Agenda Item - 2024-04-16 - Number 6.2 - Written Public Comments 6.2
Linder, Kari
From: astanger@comcast.net
Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2024 5:18 AM
To: Council Distribution
Subject: Stevens Meadow
CAUTION:This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links,
especially from unknown senders.
I urge the City Council to support the intentions of the voters by doing whatever possible to stop any
development or encroachment of our natural areas. There is pitifully little left and we cant keep chipping away
at them. I have seen this process of gradual destruction for the 48 years I have lived here and enough is
enough. Actually, we passed enough long ago. I live in a suburb because I want to be in a suburban
environment. If one wants to live in a fully developed urban environment, there are plenty of other places to
suit you. It is time for the city council to support the suburb of Lake Oswego instead of supporting urbanizing
development.
1. Stanger
Tolkien Ln
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Linder, Kari
From: Century link <annim@q.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2024 8:10 PM
To: Council Distribution
Subject: Testimony re the Stevens Meadows contrary to the City CharterX for Protection
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links, especially from unknown senders.
To the LOCity Council for April 16 th meeting.
To say, I am completely stunned that any even thoughts of constructing a portion of Child's Road on the Stevens
Meadow Nature Preserve is an understatement. How can any discussion even occur when we Lake Oswego voters voted
to codify into Law, Chapter X.That Land Use Law dictates to comply with those stated constraints. As a long time citizen,
tax payer,volunteer, employee, etc etc. I stand with all my fellow voters to save and preserve our natural areas as we
voted for and with LOVE LO PARKS.
To state that safety there is important is true; however,to state that pedestrians and, or bicycles need to be "
protected there" is a gross over stretch. I am on Stafford almost daily...and in 365 days a year maybe you will see a
dozen bikes and rarely a pedestrian. Crazy to bring in that statistic to play on safety concerns...really the problem is
speeding, so lower the speed limit.
This statement is to vote to follow what we voters asked the Council and staff of Lake Oswego to enforce.
Continually to do "pet projects" without following the letter of the law continues to concern we citizens who thought we
could trust our elected officials. Not too sure any more.
Please do what is the LAW!
Thank you, and Respectfully submitted,
Anni Miller PTR International Master Tennis Professional
USPTA Elite Professional
Hall of Fame Inaugural Inductee USPTA
Wilson Racquet Sports National Speakers Bureau
WTCA Chairwoman of the Board
State Champion High School Coach, Lakeridge High
Executive Director Ross Island Scholar Athlete Foundation Team Northwest
503-929-2034
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Linder, Kari
From: Betsy Wosko <b.wosko@comcast.net>
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2024 9:16 PM
To: Council Distribution
Subject: Stafford/Childs Rd issue
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking
links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear City Councilors:
Please do not construct a road within Stevens Meadow Nature Preserve or instruct or assist Clackamas County in doing
the same, as to do so without voters' approval would violate the letter and spirit of chapter X of the City Charter.
Again, I would remind the City Council of the intent behind the passage of the Comprehensive Plan in 1973 under Gov.
McCall which was to require citizen input (goal 1) and natural resources (goal 5)to be prominent considerations in civic
decision-making. Gov. McCall foresaw that development interests would or may play an outsized influence in policy and
practice. That is because he knew that"developers"often place their own members or those who benefit financially
from them onto local city commissions and boards. Those boards and commissions advise City Councils and City Councils
as a body generally are often too timid to express their own opinions because collectively they don't feel qualified
enough relative to those advising them. So they defer to their paid professional staff and boards and commissions, many
of whom, individually and collectively, have pro development and status quo biases.This is the danger and this is why
citizen input and the state and local comprehensive plan provisions addressing natural resources are critically important
and necessary in our civic process.
Here, citizen input was clearly expressed with the passage of Measure 3-568.
Please ask and encourage Clackamas County and work with them to figure out a solution to safety concerns at this
intersection that leaves Stevens Meadows unharmed. It could be something as simple as speed bumps, signs, lowering
the speed limit, or a combination. Engineers love problems; I am sure they would be happy to figure something out.
Thanks,
Betsy Wosko
Sent from my iPhone
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Linder, Kari
From: judy_large@comcast.net
Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2024 8:33 AM
To: Council Distribution
Subject: Stafford rd improvements
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links, especially from unknown senders.
Hello,
My neighborhood is near the Shipley Bridge on Stafford Rd. Most of us travel into Lake Oswego and further using
Stafford Rd. and the arterials like Childs and Johnson.
These are terrible intersections and we have all seen very serious accidents along this path. I would like to know the link
to at least hear the April 16 meeting about the plans to improve these roads. I hope to pass them onto my neighbors
who are all wanting to know about the plans as well. Can you send me instructions on how to reach the utube channel
and the zoom as well?
Thank you,
Judy Large
503-853-3212
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Karen Bronk Froming, PhD, ABPP Diplomate in Clinical Neuropsychology
Case Consultation, Evaluation, Therapy
April 15th,2024
City Council of Lake Oswego
RE: Stevens Meadows encroachments
Dear City Council,
One of the reasons I moved to Lake Oswego because the City was a Tree City of the LIS. I say'was'because I have
systematically seen the City cut down huge trees,beautiful trees. Please do not think that a new tree alleviates
them from the responsibility for destroying a huge overstory.Secondary growth or understory trees and
landscaped areas for parks are not all that we, as a city want,and certainly not the woodsy natural areas that
many of us want.The birds and animals you displace are specific to the trees you cut down.
When I see tens of trees cut down it is time to speak up. I supported the Waluga Park protest against cutting down
old trees in a charter protected park. I supported and voted for measure Measure 3-5E8 and added my name to
the legal filing that to fight the flagrant abuse for Chapter X.The voters spoke when they ratified Measure 3-5E8.
Now the abuse of Chapter IO preservation of Nature Preserves continues with the encroachment of Stevens
Meadows for the Stafford Road Improvements Project. Preservation and safety can simultaneously co-exist.That
is what voters'intended when they codified into law Chapter X's significant land use regulations that directs the
City to protect 15 Nature Preserves,a mere 290 acres combined,from all development inconsistent with
preserving them as natural areas. I am wholeheartedly against destruction of a portion of Stevens Meadow and
believe the City has other alternatives to choose from.
Choose another alternative please.Stop deceiving voters and hoping that they will not speak up. I will continue to
speak out and hope for Lake Oswego's Council to understand that landscaped gardens are not all we want in Lake
Oswego but also natural areas! Keep Stevens Meadow intact.
Karen Froming
10 Othello St. Phone:415-340-2850 Clinical Neuropsychology
Lake Oswego,OR. 97035 Fax: 844-552-3821 Case Consultation,Therapy
Email: karenbfromingphd@gmail.com
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Linder, Kari
From: kari skaglund <kskaglund@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2024 3:06 PM
To: Council Distribution
Subject: Stafford Road Improvement Project
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking
links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Council,
The County's proposal is unacceptable. When traffic safety was discussed,we were given two options:traffic signal vs.
roundabout. There was no discussion of violating Chapter X.
Developer influence on the City created this mess in our town, and now the City is trying to work backwards.
Unless the proposed Stafford coordor improvements can be cancelled, it should be put to a vote by the people.
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Linder, Kari
From: house5428@comcast.net
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2024 11:41 AM
To: Buck,Joe; Council Distribution
Subject: Chapter X disregard
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especially from unknown senders.
Dear Honorable Mayor Buck and City Council of Lake Oswego,
I am finding the City's blatant disregard for the intent of Chapter X,to preserve natural areas in entirety, without development,
improvements or ROADS, rather disturbing.
That citizens of LO must resort to legal measures against their own city to ensure what was approved by voters is ridiculous.
Just say no to our Planning Dept?,
preserve Steven's Meadow(Stafford Road Improvement Project)and Waluga Park. Take a page from Mountain Park's Charter(a
neglected quarter of LO population might be noted,)residents utilize urban forest trails daily. Nature requires undisturbed areas without
human interference to survive/thrive.
Thank you for your time in this matter.
Barbara Jo Auburn
Kevin House
Mountain Park
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Linder, Kari
From: Lisa Greenfield <lisacgreenfield@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2024 2:24 PM
To: Council Distribution
Subject: Stevens Meadow issue
CAUTION:This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking
links, especially from unknown senders.
To City County Members:
I understand that the County is considering a project in which there would be a negative impact to Stevens Meadow due
to road construction. Please, please, please preserve our natural spaces and do not vote for this!
Thank you,
Lisa Greenfield
Resident, LO
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Linder, Kari
From: Talie Bocci <talie.bocci@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2024 1:11 PM
To: Council Distribution
Subject: Public Comment - City Council Meeting - April 16, 2024
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking
links, especially from unknown senders.
RE: Clackamas County's Stafford I Childs Intersection Improvements and Stevens Meadows Nature Preserve
I feel betrayed by the City Council. You do not know what's best for me. You certainly do no care what's best
for me. Were you to ask me, I would tell you maintaining the natural environment around me is pretty
important. I voted for it.
FIRST YOU LOST MY RESPECT. Now you've lost my trust.
I beg you, do better.
Sincerely,
Natalie Bocci
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Linder, Kari
From: Ruth Bregar <ruthbregar@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2024 4:36 PM
To: Council Distribution
Cc: Scott Handley
Subject: Public Comment - City Council Meeting - April 16, 2024
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking
links, especially from unknown senders.
RE: Clackamas County's Stafford I Childs Intersection Improvements and Stevens Meadows Nature Preserve
I simply don't understand why the City Council and City Staff chose to ignore the fact that 62%of the residents who
voted in the 2019 election voted in support of Measure 3-568, which we hoped would protect 15 natural areas in Lake
Oswego.
Was the proposal worded so precisely that there was no way to wiggle around it? Probably not, but clearly the intent
was there. We were serious about our efforts to protect these natural areas. We were serious then, and we are serious
now. We don't want to see any intrusion, any destruction of these areas.
Ruth Bregar
Co-Chair
Westridge Neighborhood Association
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Linder, Kari
From: Sandi Peskin <sandipeskin@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2024 12:38 PM
To: Council Distribution
Subject: Public Comment - City Council Meeting - April 16, 2024
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking
links, especially from unknown senders.
RE: Clackamas County's Stafford I Childs Intersection Improvements and Stevens Meadows Nature Preserve
Council Members,
I am writing to express my severe disappointment regarding city staff and the Council's continued attempts to
circumvent the voters' will with what appears to be a concerted effort to thwart the parameters of Chapter X. I ask that
you correct your path and adhere to what your citizens have entrusted you to do. As civil servants, it is your duty to
conduct yourselves in an ethical and moral manner as you represent the people of Lake Oswego. We need to trust our
elected officials. Having the disturbing realization that your conduct is counter to creating an atmosphere of
collaborative planning within the boundaries of our city charter is disingenuous at best and dishonest and manipulative
in light of council's current behavior and continued behavior when it comes to violating Chapter X. Please "reroute"
your intentions and plans in relation to our land usage, specifically, in this case the Stafford-Child Intersection
impingement on Steven's Meadow Nature Preserve. Your citizens look forward to your ability and duty to correct this
error. Please carry out the will of the people of Lake Oswego.
A concerned citizen and voter,
Sandra Peskin
Bryant Neighborhood
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Linder, Kari
From: scott@loveloparks.org
Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2024 9:35 PM
To: Council Distribution
Cc: Scott Handley
Subject: Public Comment - City Council Meeting - April 16, 2024
CAUTION:This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links,
especially from unknown senders.
Lake Oswego City Council Meeting
April 16, 2024
Public Comment
A Matter of Trust
RE: Clackamas County's Stafford I Childs Intersection Improvements and Stevens Meadows Nature Preserve
City Council:
The Lake Oswego community executed their Oregon constitutional rights under home rule authority to amend our City's
charter, enacting significant land use regulations for 15 Nature Preserves, a mere 290 acres combined, with their
ratification of citizen-initiated Measure 3-568 on November 2, 2019.
Chapter X was in response to decades of inaction to protect our natural areas from constant threats of development-
such as, but not limited to, Springbrook Park, Iron Mountain, Canal Acres, Bryant Woods, Woodmont Park, and Cooks
Butte. It's a mistake to believe otherwise.
Chapter X intentionally places all development not explicitly authorized within 15 Nature Preserves into the custody of
Lake Oswego voters.This was due to decades of weak Lake Oswego code and "conditional use" permits that have been
used to circumvent sensitive land and natural area regulations.
City Council and City staff are obligated to enforce Chapter X or seek voter approval. Lake Oswego is not the only city
with charter-protected parks: West Linn,Tualatin, and Oregon City are just a few of our neighboring communities who
have and respect their charter-protected parks.
In the 3+years since Measure 3-568's ratification, City Council has failed the majority who enshrined into law Chapter X
by willfully doing nothing to direct City staff to enforce this significant land use regulation; lest you forget, many of
Measure 3-568's 8,267 voters (62%) also voted for you.
Instead, City Council has required a private developer to route a sewer line through the charter-protected Waluga Park-
West,threatened another referendum to undo the citizens' initiative, patronized, belittled, chastised, and ridiculed the
majority who installed Chapter X, ignored City Council Goals 2024 public comments asking City Council to fulfill their
obligation to adopt policy enforcing Chapter X, and largely remained silent on Chapter X.
With City Councils' willful silence, it's no wonder City staff have continued to operate business as usual and willfully fail
to implement policy enforcing Chapter X. City attorneys' have pushed questionable legal opinions on Chapter X in an
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apparent attempt to confuse, convolute, obfuscate, and re-write history and the citizens' intent to further the City's
development agenda.
Furthermore, City staff's defiance and suggestion that the community mobilize to engage in costly litigation against the
City's unlimited taxpayer resources is an abuse of power and undemocratic.These City staff actions continue to result in
further insult and injury to our community, deepening the wedge of mistrust.
In just the last few days, we have learned, once again, City staff have remained silent, not forthcoming, and failed to
enforce Chapter X's land use regulations regarding Clackamas County's Stafford Road Improvements Project. Clackamas
County has chosen a design,without City intervention,that proposes constructing a portion of Childs Road on the
charter-protected Stevens Meadow Nature Preserve. Chapter X specifically prohibits road construction in the Stevens
Meadows Nature Preserve.
Why was Clackamas County's project allowed to reach this milestone without any community awareness when this
impact to the Stevens Meadow Nature Preserve was identified months ago?
City staff had the obligation throughout the 2023 design process to direct Clackamas County engineers to avoid the
Stevens Meadow Nature Preserve. City staff suggesting that City Council potentially sell the impacted portion of Stevens
Meadow to Clackamas County is not within the spirit nor intent of Chapter X to preserve this Nature Preserve for the
future benefit and enjoyment of citizens.The fact that something was not explicitly prohibited does not mean it is
permitted.
Additionally, City staff's lack of transparency and this suggestion have the appearance of gamesmanship in order to
force an unpopular agenda that carves out portions of our Nature Preserves for development--a blatant disregard to
the majority in our community who've mandated by law that the City protect our Nature Preserves.
Chapter X placed the authority with voters, in those rare instances,to consider all development not explicitly allowed by
Chapter X within a Nature Preserve that is inconsistent with the preservation of a Nature Preserve as a natural area.The
City promised our community as much on November 2, 2021- "Any future property-specific changes will include voter
approval."
There's no debate that our community supports safety improvements, but it doesn't have to come at the expense and
destruction of our Nature Preserves. Preservation and safety can co-exist simultaneously. Engineers, provided the
proper constraints, develop solutions all the time that achieve such goals.
There are alternative solutions for this project that comply with Chapter X and don't involve reducing the footprint of
the Stevens Meadow Nature Preserve.That is what voters' intended when they codified into law Chapter X's significant
land use regulations that directs the City of Lake Oswego to protect 15 Nature Preserves from all development
inconsistent with preserving them as natural areas.
If City Council considers selling the impacted portion of the Stevens Meadow Nature Preserve, City Council must declare
how the sale benefits our community when the citizens have already demanded by Chapter X that they perceived their
benefit to be preserving the Stevens Meadows Nature Preserve.There could be political and legal ramifications from
City Council's declaration, but our community is entitled to hear their proposed justification.
Sale or no sale, City Council should also seek voter approval through a very narrowly targeted and specific referendum
addressing any impact to the Stevens Meadow Nature Preserve.
City Council's and City staffs' actions and inactions speak louder than any words and proclamations. Ignoring our
community's majority who expect leadership to follow through and abide by our City's laws doesn't seem like a great
strategy to build trust.
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Our community should expect City Council and City staff to comply with the laws that govern our City without the need
of constant citizen oversight.The City's culture and behavior is a disservice and insult to our community. It must strive to
do better.
I implore City Council to demonstrate you have the pulse of our community and the courage to respect our democratic
principles and laws. City Council must :
• direct Clackamas County and City staff to return to the design table and avoid the Stevens Meadow Nature
Preserve, and
• direct City staff to embed Chapter X into the forefront of all City policy involving the Nature Preserves protected
by Chapter X
Only then can the healing and rebuilding of trust within our community begin.
Your constituent, neighbor, and chief petitioner of citizens' initiated Measure 3-568,
Scott Handley
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]RIENDS OF LUSCHER FARM
•fRRf OSWEGO.OREM
City Council Meeting
Apr 16, 2024
Stephanie Hallock/Friends of Luscher Farm
Public Comment
Mayor Buck and Members of the Council, I am Stephanie Hallock, President of the
Board of Friends of Luscher Farm. I am here to comment on Agenda Item 9.3 in your
packet, allocation of Metro Local Share dollars.
You will be deciding on distribution of a little over $2 million dollars of Metro Share
money among six projects prioritized by the community and the Parks Board. Two
projects on the list pertain to Luscher Farm Park.
Your packet includes two funding options. The first is to fully fund the top project,
George Rogers Park ADA River Access trail for $640,000 and distribute the remaining
$1 ,443,297 among the other five projects, allocating a percentage based on the
project's rank in the prioritized list.
The second option would focus funds on the top three prioritized projects, $640,000 for
the George Rogers Park ADA River Access Trail, $400,000 for West Waluga
Neighborhood Connector Trails, and $1 ,000,000 toward Luscher Farm Park access and
parking improvements.
The Friends of Luscher Farm respectfully request that you approve Option 2 providing
$1 ,000,000 toward improved access and parking at Luscher. Under this option, the top
three projects ranked by the community will receive sufficient funding to actually do
something.
As I said in public comment at your April 2 meeting, Luscher access was funded at $1
million in the capital improvement plan after the 2019 Parks Bond was passed, but that
money was diverted to the LORAC, golf course and Rassekh.
$1 ,000,000 is not going to fund the entire cost of creating new access and parking for
the farm, but at least we can finally get going on the design phase. If you've been to
the farm you know that the site lines on and off Rosemont are dangerously short, and
drivers must watch for pedestrians and bicyclists on the Rosemont trail.
Please support Option 2 to begin to address the long-standing need for safe access to
Luscher Farm Park. Thank you.
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Linder, Kari
From: Theresa Kohlhoff <theresakohlhoff@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2024 3:51 PM
To: Council Distribution;jhangartner@clackamas.us
Subject: Stafford Improvement Project
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking
links, especially from unknown senders.
Council: I believe that dealing with Stevens Meadow in any other way than what is prescribed by Chapter X of
our Charter is prohibited. Chapter X came about as a Citizen's Initiative wherein 62% of the certified voters in
Lake Oswego saw their benefit to be in preservation and in having rigid guardrails on development in the
Nature Preserves. Stevens Meadow is a designated Nature Preserve. Chapter X prohibits all development
within the Nature Preserve. Chapter X prohibits any roads for motorized vehicles. The status of Stevens
Meadow and all of these Charter protected parks has been fixed since November 2, 2021 so none of this
should come as a surprise to anyone.
Theresa M. Kohlhoff, Resident
3122 Diane Drive
Lake Oswego, Oregon. 97035
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Lake Oswego City Council Meeting 4/16/24
RE: Stevens Meadow Natural Area Utilization by Stafford Road Improvement Project.
Last week was the first I have heard about the County needing Stevens Meadows Property to
build the Stafford Road Improvements Project. We completely support of the Title X protection
of the Stevens Meadows property but need more information and time to develop
recommendations for a path forward on the roadway construction project.
We know Stevens Park comes under Title X of the Lake Oswego Zoning Ordinance however,
what other funding and Natural Area certification programs are associated with Stevens
Meadows Natural Area?
What was the timing sequence of acquisition and of the Natural Area and the request by the by
the County for Project use?
Are acquisition agreements with the County in place for the Metro Pecan Creek Natural Area
and can they be modified.
Are modifications to the acquisition agreements for adjacent properties going to be necessary.
Does the County intend to acquire the entire Stevens Meadows property or is it only the 16,000
square feet along the roadway?
When was the County first aware the Stafford Road Improvement Project was going to impact
the Natural Area.
It seems that the initial surveying for the project done prior to the initiation of the design work
would have shown early on that acquisition of Stevens Meadow Natural Area Property was
needed. There was no mention of the need to acquire the property in the Land Use Application
for the Stafford Road Improvement Project.
Childs Road, the fronting street has a 60 foot right of way. More than enough for a two-way
road. It is straight along Stevens Meadows and the Area of Work matches laterally into the
existing street alignment on the far side of the easement. The Stafford Road Project Plans only
show standard erosion control slope protection matting and a sediment protection berm 15 feet
into the property. Why does additional property need to be taken?
A number of people in the Stafford area CPO are concerned about traffic flow problems
developing as a result of the backup from the left hand turn into Johnson from Stafford and
backup from the Rosemont roundabout. If traffic backs up into the roundabout there will be no
flow through. Another concern was placing the Roundabout over the Pecan Creek wetlands and
Natural Area. Everyone is concerned about the extended closure of Stafford and Childs Roads
during the construction process.
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We are also concerned that by the time the project is complete, additional traffic from new
development along Stafford Road will invalidate the improvements to flow and safety this
project was intended to solve. Others along the route are concerned about the loss of their
property to roadway construction. Everyone wants safer streets but these are only short-term
solutions considering the growth being planned and already under construction.
With information about site conditions, surveying, land acquisition, and Natural Areas the
Department of Transportation now has, they can revise the design to create an even safer,
longer lasting, more environmentally sound solution to the traffic problems along Stafford Road.
From a cost analysis viewpoint, the elimination of the acquisition cost of Stevens Meadows as
well as other properties around this location will equalize the cost of revising design layout of
the project.
Randy
Stafford-Tualatin Valley CPO Chairperson
Randall Yamada
3291 SW Childs Rd.
Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034
Cell: (503) 799-4990
yamada2@mindspring.com