Notice of Receipt of Ballot Title

Notice is hereby given that a ballot title for the measure referred by the City Council of the City of Lake Oswego has been filed with the City’s Election Official on February 19, 2026, for an election to be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The election shall be conducted by mail pursuant to ORS 254.465 and ORS 254.470.

CAPTION: 

Funding South Shore Fire Station Reconstruction to Improve Community Safety

QUESTION:

Shall Lake Oswego rebuild the South Shore fire station to improve community safety by issuing $20.6 million in bonds?

If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11b, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution.

SUMMARY:

If approved, this measure would permit the issuance of general obligation bonds to demolish the existing South Shore Fire Station (built in 1971) and build a replacement station. 

A new station would modernize the building to keep response times low, provide upgraded safety for firefighters, and meet seismic standards.

A task force evaluated alternative options, including continuing renovations and closing the station, and recommended reconstructing the station.  Today’s building codes and environmental laws make remodeling more expensive than new construction. In addition, the crew quarters must be rebuilt as they cannot be reinforced to meet today’s seismic standards for essential facilities, leaving firefighters and the community vulnerable in an earthquake.

If the measure is rejected, the current station will remain in service as long as it is safe to be used, but it will likely need to be closed in the future.

The bonds are estimated to cost $0.19 per $1,000 of assessed property value annually. Actual rates may vary based upon interest rates and changes in assessed value.

Pursuant to ORS 250.296, a registered voter who is dissatisfied with a ballot title may file a petition with the Clackamas County Circuit Court and notify the City’s Election Official in writing by 5 p.m. on the day following the day the petition was filed. The deadline for filing a petition is March 2, 2026.

The Agenda Packet containing the staff report that was approved by the City Council referring this matter to the ballot is available on the City’s website: www.lakeoswego.city or by contacting the City Recorder at cityrecorder@lakeoswego.city or 503-534-4225.