Redmond City Councilor Jon Bullock resigns; council gets police HQ update

(Update: Adding video, comments)

Mayor Endicott plans on opening replacement application period on Nov. 15

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Redmond City Councilor Jon Bullock has officially announced his resignation in a letter Tuesday evening to fellow councilors and community members.

Bullock has worked as an educator in Oregon's public school system for more than 20 years and currently serves as the executive director of the Redmond Proficiency Academy. He previously served as Redmond High School principal.

Back in 2017, Bullock was appointed to the council by Mayor George Endicott following the resignation of Anne Graham.

Now, Mayor George Endicott is tasked with finding a replacement.

Bullock was not in attendance for Tuesday night's meeting, but Endicott praised his efforts and said he's working on the next steps to fill the seat.

"I'm sorry to see it, but his letter explained why he was doing so," Endicott said. "We wish him well in his future endeavors and I will be working on a process to go ahead and appoint a replacement."

Endicott says he plans on putting together an application by Nov. 15.

He says that application window will be open until the end of the month.

Councilors also got some updates on expansion plans for the Redmond Police Department's planned new facility.

City Manager Keith Witcosky says the department's current police station is suffering from major issues like plumbing, storage, parking, and overcrowding.

"Storage is terrible," Witcosky said. "Sometimes they're actually looking over evidence, weighing out actual drugs and contraband at a kitchen table area where the officers and staff eat." 

The city has acquired about eight acres of land for the new site on NW Canal Boulevard for nearly $2.3 million.

The new facility also will serve as a public safety building that can address issues outside of crime, such as mental health crises.

Witcosky added that the city conducted more than 200 phone interviews back in July to see if residents would support a bond measure next May to help fund the project. Of those surveyed, 82% were in favor.

Based on current estimates, the project could be finished by 2024 and could cost $20 million-$30 million.

Here is Bullock's official resignation letter:

Mayor Endicott, Members of City Council, and the Redmond Community,

With this correspondence I am officially resigning from the Redmond City Council, effective November 9,
2021.

I have recently been asked to take on a much larger responsibility in my role on the Southern Oregon
University (SOU) Board of Trustees, one that has led me to realize I can no longer balance my obligation
to the Redmond City Council and the Redmond community with my responsibilities to SOU and the
Board of Trustees.

I thank each of you for your deep commitment to the City of Redmond. When I moved here 16 years ago, Redmond became my home and my passion. It has provided me with amazing opportunities and limitless memories. I appreciate Mayor Endicott appointing me to City Council four years ago, and I am honored by the overwhelming support of voters who elected me to serve three years ago.

The professional opportunity I have been provided aligns with my lifetime of work in public education and allows me to grow and develop as an educator and as a community servant. While I will remain in Redmond and will continue in my current professional role at RPA, this new opportunity will require a significant amount of time and travel, making it difficult to continue serving on City Council.

I appreciate the opportunity I have had to serve the City of Redmond and the wonderful people who live here.

Please accept this communication with sincere gratitude and respect. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Jon Bullock