At last night’s City Council meeting, Cottage Grove Mayor Jeff Gowing, President of the Oregon Mayors Association, presented Mayor Vinis with the Mayors Leadership Award for the Large Cities category from the Oregon Mayors Association. The award was first announced at the Oregon Mayors Association Summer Conference, held July 29-31 in North Bend.
The Mayors Leadership Award recognizes the invaluable contributions made by Oregon mayors in their communities. Mayors who receive these awards show considerable involvement in community affairs and intergovernmental relations; demonstrate exceptional skill in helping to facilitate productive relationships between their city council and city employees; and help other Oregon mayors reach their full potential as community leaders.
“As a leader of one of Oregon's largest cities, Mayor Vinis oversees an amazingly broad organization that includes a commercial service airport, a fire/EMS department, police department, robust Parks and Open Space program, as well as stormwater authority, a regional Wastewater Treatment Facility, and the full complement of traditional city services,” said Mayor Gowing. “The COVID-19 pandemic has brought forth new challenges, but with these new challenges Mayor Vinis took the time to listen deeply, speak authentically, and respond to the needs and input of a diverse and engaging community.”
Gowing also noted that, “Mayor Vinis has spent a considerable amount of her tenure as Mayor creating a culture of inclusiveness…The Mayor has noted herself that the city is growing from a large town to a small city and she wants the city to emerge on the world stage as one that is equitable.”
Nominated by City Council members, Mayor Vinis was noted as a true servant leader, who navigated the events of the past year with integrity, a focus on inclusion, and transparency with the community.