can continue to make La Pine a vibrant community to work, live and play.”

dvarcoe@ci.la-pine.or.us