Agenda Item - 2024-02-06 - Number 6.1 - Approval of Meeting Minutes 6.1
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Subject: Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes
Meeting Date: February 6, 2024 Staff Member: Kari Linder, City Recorder
Report Date: January 25, 2024 Department: City Manager's Office
Action Required Advisory Board/Commission Recommendation
0 Motion ❑ Approval
❑ Public Hearing ❑ Denial
❑ Ordinance ❑ None Forwarded
❑ Resolution 0 Not Applicable
❑ Information Only Comments:
❑ Council Direction
0 Consent Agenda
Staff Recommendation: Approve minutes as written.
Recommended Language for Motion: Move to approve minutes as written.
Project/ Issue Relates To: NA
Issue before Council (Highlight Policy Question):
❑Council Goals/Priorities ❑Adopted Master Plan(s) El Not Applicable
ATTACHMENTS
1. December 19, 2023, Draft Regular Meeting Minutes
2. January 2, 2024, Draft Regular Meeting Minutes
Respect. Excel'erce. Trust. Service.
503-635-0215 380 A AVENUE PO BOX 369 LAKE OSWEGO, OR 97034 WWW.LAKEOSWEGO.CITY
ATTACHMENT 1
o s�
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MINUTES
V December 19, 2023
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1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Buck called the regular City Council meeting to order at 3:01 p.m. on Tuesday,
December 19, 2023. The meeting was held both virtually via video conferencing and in-
person in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 380 A Avenue.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Buck, Councilors Verdick, Afghan, Corrigan, Wendland, and
Mboup. Councilor Rapf was excused.
Staff Present: Martha Bennett, City Manager; Ellen Osoinach, City Attorney; Kari
Linder, City Recorder; Erik Olson, Long Range Planning Manager; Will
Farley, Senior Associate Engineer; Erica Rooney, City Engineer I Public
Works Director; Stefan Broadus, Associate Engineer
Others Present: Youth Leadership Council Members: Naomi Robinson, Liam Aranda-
Michel, Allison Korkola and Cara Chen
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Buck led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. PRESENTATION
4.1 Joint Letter with the Youth Leadership Council Supporting a Statewide Ban on the
Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products.
Naomi Robinson, Liam Aranda-Michel, Allison Korkola, Cara Chen, Youth Leadership
Council (YLC), introduced themselves and jointly presented via PowerPoint background
information on health risks and population disparities associated with flavored tobacco use, the
YLC's advocacy for legislation that would enact a statewide ban on flavored tobacco products,
and requested the City Council consider cosigning YLC's letter in favor of a statewide ban.
Mayor Buck noted a copy of the letter was included in the Agenda packet and thanked the YLC
for their presentation. Councilors Afghan and Mboup expressed pride in the YLC for its
advocacy on the issue and agreed to co-sign the letter. Councilor Mboup stated he would push
for a ban on flavored tobacco products in Lake Oswego, pending legal opinion.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 8
December 19, 2023
Councilor Wendland asked the YLC members how much pressure there was to use tobacco.
Ms. Chen replied she had not experienced pressure to use tobacco, but she knew of groups
who used tobacco and other substances as a recreational activity who may experience
pressure. Ms. Korkola shared she had experienced some indirect pressure from friends at
school. Mr. Aranda-Michel stated no matter how pressure was experienced, he found the
normalization of use to be a pressing issue. Tobacco use was a ubiquitous and common sight
that desensitized people to its harmful effects on physical and mental health.
YLC members believed a ban would serve to provide a message contrary to the status quo.
Mayor Buck commented that the age to purchase tobacco products had recently increased
from 18 to 21 years old, however there was still prevalent underage usage. He asked if YLC
members could share, anecdotally, how youth managed to obtain tobacco products. Ms.
Korkola said that in her experience, there could be pressure from families and the majority of
people she knew who smoked obtained the product from family members, such as siblings, who
were older than 21 years.
In response to Councilor Wendland's question, Ms. Korkola believed tobacco products could
be used socially but also marketed as an easy way to relieve stress. Councilor Wendland
complimented YLC on the presentation and expressed support for the ban.
Mayor Buck noted bills were introduced in the Oregon Legislature to ban flavored tobacco, but
those bills had not been brought to the floor for a vote. The subject bill would likely not come up
in the short session because it had not been filed; however, signing the letter would encourage
legislative leadership to bring the bill forward in the next long session and place pressure on
lawmakers to bring the bill up for a vote. In signing the letter, Lake Oswego would join with other
communities to show broad support for passing the ban. The bill did have bipartisan support,
but the lobby pressures were heavy on the issue. He expressed interest in exploring what action
Lake Oswego could take on the issue locally, especially because some of the city's stores were
in Multnomah County where a ban on flavored tobacco was set to go into effect on January 1,
2024, while other stores were in Clackamas County where no such ban was under
consideration.
Councilors expressed unanimous support for signing the letter.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
• Gale Wallmark, Board Secretary, Friends of Luscher Farm read into the public
record the Friends of Luscher Farm leadership team's request that two Luscher
projects—a new safe vehicular access and expanded parking area, and an expansion of
agriculture programs—be prioritized as an initiative in the 2024 Parks Recreation and
Natural Area's goal during the City Council's upcoming 2024 goal setting. Friends of
Luscher Farm Treasurer, Robert Hansen, was also present.
• Edward Conrad read into the public record his written comments regarding the ALTA
Report on the McVey-Stafford corridor, highlighting concerns regarding pedestrian
safety, school zone designations, and the potential impact of Interstate tolling.
Mayor Buck confirmed the Council had received Mr. Conrad's written testimony and
appreciated the detailed information he presented.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 8
December 19, 2023
6. CONSENT AGENDA
6.1 Authorize Purchase Agreement for a new Dump Truck.
Motion: Move to authorize the City Manager to execute a purchase agreement with
Peterson Trucks for the purchase of a new International Dump Truck for $287,356.65.
6.3 Resolution 23-24, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Lake Oswego
Adjusting the Compensation for Charter Officers.
Motion: Move to adopt Resolution 23-24.
6.4 Approval of Meeting Minutes.
November 7, 2023, Draft Regular Meeting Minutes
November 21, 2023, Draft Regular Meeting Minutes
Motion: Move to approve the minutes as written.
END CONSENT
Councilor Mboup moved to adopt the Consent Agenda. Councilor Verdick seconded the
motion.
A voice vote was held, and the motion passed, with Mayor Buck and Councilors Verdick,
Afghan, Corrigan, Wendland and Mboup voting `aye', (6-0).
7. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA
6.2 Approve a Contract Award for 9-1-1 Phone and Mapping Equipment Replacement.
Motion: Move to authorize the City Manager to sign a contract with Motorola Solutions,
Inc., for 9-1-1 Phone and Mapping Equipment Replacement, for $543,065.33.
This item will be considered at the January 2, 2024, meeting.
8. COUNCIL BUSINESS
8.1 Ordinance 2943, An Ordinance of the City of Lake Oswego Establishing the Lake
Oswego Vertical Housing Development Zone at the North Anchor Site (PP 23-
0006).
Erik Olson, Long Range Planning Manager, presented the Council Report on Ordinance
2943, and provided background on Vertical Housing Tax Exemptions, Vertical Housing
Development Zones (VHDZ), the North Anchor redevelopment site, and the proposed VHDZ
pilot program in North Anchor. As required by the State, Lake Oswego provided notice to the
nine taxing districts impacted by the VHDZ, but no district had opted out. In addition, though
State rules required the City to consider the potential for displacement of households within a
proposed VHDZ before designation, the four tax lots located within the proposed zone were
currently developed with existing vacant commercial structures. Since there were no existing
residences within the area, Staff found no displacement risk. A review of the fiscal impact of the
proposal found the construction of North Anchor would ultimately increase the City's tax
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 8
December 19, 2023
revenue, particularly when the residential portion of the property was added to the tax rolls
following the initial 10-year period. In the interim, the City would collect revenue from the
commercial portion of the project. Staff recommended the City Council approve the ordinance,
which was consistent with Council goals to support business investment and job creation, to
ensure North Anchor Development stayed on track, and to help facilitate the development of 67
housing units in the downtown core, eight of which would be affordable to those earning 80
percent of area median income.
Mayor Buck commented that he and the City's Redevelopment Manager, Sidaro Sin, had met
with two of the impacted taxing districts, the School District and the County, to present the
project and answer questions. Neither district opted out of the proposed VHDZ, which he
believed was because the City had a specific project in mind for an area with known
redevelopment difficulties. It was better to get something off the ground than to see it sitting
vacant and being a nuisance year after year. The taxing districts may not have had the same
response if the City had approached them without a tangible project and demonstrated need. It
was worth pointing out, too, that the City had always heavily subsidized other redevelopment
projects, such as Lake View Village and Windward. Downtown was a difficult area to construct
in because of the cost, going underground, and the train. While this was a new program, the
City forming partnerships to make development happen was nothing new.
Councilor Wendland stated that the City's partner in North Anchor, Urban Development
Partners (UD+P), had stepped up to the table and the VHDZ was one component of several the
company had worked on to make the project economically viable.
Councilor Verdick moved to enact Ordinance 2943. Councilor Wendland seconded the
motion.
A voice vote was held, and the motion passed, with Mayor Buck and Councilors Verdick,
Afghan, Corrigan, Wendland and Mboup voting `aye', (6-0).
9. STUDY SESSION
9.1 McVey I Stafford Road Corridor Study on Transportation Options.
Erica Rooney, City Engineer I Public Works Director, introduced project team members
Senior Associate Engineer Will Farley, and Associate Engineer Stefan Broadus. She noted this
evening's work session presented ideas that were not set in stone but provided a starting point
to find a cohesive idea for how to move forward with the corridor.
Stefan Broadus, Associate Engineer, presented the Council Report via PowerPoint and
provided a summary of the McVey-Stafford corridor, previous Council direction, existing
conditions, public involvement, proposed concepts, implementation and next steps.
Councilors supported the project, but expressed concern about the overall cost, how the project
fit into current Transportation System Plan (TSP) priorities and inquired of Staff whether there
was a way to simplify the plan or pursue options other than the segments shown in the report.
Staff addressed clarifying questions from Councilors as follows:
• Staff believed the signal modifications proposed to improve the efficiency of the
intersections and/or the access management to make turn movements and access onto
McVey/Stafford more predictable would result in immediate reduced stress and an easier life
for commuters.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 8
December 19, 2023
• Many of the remedies around intersections were designed so drivers could turn quickly and
more efficiently, improving the flow of traffic behind them. For example, a driver trying to turn
left from McVey onto Cornell usually had to wait for a line of cars, but a signal improvement
would ensure the driver had a moment to turn left without the wait and then drivers behind
them would be able to flow more efficiently. Pedestrians could then cross at a signal during
their green time; adding some expectation to the traffic could improve flow for everybody.
• It was possible the project could create a bottle neck at one end of State Street because that
was a state highway with through traffic on the other approaches as well. That bottleneck
could lead to some backup on McVey. It was possible Overlook, and the area towards the
roundabout on the south side could experience some congestion as well.
• There was an opportunity to do the project in phases as shown in the Council Report under
interim projects. The ultimate project could be broken up geographically into a north
segment and a south segment, though Staff had not analyzed that specific possibility.
• The project could not be broken into block-by-block pieces because of the stormwater
component. The drawings in the Council Report did not show the stormwater
component; that element was a linear function that needed to be accommodated. While
the project could not be broken up into 10 sections, two or three sections were possible.
The $40 million cost did not include underground utilities.
• Staff emphasized that limiting stranded value or putting a cost into any project that would not
survive the ultimate construction would be a design consideration of any interim project the
City might pursue. Instead, design considerations would include a solution or combination of
solutions to reduce the total $40 million, though it was too early to tell what percentage of
the overall project would be made up from interim investments.
• The City's TSP had a few hundred projects on it, and it was the Council's job to take the
information brought to them and set the goals and priorities for the City. Several years ago,
pavement management was a priority and that was where the biggest percentage of the
City's street fund went to. A few years ago, the shift was towards pedestrian pathway
improvements, most specifically to address the needs of youth and schools, so the City was
focusing on those pathways near schools. The Report before Council was the outcome of a
corridor study project identified in the TSP. Staff had started the process and now it had to
be weighed against all the other needs in Lake Oswego.
• Urgency better described things which did exist and had failed. While the corridor was
not a great facility, it was not broken and so prioritization was more difficult. Staff looked
to the Council to determine where the project fit amongst pedestrian and pavement
improvements since there were many needs in the city but not enough funding.
• The project was something Council should discuss and provide direction to Staff. After
the project was put into the Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) and the next TSP
update, Staff would have more specific components to highlight and then Council could
have more conversation about priorities. after which Council should discuss the project
and provide direction to Staff.
• The projects would not disrupt the current path of the TSP. The city was a quarter of the way
through the first biennium, so the direction of work was set. Some of the projects could be
put in the unfunded category when the next CIP was developed. If the Council's goals
changed this January and the following January, and it determined McVey was more
important than pedestrian facilities for schools, then that was the direction Staff would take.
• Staff wanted to put the project into the CIP to provide more specifics than what the CIP
included now, which was the McVey-Stafford Corridor Study. The project would then be
included in the updated TSP as well.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 8
December 19, 2023
• Barriers between cars and cyclists could cause issues with keeping the bike lane clean.
However, the barrier shown between the cycle lanes and the vehicular lanes was one
potential design solution. Another possibility was to forgo a barrier and the horizontal
separation would act as a barrier by itself. The calm candle sticks shown in the Report were
there to highlight the fact that there is a separation, but what that would look like in the final
design was still to be determined. Staff probably would not recommend them for
maintenance reasons.
• Pedestrian crossings from the south side could be considered further into design. The goal
would be to allow someone to continue to travel on the side of the road they are already on,
as opposed to crossing the road. There were a couple of other design solutions at City's
disposal, including acquiring additional right of way in order to incorporate facilities, or
merging the pedestrian and bicycle facilities into some sort of shared use path.
• The City could try to compete for funding at the State level, but historically Lake Oswego
had not competed well for safety funding because there were not many accidents; it was a
good problem to have but it limited sources of outside funding. Another resource was the
Street Maintenance Fee, which the Council had voted to increase a year and a half ago.
Implemented in July of 2023, the fee was meant to help pay for the Pedestrian Pathway
Program. Previously, the City had discussed bonds, gas tax, and other things that could
provide more funding options but at the time the only direction Council wished to take was to
increase the Street Maintenance Fee.
• If the City wished to prioritize pedestrian safety and planned to break the project into
segments, then it could look to the area between South Shore Boulevard and State Street
since other areas of the corridor had pathways and pedestrian facilities.
• The proposed plan showed fitting improvements within the existing right of way. Based on
the preliminary concepts, there was no expected right of way acquisition.
• The project would require the City to manage stormwater created through the addition of
impervious surface area.
• Staff understood Council wished the project to be broken up into three plans: Plan A would
show the project end-to-end as a $40 million project. Plan B would cut the plan up into two
segments to make it more financially feasible. Plan C could be interim projects.
• Community feedback acknowledged that traveling the corridor longitudinally was a
challenge, but even more so the community expressed concerns regarding crossing the
road from one neighborhood into another. With that feedback in mind, many of the interim
projects, such as crossing estimates, were a relatively minor investment of $50,000 to
$150,000, compared to the total $40 million. For that minor investment, the City would be
addressing one of the biggest feedback themes and there was little risk of sunken costs.
• To predict trends, Staff would look at origin and destination, where origin was housing
and destination was schools, restaurants, and grocery stores. The plan addressed some
of those, such as South Shore, with signalized intersections, but there were a couple of
other intersections identified where a crossing improvement could make a big difference.
• Crossing improvements could be as simple as providing a Rectangular Rapid Flashing
Beacon (RRFB). For $1 million, the City could make four crossing improvements at the
intersections with Lake Front, Cornell, Laurel, and Patton which would be appreciated by
residents right away and would not necessarily be hard to implement. RRFB might be an
effective starting point. The crossings would not address the longitudinal challenges for
pedestrians but would certainly help how hard it was to cross currently.
• Curb bulb-outs with RRFB would be installed at Bergis Road as part of the Lake Oswego
Recreational and Aquatic Facility (LORAC) project.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 8
December 19, 2023
• The access management proposals discussed where the City wished to close or consolidate
vehicle access. North of South Shore Boulevard, there were a few accesses and good street
spacing with other connectivity. It was possible to close access from one street since
vehicles could gain access from one street over. Limiting access allowed traffic to move
more efficiently because turning points were consolidated.
Mayor Buck appreciated the information about RRFBs having a large impact for fewer dollars.
Cost wise, the project cost more than the entire Boone's Ferry Road project, which required an
Urban Renewal District, a general obligation bond, state funding, and two decades to complete.
He favored getting Plan C projects onto the CIP and then onto the priority list as the City
progressed, though at some point a decision had to be made about what could be funded on the
big project; it was one of the corridors impacted by diversion and a candidate for mitigation from
ODOT because now there would be infrastructure deficiencies to point to, but it was possible
ODOT would only fund signal modifications. The City should continue to advocate for this
project, whether through revenue sharing or conversation with State, because it was a critical
corridor and lacked facilities for people in nearby neighborhoods to access George Rogers Park
and the town's commercial area.
Councilor Wendland asked if the money allocated towards the study had been spent. City
Manager Martha Bennett said the study was funded with ARPA dollars. Any monies remaining
would go to Lakeview Boulevard. Staff would return to Council with the exact cost of the study.
Director Rooney added the contract was expended, but that may not represent all the funds.
10. INFORMATION FROM COUNCIL
Mayor Buck thanked Councilor Verdick for serving as the 2023 Council President. Earlier in the
day, some Councilors hosted the Councilor General of Japan who was visiting the 24 cities in
Oregon that had sister city relationships with cities in Japan. Lake Oswego would work with his
office to reinvigorate its relationship with sister city Yoshikawa.
The Mayor, with Councilors Corrigan, Mboup, and Verdick had attended the ribbon cutting for
the Habitat project. About 50 kids were expected to live in the 23-townhome project, which
would take about a year to a year and a half to complete.
A subcommittee of the Legislature was hearing feedback on tolling through a series of three
public meetings: one in Multnomah, one in Wilsonville, and one in Gladstone. Lake Oswego was
invited to present at the Wilsonville meeting. Mr. Farley had prepared a letter specific to the
topic covered while Mayor Buck's testimony included general comments about the tolling
program and comprehensive transportation funding.
The City Council was soliciting feedback for its goals. Boards and commissions were preparing
a summary of three things they had done in the past year and three topics they would like the
Council to focus on in the upcoming year.
11. REPORTS OF OFFICERS
City Manager Bennett advised the City would be closed Monday, December 25 and the
following Monday. Materials for goal setting would be sent to the Council the first week in
January; materials would include comments already submitted to City Recorder Kari Linder.
Feedback thus far included comments regarding Luscher Farm and pedestrian safety.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 7 of 8
December 19, 2023
Councilors would be sent department head recommendations, boards and commission
materials, and public comments for feedback early in January.
12. EXECUTIVE SESSION: The Lake Oswego City Council will meet under authority of
ORS 192.660 (2)(h) Consult with attorney regarding legal rights and duties of a
public body with regard to current litigation or litigation likely to be filed;
(i) Review and evaluate the employment related performance of the chief
executive officer of any public body, a public officer, employee or staff member
who does not request an open hearing; and (f) Consider records that are exempt
by law from public inspection.
Ellen Osoinach, City Attorney, read the parameters of the Executive Session.
The City Council met in Executive Session from 4:59 p.m. to 7:19 p.m.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Buck adjourned the City Council meeting at 7:19 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kari Linder, City Recorder
Approved by the City Council on {insert approval date}.
Joseph M. Buck, Mayor
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 8 of 8
December 19, 2023
ATTACHMENT 2
o s�
y.. CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
January 2, 2024
ORFGo�'
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Buck called the regular City Council meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. on Tuesday,
January 2, 2024. The meeting was held both virtually via video conferencing and in-
person in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 380 A Avenue.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Buck, Councilors Afghan, Wendland, Verdick, Mboup, Rapf, and
Corrigan
Staff Present: Martha Bennett, City Manager; Ellen Osoinach, City Attorney; Kari
Linder, City Recorder; Jessica Numanoglu, Community Development
Director; Madison Thesing, Assistant to the City Manager; Kyra
Haggart, Project Manager, Parks Department; Kim Vermillion,
Administrative Assistant
Others Present: Matt Evans, Chamber of Commerce; Jason Morado, ETC Institute (via
video conferencing); Matt Hastig, MIG (via video conferencing)
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Buck led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. ELECTION OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT
Mayor Buck moved to elect Councilor Mboup for the Lake Oswego 2024 Council
President. Councilor Rapf seconded the motion.
A voice vote was held, and the motion passed, with Mayor Buck and Councilors
Corrigan, Wendland, Mboup, Verdick, Rapf, and Afghan voting `aye.' (7-0).
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Proclamation.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 9
January 2, 2024
Mayor Buck declared January 15, 2024, as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the City of Lake
Oswego. The full text of the Proclamation was available on the Council's website. The
community was invited to attend the MLK Day Celebration at the Lake Oswego High School
auditorium on Sunday, January 14, at 2 p.m.
5.2 Awards for the 2023 Unsung Heroes
Mayor Buck noted the City was in its 23rd year of celebrating selfless service with the Unsung
Heroes Award. Over the years, the award has recognized 85 outstanding volunteers for their
impactful, behind-the-scenes efforts that have helped make Lake Oswego a wonderful place.
The 2023 Awards were presented to:
• Jan Rimerman was honored in absentia for her work as an active volunteer with the Festival
of the Arts and Lake Oswego Library. Ms. Rimerman curated shows at the Lakewood Center
Festival of the Arts and Denton Gallery and helped to coordinate the art show portion of the
Lake Oswego Reads program, including recruiting artists and facilitating a traveling art
exhibition exhibit of art to nine libraries across the state. In a written statement, Ms.
Rimerman shared her impactful volunteer experience assisting with the Rain Spark Gallery
10th Annual Lake Oswego Community Treasure Hunt.
• Charles Aubin was recognized for his 20 years of volunteer service to Parks and Recreation
events, as well as service to the Meals on Wheels Program, Oswego Arts Festival, local
food pantry, and service to multiple organizations outside Lake Oswego, including Tryon
Creek State Park, Tualatin River Keepers, Portland Audubon Society, and the Oregon
Humane Society. Mr. Aubin shared that the most rewarding experiences he had were at the
Adult Community Center. Serving there was a rewarding and fun activity.
• Ophilia Lu was the youngest recipient of the 2023 Unsung Heroes Awards and was
recognized for 250 hours of volunteer time to the Chinese Youth and Women Development
Organization, and her work to foster stronger connection between that organization and
local entities. Ms. Lu, a junior at Lake Oswego High School, also served as a member of the
City's Youth Leadership Council, and volunteered with Vision Envoy, a youth run branch of
the Lions Club. Ms. Lu commented that one of her most rewarding volunteer experiences
was assisting at the Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast.
Mayor Buck thanked those who served on the selection committee and everyone who
nominated the Unsung Heroes.
5.3 Chamber of Commerce Annual Report
Jessica Numanoglu, Community Development Director, stated that December 2023
concluded the first year of a three-year contract between Lake Oswego and the Chamber of
Commerce. The contract aimed to strengthen the Lake Oswego business community through
community partnerships, education and training, and marketing to business and visitor
prospects. The Chamber had a scope of work in three main areas: business information
collection and dissemination; business education and training; and business outreach and
engagement. This evening's presentation by the Chamber would highlight the organization's
accomplishments over the past year and share data and information collected.
Matt Evans, Economic and Business Research Analyst, Lake Oswego Chamber of
Commerce, presented the Chamber's report, providing data on the size, number, type and
location of businesses in Lake Oswego, and summarizing the information contained in the
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 9
January 2, 2024
Council packet, which included updates about business investment and job creation,
businesses education and training, outreach and engagement. As City Councilors went through
the City Satisfaction Survey, they might observe areas that could be added for the Chamber and
City to consider as part of the 2024 grant work, along with any additional areas of focus under
the 2024 agreement. The Chamber looked forward to continuing its partnership with the City.
Councilors thanked Mr. Evans for the presentation and expressed gratitude for the Chamber's
partnership with the City and all the Chamber did to support local businesses. Councilors
expressed a desire to make the Chamber's business training programs, some of which had a
cost, accessible to more businesses.
Mr. Evans and Director Numanoglu addressed clarifying questions from Councilors as follows:
• The survey referenced in the report asked businesses if they had any contact with the City,
aside from applying for a business license, and the responses were very positive. People
felt like the City listened when they came forward with a problem, and Staff worked with
people to solve problems. The survey helped identify a sign problem a member on Boone's
Ferry road was having. The Chamber worked with the Planning Department to determine
the process to get the sign approved and installed. That situation would not have happened
if the Chamber had not done the contracted work on behalf of the City.
• For 2024, the Chamber planned to look more closely at the problems established
businesses may face that a new owner may not, and how to provide training in those areas
to help businesses get through those problems.
• The Chamber was grateful to continue working with the City under the contract, however Mr.
Evans' time was limited by the amount of money available to provide for his salary under the
contract. It would be wonderful if the Chamber had more Staff and resources, especially
around outreach. The Chamber would like to have more one-on-one discussions with
businesses around Lake Oswego to find out about what problems businesses were having.
• The Chamber wished to know how it could help the City as it did with the recent Stormwater
Inspection Program. The Chamber hosted meetings with local businesses to help them
understand the complex program and gave businesses the opportunity to talk with City Staff.
Through that process, the Chamber discovered the program could use more publicity so
businesses understood what would happen under the program and which businesses would
and would not be affected.
• The Chamber had great communication with Staff and felt free to ask questions of anyone at
any time. They would like to see more frequent communication all the way around.
• The Chamber tried to emphasize the positive with ribbon cuttings and business openings for
members as well as nonmembers.
• The City was in the process of renewing the contract with the Chamber for 2024. The scope
of work under the contract would not change. While it followed the economic development
strategy and plan that did not mean the Chamber was limited to just that work. The contract
would not be expanded if the City or the Chamber provided support to one another
throughout the year, but the City would provide assistance where it could.
• Many businesses and organizations had had a difficult four to five years. Credit for the
Chamber's success and strength through that time was due to the Chamber's Board and its
CEO Liz Hartman for the tremendous amount of smart work during that period to maintain a
presence.
Mayor Buck commented that people came to Lake Oswego from all over the region, and there
was an opportunity to work together to promote businesses. Tourism meant a lot to the local
economy, not just heads in beds, but also daily visitors. The City had disbanded the Tourism
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 9
January 2, 2024
Advisory Board this year, so there may be an opportunity to work with the Chamber to put
tourism dollars to good work and tell a positive story about Lake Oswego. Mr. Evans responded
that part of his charge was the Visitors Bureau, which was a small effort at the moment, but the
Chamber was thinking about ways to bring more visitors to Lake Oswego. Plans were underway
for a Lake Grove Wine Walk in May, which would be advertised outside the area. The event, an
expansion of the event held downtown in the fall, would feature only Oregon wines, and the
Chamber was hoping to get people in for overnight stays.
5.4 2023 Community Survey Results
Ms. Thesing introduced the team from the City's consultant, ETC Research, which was
contracted by the City to conduct a statistical valid survey to measure satisfaction with the City's
programs and services and gauge the community's support for potential policy initiatives. The
survey was intended to be a snapshot of where the City was today, where it could improve, and
a roadmap of where the City may want to go next. The survey was the second with ETC and
marked the first year the City could benchmark against its survey from 2021. Staff did not
request any Council action; the presentation was meant to provide insights and information,
especially leading into the Council's goal-setting session.
Jason Morado, Director of Community Research, ETC Institute, presented the Council
Report via PowerPoint and highlighted the purpose and methodology of the survey and key
findings, as well as a summary of results.
Councilors found the results of the survey, in which 97 percent of respondents reported feeling
that Lake Oswego was an excellent or good place to live, reflected the work of City Staff and the
goals the City Council had chosen to emphasize. They asked how to reach the people who did
not feel satisfied with the City, and whether questions should be changed in the next survey to
provide more specificity to areas of concern identified by respondents, such as climate change.
Mr. Morado and Staff addressed clarifying questions from Councilors as follows:
• About 40 percent of respondents owned their own business, worked from home, or worked
in Lake Oswego while 44 percent commuted to work outside of the city. It was not clear
whether those numbers were like the demographics collected two years ago, but they may
be consistent.
• The results presented were for the recently closed, statistically valid survey. The publicly
accessible portion of the survey was being launched and promoted in Hello LO and the LO
Down, so there would be a second batch of survey results from the general population opt-in
to compare to the statistically valid survey.
• In 2021, the statistically valid survey had 609 respondents and the publicly accessibly
portion had more than 400 respondents for a total sample of just over 1,000.
• The survey was very thorough and was a mix of standard questions ETC asked in other
communities across the country, along with customized questions specific to Lake Oswego,
which was typical of how surveys were set up. ETC could not think of questions that were
missing, but that could be kept in mind for the next survey. However, this survey was at its
limit for the number of questions that could be asked. If new questions were added, other
questions of a similar type would need to be removed.
• The survey questions did have a range of specificities and Council mapped the priorities
indicated against existing goals. In terms of climate action, Council had an existing Climate
Action Plan, and the Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB) made recommendations to Council
about priorities in the Climate Action Plan. The Council needed to decide whether those
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recommendations were responsive to the Community Survey Results, which were
generalized. The Council should determine what priorities within its adopted plan should be
prioritized based on the survey results.
• The Community Survey was a public opinion survey meant to give the City a sense of what
people cared about. A real dialogue with the community about climate change, the library, or
bonds for streets or the fire station, would involve more public education. The questions on
the survey were informed by where people were right now and not what the City had done to
educate the public about a topic.
• The survey elicited residents' perceptions and for some issues, such as climate change,
at a very high level. The next survey could ask more specific questions about climate
change if that was considered more important than another topic. There were times
when entire surveys were about one topic, such as surveys for Parks and Recreation
Departments that asked detailed questions about different types of programs and
facilities. For the purpose of this survey, the questions about climate change were
designed to a high level, general perception. The survey could always go more in depth
on any question, but then part of the survey would have to be in areas that were not as
important to learn about.
• In the past six to eight months, the cities surveyed by ETC overall had a decrease in
satisfaction compared to two to three years ago, which made the increase in satisfaction
results for Lake Oswego impressive.
• ETC would put together a list of other high-performing communities with similar
characteristics and concerns for benchmarking and best practices purposes.
Councilor Wendland suggested that the City create a definitive plan with its partners at the
Lake Oswego School District to share the good survey results to attract young families to the
city. The statistics showed that Lake Oswego was growing older, so the City should do what it
could to bolster its marketing.
Councilor Rapf noted that people's first connection to the city was through commerce, so
Council should continue to focus on commerce. The way to reach the few people who were not
quite satisfied and create a positive impact on individual members of the community was right
outside the front door: streets, roadways, pathways, sidewalks. Page 38 of the report indicated
residents would prefer the City put its capital resources toward streets, roads, and pathways.
Mayor Buck commented that all the areas of significant satisfaction increase since 2021 were
centered around Council goals and the work the City had been doing in the areas of public
safety, the intersection of public safety and behavior health, economic development, social
services, and the promotion of equity and climate change. The results spoke to the efficacy of
the work Council was doing in those areas. The Council had chosen areas that resulted in a
positive response from the community, and it communicated its goals well.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
Gary Vuchinich testified that on November 6, an 8-inch waterline owned by the City broke and
flooded his home resulting in a $32,000 cleanup bill and an estimated restoration cost between
$120,000 and $130,000. The City had not accepted responsibility for the damage, and Mr.
Vuchinich was retired and did not expect the expense. He expected the City to take
responsibility. One hidden danger of living in Lake Oswego lurked 4.5 to 5 feet underground: the
City's water system. In his area, the water system was 54 years old, and the neighborhood had
experienced previous waterline breaks in 2013 and 2019. He was not sure what to do if the
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water line broke again because the City had given him no assurances that the water line was
safe other than saying the lines usually lasted 80 to 100 years. The employee who came out to
supervise the repair of the November break shared that he dealt with two water line breaks per
month. Mr. Vuchinich asked for the Council to accept responsibility. If they did not, why would
anyone want to live, or build, or conduct business in the city knowing how bad the infrastructure
was? This could happen to all the members of the Council. All the Councilors lived in Lake
Oswego and could suffer the same damage. Would they want the City to walk away, saying the
City was not negligent and not responsible for the damage?
7. CONSENT AGENDA
7.1 Approve a Contract Award for 9-1-1 Phone and Mapping Equipment Replacement.
Motion: Move to authorize the City Manager to sign a contract with Motorola Solutions,
Inc., for 9-1-1 Phone and Mapping Equipment Replacement, for $579,966.33.
7.2 Resolution 24-01, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Lake Oswego
Approving the Council Liaison and Committee Assignments for 2024.
Motion: Move to adopt Resolution 24-01.
END CONSENT
Councilor Rapf moved to adopt the Consent Agenda. Councilor Corrigan seconded the
motion.
A voice vote was held, and the motion passed, with Mayor Buck and Councilors Afghan,
Wendland, Verdick, Mboup, Rapf, and Corrigan voting `aye,' (7-0).
8. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA
9. CONSENT AGENDA— Councilors Only
9.1 Resolution 24-04, A Resolution of the City Councilors of the City of Lake Oswego
Approving an Appointment to the Library Advisory Board.
Councilor Wendland moved to adopt Resolution 24-04. Councilor Rapf seconded the
motion.
A voice vote was held, and the motion passed, with Councilors Afghan, Wendland,
Verdick, Mboup, Rapf, Corrigan voting `aye,' (6-0-1).
Council took a ten-minute recess.
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10. STUDY SESSION
10.1 Parks 2040 Project Update.
Kyra Haggart, Project Manager, Parks and Recreation, introduced the City's consultant from
MIG and noted the preliminary results of the citywide survey demonstrated residents'
satisfaction with the Parks and Recreation Department. High satisfaction levels were achieved
through forward-thinking and thoughtful, long-range Parks and Recreation System Planning.
Matt Hastig, MIG, presented the report via PowerPoint and summarized the status of the Parks
2040 process, key takeaways from community engagement, a proposed revised classification
system for Parks and Recreation facilities, mapping related to access and proximity as well as
index equity mapping to demographic gaps, and reviewed strategic framework elements and
next steps.
Mr. Hastig and Staff addressed clarifying questions from Councilors as follows:
• The results presented represented the statistically valid survey, though there was not a lot of
difference between the results of the two survey components. MIG had compiled a report
that compared the results from the two components of the survey and found that the
differences were between one to five percent, though a few were greater. Most often, the
difference was within the margin of error for the statistically valid survey.
• The plan included a three-pronged needs assessment for facilities, recreation amenities or
programs, and facilities maintenance and operations. The maintenance and operations
assessment did not include the Lake Oswego Recreation and Aquatic Center (LORAC)
because MIG did not have data regarding how the City planned to maintain that facility. MIG
could look at what other jurisdictions did in terms of maintenance level for those types of
facilities, but in general the report included what the City was already doing and how it could
continue to enhance and improve.
• The report did include staffing and associated costs for new facilities, such as the
LORAC.
• A maintenance cost projection for the LORAC had been completed, but it was not
encapsulated in the Park Plan 2040; it was more of a one-off operational plan and
projection. The City used the firm Ballard and King to prepare a projection of the
maintenance costs for the LORAC. That projection was based on similar facilities throughout
the United States. The IGA with the School District called for the City to analyze actual
numbers after two years of operations and make any adjustments to the IGA or return to
Council for adjustments to resources.
• Staff could ensure there was a more obvious connection between the operations plan for
LORAC and the Parks Plan 2040. The LORAC operational plan and forecast could be
added to the Parks Plan in an appendix for that specific facility.
• Staff believed there was always room for improvement in public engagement, and only one-
third of the planned public engagement for the plan had been undertaken. The bulk of
community engagement would take place over the next year, when the City would begin to
seek specific recommendations to help meet the needs of marginalized communities. Staff
had done a good job of trying to initiate those relationships in order to garner feedback and
earn trust.
• The term "access to essential services" came out of the Parks Plan 2025; the plan that
guided the City's Parks and Recreation Department since its adoption in 2012. The term
sought to identify the services people needed within walking distance of their home such as
places to exercise and for children to play, quick access to playgrounds, and access to
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nature. Trail connectivity was added as a new essential service based on feedback Staff
heard via outreach. The term meant the key parts of parks and recreation facilities that
people wanted to access quickly.
• Staff had heard from parents about the need for more playgrounds and for more inclusive
playgrounds that offered universal play for children of all abilities.
• Many parks were a combination of classifications. The forced choice questions on the
survey were intended to get at people's priorities. The survey results showed 43 percent of
respondents wanted access to nature, and 41 percent want to conserve nature, which Staff
understood to mean the City needed to be careful in how those two priorities were balanced.
• The benefit of having the different categories was in benchmarking Lake Oswego to other
communities. The 2025 classification made it difficult for Staff to benchmark externally, and
the new classifications were simpler and more traditional.
Councilor Wendland stated that out of 7,982 acres, only .001 was available for parks. A goal of
a park within '/4 mile or a 10-minute walk was not achievable if no land was available for parks.
The City must be careful about its messaging and not overpromise. In addition, some people did
not feel parks were an essential service. What Staff described as access to essential services
was a good explanation of the resident's desires to be able to exercise and have a place for kids
to play. The city had a great parks system, but there were opportunities for more playgrounds
which were an important element in attracting young families to Lake Oswego.
• Mr. Hastig noted Parks Plan 2025 identified geographical gaps in parks service and found
most areas of the city were walkable to parks, though some places, especially
unincorporated areas, did have some gaps. But walking to parks did not necessarily mean
the park had the benefit the community was looking for. Being able to identify the four
essential services and having the classification would help Staff determine other types of
gaps and look in more detail at how the parks function specifically to what the desires of the
community were.
11. INFORMATION FROM COUNCIL
Councilor Afghan stated that he and Assistant City Manager Phelan teamed up to educate
several homeowner and neighborhood associations about the Emergency Preparedness Plan
and found some big gaps. Tomorrow night, they would meet with the Mountain Park
Homeowner Association, which had the largest population to educate them on easy ways to get
their residents to the next level of emergency preparedness.
Mayor Buck said new Council Boards and Commissions liaison assignments had been made
and meetings started in January.
12. REPORTS OF OFFICERS
City Manager Bennett reminded the packet of prework for Council's goal-setting session would
come out on Friday. Councilors were asked to return the packet on January 16. The packet
included the report on last year's goals, community input, recommendations from the executive
team, and reports from the boards and commission on their top thoughts for the Council. She
reminded that Council's diet was 15 to 18 initiatives for next year, noting likely more than half
were carried over being such large, multi-year initiatives that prompted further projects and
plans. She also reminded the Boards and Commissions Summit would take place on January
11 at the Adult Community Center (ACC).
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13. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Buck adjourned the City Council meeting at 7:51 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kari Linder, City Recorder
Approved by the City Council on {insert approval date}.
Joseph M. Buck, Mayor
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