City Council - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon. This Tuesday, March 31st, 2026 meeting of the Lake Asiggo City Council is now called to order. Miss Hawkins, would you please call the role? Mayor Buck here. Councelor Afkin is excused. Councilors Mabuk here. Wland here. Verdict here. Corrian here. And Raph here. Thank you.

Thank you. Now everyone, will you please stand and join us in the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Oh, it's on. Okay. We're gonna start with presentations uh tonight. And um Council Raph, please come come to the horseshoe.

Yeah, the horseshoe.

As everyone knows, we're giving thanks to a departing member of the council. Um it is not a goodbye because of course he'll remain our uh and always will be hopefully our neighbor, our colleague and our friend. Although we hope not a frequent flyer to the inbox. Although if Blue Heron does not get paved, that may be a different story. We all know uh on the council uh we all know being able to convince one another of things is a key to being an effective member of the city council, right? There's a certain degree of persuasive energy that drives all of us. And while we've all bent one way or another to the likings of our colleagues on a wide degree of substantive policy topics, there remains one distinct area where the remaining six of us on the council completely and utterly failed to persuade council Raph and that is in regards to his attire. We tried. We really did publicly. Council Raph will be remembered for many noteworthy contributions he made. But privately, internally, we all know his real record is as the most photoshopped member of the city council in history. Callers, although you all wearing a collar tonight, city pins, even his entire body. Councelor Raph came to the city council because he wasn't going to be someone to complain from the sidelines. In fact, he didn't complain at all or at least much. Instead, he took action. He speaks his mind even when it isn't comfortable, especially for the rest of us, and is true to his values and beliefs. Councelor Raph has some of the highest integrity I've experienced in public life. Some folks will change their values to fit what they perceive would

be the box politics places them in. What I like most about Aaron is that he has no box. He's driven by his ethical and moral compass and a worldview that he adheres to closely. And instead of blowing with the wind, he stayed firmly on that path and articulated his positions on not what would be the most popular or expected of him, but what he felt was most closely aligned internally with his beliefs and values. It's a noble way to govern and one that comes from a place of deep honesty and moral fortitude. Aaron showed that when people can set aside the labels and the politics and just be people that we can better hear and understand one another and move our community forward from a place of mutual respect and goodwill. Councelor Raph and I, we were elected to the council at this at the same time in 2020 and starting in 2021. And despite being told that we should actually hate one another, if you can believe it, actually hate one another and not trust one another, we've become great colleagues. Uh, I admit I didn't know what to make of Aaron when he was first elected, but make no mistake, I am glad that he was because we do not have the International Fugitive Task Force capacity for the other option. Aaron maintained an open mind as did I, and we came to find that we actually have much more in common than otherwise, rooted in a care for the city, a care for other people, and a bright future for the kids of L especially. Um, what I appreciated most is his unfiltered honesty from the DAS. And in that spirit, I'll share two acronyms. You will love these. That we picked up uh recently at the National League of Cities Conference, which I normally would not share, but this is in tribute to you. My colleagues know where I'm going with this. The first is STP, a great acronym, the same 10 people, and cave, citizens against virtually everything. Aaron spoke out against the not in my backyard mentality that often stifles progress in change and keeps communities from growing for the health of everyone. He pointed out the hypocrisies we see at

times and he faced criticism for it at times. But he maintained a decisive path because when folks bent the rhetoric to suit their personal needs, even when it conflicted with other positions, it offended the very integrity with which Aaron led. Each year, Aaron and I had the opportunity to go to Lakeidge Middle School to talk to the seventh graders about local government. I was always impressed that he knew all the kids. He knew their nicknames and the video games. He's connected to the families. He's connected to what kids need to have a healthy life uh here. And it's made him a tremendous city counselor and a leader. And the community has been moved forward in positive ways because of it. So, I know I speak for everyone here when I say we're going to deeply miss working with you. Um we're going to miss your perspective, your drive to keep us on time, and your unfiltered charm. Lakeos is better for your work and service. Thank you.

Oh yes.

Always has a PCI.

Oh. Um, I I don't like these kind of things. It's nerve-wracking. But, um, I've this has been an absolute joy and an honor to serve with all of you. Um, Rachel, John, Missen, Joe, like we've been here together for a long time. You know, we ran together. It's been, you know, a lot of memories. It's been a long time. Um, yeah, I think if I could just say a couple things to keep you guys always kind of having that that Aaron on your shoulder as you're thinking through things. Um, don't just think about I you've heard me say this, don't just make decisions based on the silent minority or sorry, the the vocal vocal minority. always always also consider those that aren't speaking because maybe they're nervous about speaking out or they feel like they're going to be attacked or whatever. So there's there's that the silent majority that you know don't want to be involved in government. So let's always try to think of those people and try to think of everybody like us as we go. Um, and yeah, I think my goal as some form of politician or administrator, I don't know what you really call us, but counselor, whatever it is we do. Um, always think with your gut and your and all and who you are. Missen, we always get in fights about this kind of stuff, but you you're the same way. you stick to you you have you're you and that's what makes um people that do this really powerful and so um you know I think in a world where politicians are distrusted and we've all seen the emails and it's as long as you can go to sleep at night

knowing that you gave your all your every every bit of your best to persuade on an opinion or a way of governing then that's the best you can do and it's taken me a long time to learn that and it's going to take me a long time to not be in the do here watching you guys do it. But I think that's what all counselors have to do have to go through when they're when they're gone. But um I know that I trust you all with everything and I know that the city's in great hands with all you who make who really do the hard work. We don't really have to work that hard, but you guys have to do the hard work. So we're in great hands and it's just been an absolute pleasure to be here and to see what Lake us what we've done for Lake US we go together. So thank you.

You want to go first?

Yeah. You know I I am missing a friend. You know like Martha used to tell me Aaron is throwing things at you and you just get his bait. But I it's not. We are the same. We believe but on the opposite side. I am way on the left. Aon is on the right. But we say what we believe and I really love our own for many thing. We love football together like I mean real football not like you know real football that what you call soccer. We love it and we know his son. I don't want to say his name in public but he's a good kid. I follow him. He's been a team player. People in the outside. Oh Men and Aron we are the best friend. I think Aaron is the only one. I went for a beer, do something, we talk. But what I remember about Aaron and I came, I told Rachel, "No, my friend is crazy. He we were invited by a community who was defending something and they wanted our support." We all, you know, like nicely talked to them how we felt and Aaron came. I say, "Oh, he's Aaron said, "Oh, no, me. I am against what you guys believe in a blunt way. I just say what but you know but and I said aron is irony you cannot play around and that's you and I we are not politician we'll never be successful in politics because we say things that don't people don't like and that's what I love about you and I will miss you it's a very hard to see you go honestly it's I just say what can we do to have our own stay because your voice will be missed Your voice is needed in Lakeos and in the world. We need all voices and you

you are a very good person man you know keep up and I know you'll be successful in what you're doing and you know good luck and your family will be happy to have you at dinner and other things. Thank you. Thank you for your service man. Thank you. Well, I just want to say it's just been an absolute pleasure to have you uh sit sometimes next to me, sometimes farther away, but I have to say you guys are kind of um it's interesting. Missen says they're a little bit apart. Actually, I think we're all pretty together and I am super excited that uh uh you're going to have a great career and whatever. And I think people really need to know this is a super hard decision for you. Um because you are absolute asset to the city and to the council and sometimes you have to put career unfortunately because this is actually a super super super highpaying job as a city counselor. I mean, um, and it's, you know, you can't really even, uh, support a pet on our salary, but, uh, um, he's traveling a lot. And, uh, and I know that, uh, in the big picture, your, um, uh, your true heart is here. It always has been. And that's one of the things that I just love about this council. And uh yes, we have varying degrees of opinions and things, but I will say that uh uh to the mayor's comments, you have a voice that uh is so essential with having kids and a pulse on half of our community. Um which has been so important. Um it's helped drive a lot of our decisions as a city. Um,

and so, um, uh, I'm going to miss you, uh, more than you know. Um, because oftentimes we were two votes. Um, and, uh, even though 90% of the time we all agree, probably 98% of the time, uh, a couple times we had to make some hard decisions. And, uh, I have a colleague that, uh, I agree with that stands up for principles. Uh, that's been my style. And uh I appreciate um your non-politicalness and you do just what's best for like us we go without all the that sometimes you have to go through to make a decision and that's something that you can walk away very proud and uh I think our city is just so much better um having you on council and I will certainly miss you. So, thank you and uh good luck in the career. So, you're nailing it already. So, things are going it's a good transition for you.

Well, I haven't been here as long as the rest of the rest of us, but I have been here long enough to understand how much time and attention it takes to do this job and to do this job well. And you have done that. Um, the sacrifices come back to family and career and I I think you have a wonderful family and I think they're going to be awfully happy to have have more of you and I wish you great success in your career and thank you so much for your service. I remember starting my campaign and sitting with Aaron and that's where our friendship began. It was at Happy Sparrow and I think he was like, "What? You're doing what? You're not getting what?" But it was the beginning of our friendship and I remember election night and you know the votes were coming in and I'm like, "No, Aaron, you've got this. You've got this." He's like, "I don't know." I'm like, "Yeah, you got this." And I'm so glad that I was right and you were wrong. Um because it has been an absolute pleasure uh serving with you. Um, I'll do I won't repeat everything that my colleagues have said because I know you can't stand that, but you will be very missed and I consider you a friend. And for those of you who don't know, Erin's got a heart of gold and he truly cares. And I know sometimes people question because I love his just he just says what he thinks. You know where you stand with them, but he will also go the extra mile for anybody. So, I just want to say thank you, Aaron. and I will miss you. I will miss having you sit next to me right now. Um and just all those little adventures that you and I as first time council people kind of went through and are can you believe this? What we have to do what? Um but you will be very missed but I know um your family is going to be happy and I'm excited to

see what you are going to be doing next with your career. So thank you very much. Well, fortunately, Council Raph is not the the only um piece of gratitude and and farewell we we have tonight. If uh Miss Ono, will you please I know you're not going to like it. Please come forward. I know. I know you hate it. I know. We are saying goodbye professionally tonight. Our last council meeting for Kimono. And if you do not know Kim, chances are you have been touched by her work. But chances are more great that you do know Kim because not only is she a tremendous employee of the city, but she's an incredible ambassador to the Lake Ouigo community. She loves this city. She loves the people in it, and she embraced the critical role the team here in the city plays in building trust in local government. Kim and I work closely together on a wide variety of exciting projects and efforts, but even I do not know the full scope of the many efforts of Kim. She's one of the people who just don't do the basics of the job. She really embodies an expression I learned growing up, a cuadist, do well whatever you do in every detail, no matter the job. You know when Kim has played a role because she gives all attention to everyone involved, tending to details otherwise overlooked. Kim is a firm believer that the more kids we can have through city hall, the better connected our families are to L and the more the young residents will be to the city and the stronger ultimately we'll be as a community. So to the mild frustration of some of her colleagues in within city hall, no doubt she coordinated field trip after field trip, allowing kids to see the inner workings of police, fire, library, and city hall. And to every kid that came through, she

made them feel special, seen, and valued. And from putting together community meetings to corresponding on behalf of the city manager and mayor to listening to residents with questions to helping connect people with resources and following up with them down the road and the thousand other things she did for this city. She went out of her way to know people on a human level and to appreciate folks for all the small efforts that always go into making something great. And there is a lot of greatness that takes place around here. So now it is our turn to recognize Kim for her greatness, for her efforts, for your efforts, for the million times she went above and beyond. I swear she is handpicking the grapes that we eat at these meetings. Kim, the city of Lakeico as an organization and as a community are better for the time and energy you spent making connections, always opening the door wider, growing the circle bigger, and expressing love for all those around you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Uh we are also uh tonight proclaiming Arbor Month. For 37 years now, the city of Lake Asuyo has earned the Tree City USA recognition from the National Arbor Day Foundation for demonstrating a strong commitment to managing and caring for trees. Arbor Day is America's national tree holiday. observed on the last Friday of April to celebrate the role of trees in our lives and to promote tree planting and care. But here in Lake Asiggo, we celebrate

the entire month of April as Arbor Month. A variety of events and activities been organized by the city's planning and parks and recreation departments, the sustainability advisory board, Asiggo Lake Wershed Council, and Friends of Triion Creek. So, be on the lookout for the April Hello Lo for details about Arbor Month events and the free urban and community forestry workshops that will be held throughout the year. Event description uh descriptions and workshop registration are available on the city's website. And you'll find this proclamation as as well as all other council proclamations on the city's website. Okay, now it's the time on our agenda for public comment. I have two folks who have signed up for public comment. If you would like to provide public comment and haven't already done so, please fill out one of the white request forms on the back table and uh hand it to Miss Hawkins. But Elliot Dale, you are up first. Please come forward. You'll have three minutes to deliver your comment. There's a little timer on the table. If you could please I've just said your name, but if you could start by repeating it to introduce yourself, that'd be great.

Good to have you here. Hello there. My first time here. My name is Elliot Dale. Um, mayor and members of the council, good afternoon. Um, I've been a Lake Asiggo resident since around 2011 and I'm a business attorney in town. I'm also a former leadership Lake Asiggo participant, chamber member, and I serve on the board of the Down Syndrome Network Oregon, which is why I'm here uh, right now. Um, my daughter Lizzy is an eighth grader at Lakeo Lake Asiggo Middle School and has Down Syndrome. She'll be at the high school, L um this fall. And I have two other kids in Lake Asiggo schools. So, we're a pretty local Lake Asiggo household. Love it here. Um Down Syndrome Network Oregon, if you're not familiar, was founded in Lake Asiggo um by two local families and it's still very much rooted here. Um founded in 2001. Most of our programming happens in this community. About half of our board is local of 12 members and we're a fully volunteer-run organization that puts on dozens of events each year serving hundreds of families directly and impacting thousands more. Um, I want to thank the city for your long-standing partnership. Um the Buddy Walk, which occurs uh in September of each year and for the last 25 years has been at Millennium Plaza Park, um is happening this fall. And if you're unfamiliar, the BuddyWalk is a community celebration that and fundraiser that welcomes families, schools, and local businesses together to support and celebrate individuals with Down syndrome. It's a fun, visible event, but it also plays a critical role role in supporting DSNO's year-round programs.

This year is especially meaningful because of the 25th anniversary. Um, and one of the consistent highlights, especially for the kids, it's a small thing, but there's always a fire engine at this event, and we enjoy having city employees and others stop by and participate. It's about a hour and a half. Um do some programming and then a walk around actually the park down um the gravel path along the lake and then back up to Millennium Plaza Park. And there's usually somewhere between 600 and over a thousand people in attendance. Um this year the board sort of stretched big and um arranged for Chris Nick to be our keynote speaker. Um, Chris Nick is one of the most visible people with Down syndrome. Now, he's the first person to complete an iron man triathlon. He's based in Orlando, Florida, and he's completed all six of the world marathon majors, including Boston, New York, and Tokyo. He's an Adidas sponsored athlete um who is just launching a shoe for people with special needs this year based around him. Um, well, the bodywalk is one day. It supports programming that runs all year long. And I want to thank Lake Asiggo for making this happen.

Thank you for coming to share that information with us. Appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. D. Stephanie Hock. Hi, Miss Hick. that you can't guess why I'm here. Um, I'm Stephanie Hock, the president of the board of the Friends of Leer Farm, and I've been before you several times. Um, today I'm here to comment on uh agenda item 8.4 that pertains to the Wamtt Greenway funding plan. Um, on paragraph two of page three in the staff report, um, there's a proposal that $500,000 of the million dollars in Metro Share dollars originally intended to fund upgrades to the Lusher Farm driveway and parking lot be redirected to complete the greenway trail connection between three of the city's riverfront parks. We are of course disappointed that once again lesser farm improvements will take a backseat to other funding priorities as they have in the past for the construction of the Lorac and Reik park. We do appreciate of course the benefits of completing the greenway trail connection and we regret that funding for Lusher always seems to be less important than funding for some other projects. So today, I'm asking that the remaining $500,000 of metroshare dollars intended for Lusher originally be reserved for Lusher and not redirected to other park projects in the future. Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Alec. Is there anyone else who would like to provide comments? Okay. Okay, then we are moving on to the consent agenda. Uh there's three items on the consent agenda. We have a resolution declaring a vacancy on the city council, a facility use agreement renewal for the book at city hall on the ground floor there, and the adoption of the 2026 council goals and initiatives. Is there a motion to adopt the consent agenda? Move. I don't move to adopt the uh the consent agenda. Second.

All right. The motion's been made by councelor Raph and seconded by councelor Corgan. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Okay. Motion passes 6. Our first item of council business tonight is the AD the 2025 ADA progress report. So I'd like to welcome Miss Bird.

Okay. Thank you.

Good afternoon mayor and council. My name is Kelly Bird and I'm here today to present the city of Lake Asiggo's 2025 ADA annual progress report. This report highlights the programs we've ma the progress we've made over the past year to improve accessibility across city programs, services, and facilities and outlines our continued commitment to build a more inclusive community. In 2025, the city continued to implement the ADA transition plan and made progress in several key areas. This work includes infrastructure and facility improvements, expanded inclusive programs, and improvements to community and public safety services. Um this slide out outline provides a quick snapshot of our progress in 2025. Um the city constructed over 9,000 ft of ADA compliant sidewalks and installed 62 curb ramps. We also saw strong outcomes in programs and services, including over 1,000 hours of inclusion support for youth registered for recreation programs and more than 2,500 residents served through library outreach. In addition, the city opened two accessible recreation facilities and the police department issued 292 ADA parking enforcement actions. Together, these numbers highlight the scale of work and the level of investment required each year. There's um the office of there's a slide missing, but I'll just go what's on what's on here. The office of the ADA

coordinator um plays a central role in supporting accessibility efforts across the city. Um, we had 100 general over more than 100 inquiries and we I we I we had 10 accommodation requests and no formal grievances were filed um last year, which is a good thing. The engineering department um continued to make steady progress improving accessibility in our streets and sidewalks. Again, there was 9,000 square foot of sidewalk and 62 curb ramps. And then the team also designed about 60 more curb ramps that are planned for construction this summer. This kind of work happens gradually over time, especially when it comes to improving older infrastructure. Lake Awiggle is making steady progress, but because of these these projects are resource intensive. Um, if possible and an and increased investment would help us move faster and improve accessibility with within within our streets. Um, the library continue to expand access to its programs and services. In 2025, the library offered 60 hybrid programs and more than 900 accessible m they increased their accessible materials and they served over 2,500 residents through outreach. The library also received their new ADA accessible bookmobile rover which is which will expand outreach even further. These types of services are important part of making sure everyone in the community can stay

connected and engaged. Looking ahead, a new library will address any of the of the accessibility barriers in the current building. So, Parks and Wreck had a wonderful year with the opening of Lorac featuring an accessible pools with zero entry dep zero depth entry pool lifts, accessible locker rooms, and accessible circulation throughout the facility. Uh, Reik Park was also opened and it features an inclusive playground, excessive picnic shelters, a skate park, and accessible restrooms. Park park maintenance staff installed ADA compliant drinking f fountains at George Rogers Park, Hazelia Park, and Rece Park, and installed ADA compliant gates at the Pilkington Dog Park. The the department also provided over a thousand hours of inclusion support to youth participating in recreation programs. Projects like these are significant investment and make a real difference in helping people participate in programs and activities. The last department I'm going to talk about is the police department. They also made some improvements. The department initiated contracting for a law enforcement focused ASL interpreter to for to facilitate effective communication. They integrated the text 911 directly into LOCOM dispatch systems, making it easier for people to reach emergency services. Um and they also enforced the parking laws issuing 292 actions for violation

of ADA parking laws. Enforcement plays a major part a major role in making sure that accessible features are available for those who are intended. Well, the impact in our community is great. Um we have se safer pedestrian routes, improve mobility, access to programs and services and help and help ensure that all residents and visitors can participate fully in community life. This type of coordinated multi-EP department approach is consistent with best practices and supports a more inclusive community overall. These outcomes are made possible through the continued investment in accessibility. Um, looking ahead, the city will continue to make progress towards the ADA transition plan. This includes building building more sidewalks and curb ramps, launching the library bookmobile program, and continuing to expand inclusive programs and services. Ongoing investment will be key to sustaining this progress. So, in closing, the city is making steady progress in improving accessibility across programs and services and facilities. With continued support and investment, we can build on this progress and make even greater improvements over time. Thank you, and I'm happy to answer any questions that you might have.

Thank you, Miss Bird. your representation, councelor Gorgon.

Well, I just like to take a second and say thank you very much for the pathway that crosses uh between Upper Drive. It's a very short pathway that crosses between Upper Drive and Lake Grove. And the mayor and I both noticed it, I think, on the same driving in, but it's very useful and it's very helpful because it's a very large very large distance for people, too. And I don't think that had been done before. and it was wonderful and good eye and thank you very much. And the other question that I have and this might be a question for director Rooney. I don't know if she's still here but how much of our budget this is I know we do these things by law but what is the budget that supports this? Do you have any any idea? I mean you probably do but I don't want to put you on the spot but

capital improvement plan me attached to my arm.

Good afternoon mayor counselors. Um actually, yes. Specifically, we set aside um in the uh annual budget, we set aside, where'd it go? $750,000 a year just to focus on uh ADA ramps. So, we have a couple projects that are just ADA ramps only. Now, that said, we spend a lot more than that every year because, for instance, um I don't think he's Oh, yeah, Stephan's here. He's getting ready to do a big paving project, multi-millions of dollars, of which a very large part of that is also ADA ramps. So, we'll spend probably, you know, we could push close to almost a million and a half uh this year. And so, it just depends. So, we will do the set aside of 750 for sure. And then every year as a part of our paving any kind of paving projects, we'll have them as well. Does that answer?

Okay. That's a wow. Thank you, Council R. No, I just wanted to thank you for the work. It's very important that we have an ADA person. I know about it. I Miss Rooney asked me to do a ramp at the school for our bridge and it's very expensive, but it's worth it. So, thank you. Honestly, it's a good job and uh it we are the city that works. Thank you. Thank you.

I um uh Thank you, Councelor Boob. I was kind of curious like what what's the when you get general inquiries, what's the most common inquiry you receive in in the last three years? The most common is probably ADA parking. Parking. Yeah. a lot of the issues of parking but a lot of it has to do with on private property so the city doesn't have jurisdiction but okay um I was then a second question as um the city's redoing its website what kind of what are kind of the main accessibility factors we should be thinking about with that new

well there's new um standards that are uh coming out actually next month April uh for for web accessibility. But luckily, we're a smaller um jurisdiction, so we don't have to implement until next year in 20 27. But we're going to have to make sure that our the main thing is that making sure like the PDFs and things that we post on our website are are accessible for people who use a screen reader that read the documents to them. Oh. So

that's really that's really important. It's a big project. Is that does it work with the laser fish or all of the so many of our documents? They're supposed Yeah, the a screen reader works with laser fish. Yes. But so now we have to be a little bit more mindful with what things that we're going to be posting.

Okay. on, you know, online because if they're not accessible, then that could be considered discrimination. So, I wanted to thank you to recently there was some education put out on social media around putting out the um the roll carts, you know, for for trash and not putting them on the sidewalks, which is, you know, we built so many new sidewalks and we have neighbors that hadn't had sidewalks and now they have a sidewalk and people do tend to put the cans on top of the the sidewalk. But it was interesting people's um you know the thinking is like oh well I wouldn't want to put them in the road because it would inconvenience the traffic but you just block the entire sidewalk instead. Um and I wondered because it was like it was like that is a good point again like so many people are new to having the sidewalk and you're like yeah where does the can go? Um would it be uh I wonder if it would even be possible as we build the sidewalks to do more like kind of direct outreach to those particular neighbors to say, "Hey, FYI, now going forward, just put the cans because really the default seems to be on the sidewalk, you know."

Yeah. So, we do get we do get complaints about that when people can't cross the street or can't go through the the sidewalk because it's blocked with trash. That's why I I wrote that article. Great idea. For education. Yeah. Is it possible to do more kind of direct direct outreach? Possibly. Yes, certainly. When we're doing the projects and whatnot, we have a lot of um community engagement with them and we can talk about make a more concerted effort to talk about where's the garbage going to go. It's always mailbox and garbage. Those tend to be a big issue associated with sidewalk projects. So, we'll make sure

it's nice when we put the mailboxes in that then we build the the extra space so you can still get around unlike on country club which was built way back in who knows when when it's just right in the middle of the sidewalk. Yeah. And even I have run into the mailboxes. Yes. Yes. Well, I would say we road well accessible. Thank you. footw uh couple questions. Um the 9,000 ft of ADA compliant sidewalks and pathways, um did that include Lake View? Yes, I think it Yes, because that was last summer. Yes.

Okay. What's the typical I mean I'm just driving at a kind of a question of um we do 60 ramps a year maybe um maybe we do 90 how many do we need? Is it like 10,000? Uh we we there was 200 2,288 curb ramps identified needed improvement. Okay. So we can ship this away in people's lifetime then. Okay. And so the 9,000 ft of sidewalks and pathways that included all of the pathway projects that we've done, right? Including that was just last year.

Yeah, just last year, right? Yeah. But we've been doing the pedestrian program itself is about 3, four years old. So I don't have that number off the top of my head, but each of those would have had ADA compliantss to be ADA compliant. So yeah. So too, so I guess my point is that we are I mean I I feel like we're making progress is what I'm We are

I heard for so long, well, we don't have money. We don't And I think in the last three or four years, we're really kind of making some headways. So thank you for um figuring out how to do that. Um, and then I will say I I know it's probably a private um parking lot, but I guess Zupans is a private parking lot, but I had the best time when I was there. I was walking out the store and one of our community police officers um was just going through the uh parking lot and a guy pulled into a handicap zone right in front and got out um in his jogging suit, which he probably just worked out. And uh the police uh community officer just stopped. He opened his door and he said, "Hey, should you really be parking there?" And he go, "I'm just going to be there for a couple minutes." And he goes, "That's not an excuse, sir." And I think it was well enough for that gentleman to be embarrassed because there's about 10 of us that were all around there. And we all gave him this dirty stare. He got into his car, went back, found a regular spot, and uh anyway, so maybe it's one person at a time, but um uh just keep doing it. So anyway,

it is really obnoxious when people park in spaces they shouldn't park in. It is. Yeah. Nothing anyone here would ever No, thank you very much, Miss B, Director Bernie. We appreciate the good update and the good work. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Next item on our We're a protected class. Yeah. Well, I see. Next item on the agenda. Going to make a special ticket for this special ticket. How about the hybrid

resolution uh is consideration of resolution 26-09. This is the formation of our economic development council subcommittee. We have director Numalu. Thank you for joining us.

Good afternoon, mayor and members of the council. Jessica Newman, community community development director. And I regret tonight um I was hoping to have Megan Bronston uh join us. She's our new uh redevelopment and economic development program manager, but unfortunately she fell ill and so she wasn't able to be here uh this afternoon. Um but I do hope to have uh introduce her uh to all of you uh very soon. And I just want to let you know that it fills the former um redevelopment position that uh previously was held by SidSin. It's not a new FTE. It basically just reclassifies that position and incorporates economic development with redevelopment. And um as you know for the past three plus years we've been contracting with the Chamber of Commerce to uh basically implement most of our city's economic development strategy originally dro adopted in 2022 and with now Megan on board um we have uh more capacity to do more and as you know we just began uh an update to the to the economic development strategy which the council had a study session on in early January and at that time uh the commission uh the council decided that it would be beneficial to create a subcommittee that could look at that plan in a little bit more depth and bring a recommendation back to the council for final adoption. And it would also give uh the council an opportunity to work with the new economic development and redevelopment program manager um on it as well. And she started at the end of February. So the timing is perfect. So before you tonight is a request to adopt resolution 2609 which would form an ad hoc subcommittee that would be comp comprised of three council members that would uh be appointed by the mayor including the mayor and counselors uh Verdict and um Afghan. And uh the charge of that committee would be to basically refine and

prioritize the strategic initiatives and actions that are in that draft plan and then bring it back to the full council later this spring for adoption with a recommendation. Um we're expecting the subcommittee will probably re meet roughly three to four times over the next couple of months. Uh we did uh uh put in the plan that the uh the length of the term would be through the end of July, but we just did that for flexibility. We don't expect it to take that long. We we hope that it will be uh completed by early June. And if the resolution is approved today, the next step will be to uh work with the subcommittee to uh schedule their first meeting in April. So I'll keep it brief, but I'm happy to answer any questions if you have any.

Colle, any questions? Motion to adopt the resolution. Motion. I'll move to adopt resolution uh 26-09. Second. All right. Any discussion? Right. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Hey. Motion passes 6. Director Muller. Thank you very much. And thank you um councilors Verdict and Afghan for serving on the subcommittee. Okay. Um next item on the agenda is resolution 26-9. This is the community grants awards and recommendations and invite Mr. Tio Ramirez to please come forward.

Good afternoon. Good afternoon, mayor and council. It's good to see you company.

Okay, we're just going to go with it. Uh, good afternoon, Mayor, City Council. I'm Madison Thesing, the deputy city manager. I have the honor of introducing Tio Ramirez, our new management analyst in the city manager's office. We are here today to talk about the community grants program. As you're aware, we revamped it, reconstructed it just this last year. We are coming back with another update with the spring awards and some program tweaks, which I will hand that over for Tio to talk more in depth. Um, a little bit of background on Tio, who I'm very excited again to introduce. Um Tio was coming from the city of Gresham as a community engagement specialist. Uh there he worked with nonprofits, community groups and did outreach and specifically especially building up um volunteer capacity in the or in not only the organization but the community. And so we are going to talk about grants today, but in the future we'll talk about uh future years of how to continue to build the community partners um more than just how do we give our community dollars, but also volunteering and more synergy across organizations as well. So just a little landscape of where we're going in the future years, but I'm really excited to have Tio and he will take it from here.

Thank you Madison for the warm introduction. Um and again, good afternoon mayor and council. It's good to see all of you. Um, as mentioned, my name is Tio Ramirez. I'm the management analyst in city manager's office. Um, and I'm here tonight to present the spring community grants award recommendations along with a few program updates that came out of the municipal grants subcommittee discussion. Um, so this slide shows the full ranking of applications reviewed this cycle, including scores, request amounts, and the recommended awards. In social services, four applications are recommended for funding and in council goals, one application is recommended. Uh this gives a full picture of how the recommendations align with the scoring results and available funding. And now moving on to the recommended uh awards. Um for the spring cycle, the subcommittee is recommending a total of $20,456 in awards across both categories. On the social services side, that includes $5,000 to the Kuanis Club of Lake OSGO Foundation for its basic uh needs support initiative, $2,340 for the Friends of Lake Ospigo Public Library, and the Lake OSGO um for the Lake OS Wego Reed Speaker event on disaster readiness and resilience, $1,558 for the Lake OSGO transitional shelter ministry to support uh the repair and refurbishment of one transitional shelter apartment living room and $558 for reborn bikes for bicycles safety gear and bike education for youth and families. For council goals, the subcommittee is recommending $10,000 for Down Syndrome Network of Oregon to support its 25th annual uh 25th anniversary buddy walk at Millennium Park Plaza. Um, as discussed by the subcommittee, the remaining $1,443 that would have been in uh council goals funds um were added to social services and split evenly between LOTSM and Reborn bikes which had very similar

scores in the rankings. Uh this reflected the strength of the social services applications overall along with the decision to fully fund down Syndrome Network of Oregon in the council goals category. So in addition to bringing forward the subcommittee's award recommendation, staff also looked at whether the overall program structure is still serving the city well. What we found is that the current process creates a long cycle with overlapping phases. Applications remain open for a long period. Um there are two award points within the same fiscal year for both grants and spending and reporting continue late into the year. that makes administration more cumbersome and makes it harder for applicants, the subcommittee and council to clearly see results in a timely way. The three-year limit on council goals, grants, and the intent of that category have also raised a broader policy question of what happens to initiatives that have already been supported and how can the city continue to stay involved um when the efforts are still successful and aligned with council priorities. I'll come back to that question in a few slides, but it is an important question that we haven't completely answered yet. Um this is a bigger timeline for you guys to view as well of the current timeline um of how the grants are structured. Um so this side illustrates the current structure visually. Um rather than having a clean beginning, middle and end of the cycle, the program uh functions more like a rolling process. Um as Madison stated, this was our first year under the new program um and really trying it out and seeing what worked and also seeing what didn't work. Um which is why we have some recommendations for you folks. Um so while one group um so like how it's working this year with what we've seen is while one group of awards is being considered previous projects may still be spending funds and final reportings u may still be outstanding because it needs to be before the end of the fiscal year. So the challenge is whether it's not whether the timing um it's more about if it's clear and if it's efficient um as

it could be. So moving on to the recommendations. Uh to address that, the subcommittee supported moving to a staggered annual cycle. Under this model, city council grants would open in the spring and social service grants would open in the fall. That would create more separation between the two categories, reducing overlap in administration and place award decisions closer to the front end of each funding cycle. It also helps align council goals uh funding more closely with the current council priorities based on when you adopt your new council goals for the year. Beyond the timing challenges, the subcommittee supported several related program updates. The first is adopting the staggered uh cycle as a long-term model. The second is tightening application and accountability requirements so decision makers have more complete information, including clearer budgets, other funding sources, and basic nonprofit status details. The third is making the city's total support more clear by requiring applicants to include all city fees and permits in their project budgets rather than those costs potentially being absorbed elsewhere. The goal is not to wave those costs through the grant process, but to make sure departments are not carrying the financial burden and the council has a clearer picture of the full financial impact of supporting a project. Um, in at least one case, a grant award of $10,000 was paired with a $3,600 um of waiverss and fees and rentals um from the parks department. So, the actual city support was $13,600. Um, this update would make those costs more visible upfront to the applicants that are applying for the grant, protect department level resources, and keep support consistent across all grant awards. Um, this side gets into the broader policy question raised earlier. Um, if city council grants are intended to support specific initiatives for a limited period of time, what happens to

an initiative that reaches the three-year limit but still is successful and still aligns with council priorities. The subcommittee supported the concept of a closed sponsorship pathway as one possible answer. In this context, closed means the pathway would not be open to new applicants generally. Instead, it would be limited to the organizations or initiatives that have already gone through the council goals process, reached the three-year limit, and demonstrated a strong track record. This would be different from a broader city-wide sponsorship policy. This would create a more tailored, clearer pathway within the community grants framework for mature initiatives that may still warrant city involvement. It would also allow these initiatives to continue being evaluated by the subcommittee and council rather than being funded in perpetuity without a regular review point. In that way, it helps preserve council goals grants for a newer or timebound um efforts. So, it gets them out of that main pool where applicants are applying for new initiatives while also creating a way for um the city to stay involved when an initiative continues to align with council goals and priorities. As noted on the slide, this is not a current this is not currently budgeted, so staff would need to return with additional financial analysis um and budget direction before implementation. Tonight's recommendation is to adopt resolution 2619 that would approve the spring fiscal year 2025 2026 award recommendations totaling $20,456 and confirm the overall d uh direction on the program updates discussed by the subcommittee. From there, staff would update uh community grants materials um processes to reflect the endorsed uh changes um for this closed sponsorship pathway. Again, um staff would need to come back with further fiscal analysis

and any needed bud budget direction before implementation. So, thank you for your time and um happy to answer any questions now. Thank you, Mr. Ramirez. And um thank you to councelor Corgan, councelor Afghan for serving on the subcommittee and the rest of the subcommittee. Um so just to help us understand initially, you know, we did all these these grants at one time and then it was decided we're going to break it up into two cycles, you know, so same pot, we're going to divide it up. And what was the intent with the division initially? Uh meaning the the funds or the timing?

The timing. So the timing wasn't actually it was broken up into two. It was a rolling application. The application's been open this entire time. We just had set two points of review to be able to allocate the money. It wasn't like an application was coming in, the subcommittee was meeting and then approving it, right?

So anyone could have applied at any point from the day we went live on August 1 to when we closed on February 27 or 28, whatever that was. The idea was with the rolling um ideas come up up over year. We want to we don't want to shut that door. Tried it this year. I think that's the the thing. We try things. We want to see how it works. It was the first time we've ever done it that way. We've always had it as grants are open for a month and a half in the springtime before the new fiscal year. That's historically what it was. The grant subcommittee had thought, why don't we try this? Now we've done it. It's a big lift to have grants open for that long when really people were applying in the fall

out of understanding that's when they opened then the subcommittee and I don't want to speak for councelor Tran is that then they had to hold back money to think okay what else is going to come and then some reapplied having stronger applications in the springtime even though again it was still rolling anyone could have reapplied anyone could have applied we were seeing the same batch of applications just coming back with refinement. So, okay, I don't think it really ended up being what we thought that we wanted more organic ideas to come and flow. It was it ended up being essentially two cycles anyways because of

people knew there was going to be a cut off on this time and there was going to be a cut off on this time and we have to have a cut off at some point in the springtime or else we can't get the money out before the end of the fiscal year, right? And so it's but it makes more sense to have the council goal applications at one time and the social services applications at another. You don't want to have them at the same time. Uh it's also to provide more coverage over the year. So there's eight months, so four months for each to have their spending. Um so I think that's also the part of it is that it's within a certain amount of time. Um so the council goals covers like the fall because it's dollars are out the door starting the new fiscal year July 1. social services for

and then social services there's another fourmonth period of time that covers

part of it is this is what we were in the weeds about you're straddling council years being council goals are adopted in January and then we're straddling fiscal years so there's some predictability for social service grants uh if they're starting at the beginning of a fiscal years they know what their their expenses are going to be we would then be carrying council goals being what what is adopted halfway through the year and then those change in January. And so the idea was if we tack it on as the fiscal year's the social services and the calendar year is then council goals when they're adopted. So as soon as council goals are adopted there's this flood of great ideas. How do we spark what's already underway?

We this is those parts where I don't I think we've tried different models. um we can try it this year and come back next year and then I think that's really what both of us really want to emphasize is this might be iterative when we as an organization live on fiscal years that's not how the rest of the world works and so we're trying to be dynamic and responsive to the applicants while also trying to align and we've also kicked around maybe we think about this as a two-year bienium because you are approving two-year bianiums and so we might have more flexibility with that so uh I guess my My my staff recommendation right now is

let's try this one this year for the next cycle. What we're going to come back as a routine in general every springtime to give a report on what was the funding was approved for, what were the outcomes of it, which has not been done yet in previous years. So that's when we can be making those program adjustments in advance of the new fiscal year. Okay. No, I I just want to I make sure that it's efficient for Oh, I Yes. And I I will give kudos to if we were trying that's why we don't want to do rolling is it ends up being very time inensive. Okay. But having the two different that that's fine and is the same is this the same subcommittee for both. Yeah. But

and I would just add on for the cumbersome part with having two review points for both of the grants. This year we were reviewing for the social services six applications this cycle. we only had about $10,000 to give out. So, if we're doing both if we're evaluating both grants at two two different points and we have less money on the second round, it's also we're receiving about the same amount of applications. So, is it worth the committee's time to be doing that versus all just at one time or receiving all the applications. So, exactly splitting them out is a lot more effective use of everyone's time.

And and thank you for clarifying that. We keep talking about it as it's two view points. It's also two different pools. So it is in total right now four four applications in a way too. Okay. Well and then council has a question. So council go real quick. Um one more question. Um the I like what you've come up with for the sponsorship plan. I think that's my god. Must be the wind.

Put it down. Um we're going to have to get those like they have in the schools. Um the um uh the sponsorship agreement plan. I think that's really good. Is there a process about the we um uh t you talked about the city fee waiver. Is there do we have a process for when we grant the waiverss and when we No. No. So that's what we're trying to also solve right now. So what has happened historically is departments could wave as for their own um direction.

Yeah. Those requests were also happening from multiple points of different departments. So an event might be getting sponsorship not only from grants, they could have maybe also asked from the parks department or they could have asked for uh ad space in the hello. It could have been coming from all these. And so the idea is that for the ones who are are metriculating out if you will or graduating out of those three years, we're capturing it all in one sponsorship which is going to council for approval. And in that sponsorship, it would say not only the the a dollar amount if we are awarding dollars, it would be the fees if there's any fees associated with it. And then additionally, if we're talking about promotional materials and sponsorship as in marketing, putting our logo on things like that.

So that would be the the future state.

Okay. It's good to know. It's good to have some process. I know we've had events that are essentially when groups are almost standing in for the city running an event that we would otherwise you know be doing with our very limited. So it's like wow and then we're like oh and here's your bill for like using the park. It's like well then of course they come to us and they're like hey what's the deal with this thousands of dollar bill? Like we're basically running your event and was like yeah like what is the deal with this thousands of dollar bill? So, it would be nice when people are basically running a public event, you know, that we don't they don't have to go through the hoops of trying to get a waiver when it's different. It's not like someone's having their private wedding in the park. And I mean, that's a totally different thing. Um, so hopefully we can set up that kind of criteria that and I'm sure there's examples that are maybe more on the line, but I'm thinking of the ones that are clearly like these guys are really doing us a favor like let's

Yeah, there's definitely conversations that are happening around that. And I think uh especially with like the grant process for the foc like for the purposes of this conversation, we want to make sure that it does not create any conflict with a broader citywide sponsorship policy that we have and implement. Um so that was also the piece with the closed sponsorship pathway. We want to make sure that any sponsorship cash in kind that other departments do within the city all are cohesive. Great. Okay. Thank you. Sorry. Thanks. Councilwoman, please.

Um great work. It's not easy. um to do all this. My two concerns. One, I understand council go grants and social services grants. It's already a little bit confusing to start with. And there's two things I want to make sure that we do. One, um I don't want the inside people to be able to apply for things. Um, when I say inside people, the almost the professional people that go after grants all the time versus a community that organization that is maybe more organic. They're not on the they're not inside the beltway. They're kind of outside the beltway. And the big picture is is this going to be so confusing to them that they won't be able to um figure that out if that makes sense. because I loved your your you said organically when things start to come up. I think that's one of the great things about Lake Asiggo is people do come up with new creative ideas and so on and I want to have a mechanism for it. The other thing on your chart on the um the grant spending it's only um 10 months out of the year eight months out of the year. Um so what about the other four months? I mean what happens if their event is in November? or there's no red grant spending in November. Does that make sense? I mean,

it does make sense. This has to be I don't know. Maybe you just need red everywhere. Um I guess um we're not limiting time frames from this, right? Just as long as they're in that fiscal year, which is why I think if we opened it up to that bianium, right? Are we looking at the right? Yeah, it's this one right here. Right. But I mean there's like November and December um and then May and June don't have any red grant spending. So, I I just want to make sure it's clear for people when they um are going out to uh if their event is in May, it would say according to this, I couldn't get a grant. Yes.

Or I couldn't spend it. I could get a grant, but I couldn't spend it in in those time frames. So,

yeah, under the recommended timeline, there are some months that do not have coverage. I would say under the current timeline, there were also months that did not have have coverage. So, this is trying to be the most mindful of like how can we cover as many months as we can with coming back to council to report on what the that those grant distributions accomplished and doing that reporting as well as keeping in mind like all all expenses need to be incurred by June 1st um for that fiscal year with final reporting happening June 15th. Um so there are going to be some months. Yeah. So my critique on that is the the tail's wagging the dog. Um we need to be I think um flexible in our thinking where if a group wants to come in and have a November or a May or June event. I mean okay we'll figure out how to report to council but my point is we should have 12 months out of the year that they can have an event and the timing part on where we're reporting or fiscal stuff. To me, that's an accounting issue. Um, and I I get from a management standpoint of view. Um, but I think uh it's going to make it less complex is is my only thing. Um,

only have the event. Well, I it says grant spending. I mean, so I don't know whether that means that they spend it and then they can have the event at any time of the year or if you look at that. Um, I get the blue and the green and the yellow and even the magenta, but the red has to be full year, if that makes sense. Am I making sense? Yes. If you're sense, if you're going to be spending, you got to we got to open up our our mindset to be 12 months out of the year. That's my only Does that make sense or not?

It No, it does. That's that. Yes. Yes, it does. And that's why we might move into a 2-year cycle being not so straddled to the fiscal year. And also a further conversation with finance is that that debt that closing the books kind of deadline is from accounting. So we'll work on that internally, right? I mean, frankly, that's an intern I mean to me that's an internal issue. We'll solve it. We're geniuses at this city. We'll figure that part out. Yeah. I mean, we have so many examples of grants we've carried over year to year to year. It's just we

we need to change how we used to do it. It used to always be within that fiscal year. It's time. That's why we're unpacking this whole program is because it's not actually working for the people we're trying to serve. Right. Right. And so I agree and we we will work on that. Well, are we able to make it so if we adopt these changes that because I mean if someone applies and wants to have an event in January, let's say like an MLK and we'd be like, "Well, sorry if your event is on July through October." So, you're the resolution's just adopting the money for this last cycle. Okay.

So, the rest of it non being the resolution is just council direction to us to continue to refine, make those changes based off of your feedback. The resolution specifically is that $20,000. Well, is everyone on board with making sure that people can execute these grants throughout the year? Yeah. Okay. Okay. Okay. I guess the question that I would have is would council so for the council goals grants that would be in April. Would you want social services and council goals to both be evaluated at that same time and then all dollars are out June 1st? That was my question. Well, that was kind of my initial question and But I understood you to like the two.

I would just say the only benefit of having them split apart is if someone comes to you and says, "Hi, do you have any grants available? We only do it one time of the year." Or, "Oh, we have these two different ones that you're able to apply for that are at different cycles." That's the benefit of having them separated. Um, but as long as there's consistency across the board, this is the time that we do it each year. We can give people, you know, that heads up and they can expect that consistency. then it's less confusion for the public. See man, do you have do you understand the direction that we've given you?

Yes. Um what I'm hearing is that uh a simplified process that is once a year um the stratification you understood um but one where they could apply once a year is what I'm hearing and uh that that money can be used any time during the year. Sorry, I'm losing my voice. So that there's no there's no end point um midyear to the spending of the money in the terms of the applicant's view of our fiscal year. Yeah. Is that what I'm hearing? I think because even this kind of confusing for me and and you're inside the belt you're inside the beltway.

So what I what I would suggest is now that you understand the direction that we're trying to do, you take this away and you come back and we and figure out the how that process actually comes to life, right? and and then we can move on approve the current dispersements. Yes, that's what the resolution is. Yeah, but no, it was your question like how do we do like if someone apply in both is it possible for a nonprofit to apply for the social services grant? They're only for nonprofits. Yeah. Yeah. But for the the council goals, that's what Yeah. Individuals and organizations can both apply for council goals.

Yeah. Then why would they apply two times when they have generally they have the same when you are writing the grant you have the same objective you want to apply and you were denied the first term and you apply again on the second term or do you keep the same application for awarding what not doing that huh yeah that's what had kind of happened this year it sounds like yeah so we're not doing that one time so why I mean, I know. So, they're going to go back and figure out. Okay. Okay. That's

But I do I do have one question just in regards to these current grants and that is just with that that um the friends grant because that is I mean don't we sponsor the whole I mean it's kind of a city program isn't it? The L reads. Yes. Yeah. That is bringing in an additional speaker to to complement the existing program that Yes. Okay. Typically, I call that double dipping, but that's fine. I mean, it's Yeah, it's I just wondered about Okay, that's fine. I mean, I know that we councelor Corgan really grinded that down. So, okay. All right. Um, any other questions on the process going forward?

So, we'll come back one time back with a simplified process that with one application. Yeah. for the both of them. The intentions are all really good and we appreciate, you know, wanting to have this open and providing all the opportunities for people to apply. Um, sometimes that can even make it even more confusing. My head is spinning. Oh my gosh. I know they really had to sit down when they explained the initial thing to me. It was it would had to be drawn out. I was like, well, that's that's a lot. Okay. Um, is there a motion to adopt resolution uh 26-19? Move to adopt resolution 26-19. Second.

All right. Uh, any further discussion? Okay. All those in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed. All right. Motion passes 6. Thank you both so much. Well done. Good job. Okay. All right. Next, um, we have item 8.4. This is the funding plan for the Wameit River Greenway Trail project. Like to invite our park analyst program manager, Miss Hagert, and director Monroe. Can you join us? Good afternoon to you both. Good afternoon.

You uh Mr. Mayor, counselors, uh again, Jeff Monroe, parks and rec director, and with me is Kier Haggard, one of our project managers. Uh we are here to give you positive news this evening about the Wamic Greenway Trail. So, with that said, Kira, uh, you're up. We are really hoping to be the very first thing that you get to check off of your freshly adopted goals list for this year. Uh, this project will build about 870 ft of new pathway from George Rogers Park to where the trail currently ends in front of the riverbend on the Wamtt Condos. I don't know if you can see my mouse on all of the screens.

This is the missing link that will finally connect Foothills Park to George Rogers Park. And once it's finished, Lake Owigo will have over 2 mi of trail along the Wamtt River, which is very cool. In addition to the trail connection, the part that's being built on park property here, these little switchbacks that you can see um provide an accessible route down this steep hill at the north end of the park about to the ordinary high water line. Um the water in this aerial image um was actually very low at the time it was taken, but if you've been down there during other seasons, you will know that often time these rocks are underwater. So it goes down to about the ordinary high water line at the bottom of the hill there. Our schedule is to get it done this year. We received land use approval in December 2025 and since then we have been working on our funding plan, finalizing our construction documents, submitting for permits and preparing to go out to bid in midappril. With this schedule, we would be coming back to you with a construction contract for award in miday and likely beginning construction um at the very beginning of June. Um fortunately, this is a smaller scope of a project, so we're just looking at a single summer of construction here, which is great for the neighbors. I know it can be really disruptive when we have projects going on down at George Rogers Park. So, our goal is to be substantially complete by Halloween and totally out of their hair by Thanksgiving. Um, and it's very important for this project in particular that we do most of the work during the dry season anyway, just because we're so close to the river. And what we are really here to talk about tonight, of course, is the budget. Our project team has estimated that this project will cost about 1.76 million, but this is an all-encompassing number. So, this includes soft costs, a lot of which we have already incurred. These are things like paying our architects and our engineers. Um, land use fees, permitting fees, those kinds of things. Um, administrative fees. And, um, our estimate for hard costs or just the

construction cost is about 1.4 million. And that number does include a 20% estimated contingency that's already baked into that number. Um, we've also included in that last item there an additional contingency of $50,000 just to address any unknowns that we run into. And also because we've learned over our experiences of doing construction over the past three years that it's really good to have a little additional contingency for market volatility, oil price increases, those kinds of things that we may run into that are unexpected. Mhm.

Um, as for funding sources, we already have $240,000 from the parks general fund allocated to this project, and that's in the adopted budget already. We are proposing to use $300,000 of our park and recreation SDC's for this project. There are over $500,000 in that fund currently, so there's enough to uh cover that amount. Um, we received a grant from the Mount Hood Territories Strategic Investment Program, which we're very excited about. So, thank you, Mount Hood Territories. And that is for $80,000. And we have a request to Metro that we're working on for $1.14 million from our local share fund, which is just over $2 million in total, that that total bucket. So, this would be the majority of those local share dollars. And if you're quick at math, you will know that that does add up to 1.76. Um, and the direct cost to the city of like city dollars for this funding plan is actually only about 540,000, which is just a little over 30% of the total project cost. Um, as we mentioned in the staff report and you heard tonight from our friends of Lusher Farm board members, the last time we talked about local share with you, we had planned to allocate about $640,000 towards this project and about a million dollars towards the Lusher Farm driveway relocation. Since that time, we have learned from Metro that they have a goal of signing an IGA with all jurisdictions for their first project by June of this year. And we've also learned a lot more about the complexity and the likely cost of the Lusher Farm Driveway project as we've worked through this land use process with Clackamus County. And we're just anticipating that that's still a few years out. So, we can't meet our our metro kind of deadline goal with that project. Um that's why our recommendation is to reallocate $500,000 towards this project instead and keep $500,000 for Lusher Farm as well. Um we did speak with friends of Lusher Farm before this meeting and you heard from them tonight and they were

understandably disappointed, but they were also very gracious with this news. So I do just want to reiterate both for them and for you that we're still very committed to moving forward with Lusher. We're investing a lot on the staff time and on the consulting fees for our land use process. And we will continue to prioritize making um physical improvements to that site once we're able to work through that. Um and speaking of of community engagement, um I just kind of wanted to share some background. I think it's kind of interesting that this is not a new project whatsoever. In fact, the city has been planning to connect Foothills Park to George Rogers Park by trail since at least 1994. or at least that's the first before you were born.

Maybe before I was born. I was born by 1944, but it's been a long time.

Um that's that's the first time I can find it mentioned in a planning document, but it's probably even been before then. Um and it shows up in policy documents, planning documents, transportation plans, park plans every few years, every time the city has done an update. And all of these planning efforts have involved a lot of engagement with the community about what their priorities are for the future. So to me it says a lot that this project has continued to be reaffirmed as a priority throughout all of these documents. Um you might remember that we also did a lot of community engagement in 2023 when we were prioritizing our project list for local share dollars. Um and throughout that process this project also consistently rose to the top of the list. I have a couple quotes on the screen from people who took our survey which got about 500 responses um through that process and I think they really capture why this is important to the community. There's a lot of different reasons. Um, so, um, this, you know, it's hard to get 100% consensus on any public improvement project, but I just wanted to demonstrate this project has a lot of community support behind it and a lot of people who are really excited to see it happen. And of course, there are a lot are a lot of great opportunities um, you know, creating over 2 miles of riverfront trail and creating accessible access to the river. But there are always risks with any project. Um most of these are budget and schedule risks which we are managing through building contingencies into our budgets and buffers into our schedules. Um we're also continuing to ensure that we have community awareness and support for the project by meeting with neighbors and property owners. We have met with this was on the last slide I think but we've met with the um Oldtown Neighborhood Association multiple times. We've met with the property owners whose properties those easements will cross uh multiple times just to make sure that everyone is aware that this project is coming, that we're meeting all of their expectations and working with them to mitigate any impacts to the neighborhood and to the property owners. We will continue doing that both

throughout construction and then once this project is um actually open to the public. So, um, and we'll also continue working with our our Metro, um, funding partners like Metro to make sure that agreements are put in place, that kind of thing. Um, our next steps, if you are to approve our funding plan this evening, our next step would be to finalize the IGA with Metro for our requested local share amount of 1.14 million. We will solicit bids and award a construction contract that will come to you for signature. So will IGA. We will hope to break ground on construction at the very beginning of June. And then hopefully this fall, we can celebrate completion of this project that city leaders have been envisioning for well over 30 years by taking a walk or a bike ride or some kind of roll from Foothills Park all the way to George Rogers Park. And we're happy to take any questions. I do have the project web page up on the screen. We'll we post updates and photos once we're in construction on there. So if anyone wants to follow along, that's an easy way.

Thank you, Miss Hagert. Great presentation. It's good news. Thank you for working to prioritize this. I mean, as you point out, it has been a long time in the works. And I mean, we did condemn these properties to make it happen. I think when especially when we do that, we've got to make the project happen. We can't just condemn property and then sit on it um forever. So, this is important. I also appreciate your comments about the friends of of Lusher. I mean, we're obviously going through a land use application process with the county on that property, which is why it seems like everything is getting deferred just because we can't make the improvements and we do have improvements um elsewhere where we could spend the money. Now, we did we had a little over 2 million in local share. Um did we already do a project with some of it?

No, this will be the first project that we will have signed an IG for with Metro. And the other projects that are included in our kind of funding bucket are the lusher farm driveway and then the West Wuga neighborhood connector trail project. Yes. Okay. So um and how much while Metro wants to get moving on um the first batch, we do have time we can hold the lusher.

They have not given us a deadline for the remainder of the funds. They um there originally was no like specific deadline. Okay. Um, but it's a bond funded project, so they do obviously want to spend their bond dollars. And so what I understand is that they issued a goal, not an official deadline, but a goal of um, signing their first IGA at least by June of this year. And I haven't heard from them that there's a deadline for the remainder of the funds, but I mean, we do want to still do those projects. So for us, we're going to hope to be moving forward sooner rather than later getting the thing out. So

Well, it's great. It's great. We love We love the local share. It's great. I just do want to make sure that we if we can preserve that money as is the plan um for the lusher um to fund part of we know that's not going to fund the entire improvements at lusher but once that happens and then hopefully we can can we commit to having a nice ceremony upon the completion of this project. Absolutely. Absolutely. And that it's not raining in October and up. Well, I'll put in whatever words I can with whoever is in that. You're pretty good. I' I've had pretty good luck so far with October celebrations. Uh, council.

No, I I wanted to advocate for my friend at last farm and the mayor did it, which is good. I also know someone who really know about Metro and who's now in our team and maybe you you know so that's all and thank you. It's always good to see parks. Every time you come here, it's for good news. It's really great. You know, try to keep that up. Yeah. And you're not going to cut in half the football time this spring. Wouldn't dream of it. Okay. So, good. Thank you, C.

Thank you very much, Council Verdict. I just want to say thank you so much that for being creative, finding these funds. We've been waiting for so long. I remember when our previous city manager, Doug Schmidtz, was talking about this, working on getting the property and I actually spoke with him not too long ago. I know he is really excited about this finally happening as well. So, um, just thank you so much because this is going to really help bring our city together in a way that a lot of us have been waiting for for so long. So, thank you, Councelor Bur. Councilwoman,

I just want to talk about timelines in the world of city government. I um this has been on the list for a long long time. Uh so is Lorac and a swimming pool and so on. And to the lesser folks um we love you and we're going to get funding sooner or later. Um but let me put it pretty bluntly too. Um I started advocating for Lusher Farms to be put into the Lake Asiggo boundary uh in my first three months of sitting on council. And that was um a long time ago. And uh it it is a frustration of of local government coordination um to get things done. And I guess I've learned patience. Um and I don't want to tell the lesser people that you need more patience because you've had a lot of patience already. But uh we do need to get lusher farms into the city of Lake Asiggo so we can have um a little bit more uh effective I don't know control or whatever you want to put um put the right word on but uh it's um it's important for us to realize that we have still lots of projects that are on the list. Um, and it's like picking who is your favorite child, and we hate doing that, but in reality, um, we had a park spawn that, uh, we actually put more money into Loract than we anticipated just because of, uh, it was the right thing to do. And there's some other projects that, um, that didn't get done. And so, this is just kind of unfortunately the reality of life that you have projects um, everybody wants things and there's only so much money to go around. Uh, I want to do a big shout out for you guys figuring out how to get this done this year. Um, because, uh, I would be very,

very sad if, um, we could not have the opening of this, um, this year. Um, I think everyone uh has been looking forward to this and I really appreciate all the efforts that you guys pulled out of the hat to make this happen and so um work with the great contractors to get this done and uh I think Lake Asugo is going to be a very happy place because it's just two miles in Lake Asuggo but then the trail actually goes through up to West Lynn all the way down almost to Oregon City, right? Yep. Is that right? It's on Old River Road so it's not a trail.

Yeah. But I mean, at least if you got on a bicycle or you wanted to walk, it was it'd be done in safety. And I think that's something that is is very important to um point out. We just need the railroad now to make the uh rails to trails, but that's uh you can solve that in 2027. So um but anyway, thank you for all your efforts. Yeah, thank you very much. Thanks for the update. Thanks for the good work. We'll look forward to celebrating in the fall. Can I move to adopt? Uh we have adopt Oh. Um, yes. Is there move to adopt the funding plan for the Wamut River Greenway Trail Project? Second.

Okay. Motion has been made by councelor Windland and seconded by council verdict. Any further discussion? Right. All those in favor say I.

I. Any opposed? Okay. Motion passes 6. Thank you both so much. Great news. All right. Information from council. Does anyone have any information to share? No. Well, four of us went to the National League of Cities uh conference with the um with some members of the youth council. Just want to give a special shout out to um both Gillian Del Rio and um Tio who was um Martinez who was who was just up here. They did a great job. They were you know with the with the youth council members and with us and it was a it was a much different um I mean many of we've been to these uh conferences every year. Um it was a little bit different um just a relationship with the between the cities and the federal government this year. But what was really good was getting to see our colleagues both you know from across the state of Oregon well as colleagues in other states and um getting to have the experience with the kids getting to see our uh congressional representatives. It was it was honestly one of the better years. And then we got to do some kind of off-site visits with the Washington Post um at the Pentagon uh as well with um um with with the lobbyist uh thanks to actually one of the first members of the youth council who is now who had studied in Washington now works back there and is now helping these current members of youth council make these uh connections and whatnot. So it's pretty cool full full circle thing but the lakeo team did a great job. Um so kudos to them. It's not I know it's a tiring thing supervising you

even though they're very easy students to supervise. Well, I I just want to say that Lake Asuga should be very proud. This youth delegation which every year um they just impress the heck out of um everyone that they meet. Um we should be very proud of our kids. Um they just do a a wonderful job representing Lake Asiggo. are super bright and and just really articulate and um engaged and so um I think that's a reflection our on our community and our high schools. Um they just do a great job and it was a really fun trip and we experienced almost a tornado. Yes, we did. So

that was fun. the whole federal government shut down at noon um on Monday and then uh nothing happened until like 8:00 or 9:00 that night, but I guess okay, whatever. So, Peterson,

thank you, Mayor, Council. Uh thank you for a good first two and a half weeks. Um counselor, uh thank you for your service. If you want to know what it's like on the other side, I got you. Um, and I just also want to say thank you to Kim Ono once more. Um, I don't know where she is, but she's probably uh finishing her work at her desk right now. Um, super super dedicated public servant, and I will miss her already. Um, and we will be working to, um, while we will not be able to replace her, uh, find somebody to, uh, at least start the start the process of being able to, uh, serve at the same level she did. Um, I just also want to thank uh Madison and Dio for uh trying to figure out uh how to do this community grants work and uh coming back and finding something that works for all of us. Um because it it is a lot of work to figure out what works for external partners as well as uh what works with you guys and your time. I think um I also wanted to just note um I had asked the parks folks on the Wamtt Greenway to talk a little bit more about risk management. Um any feedback you have on how whether that was useful information as we move through time and space here um would be helpful. Um and then I'm looking forward to meeting with uh Miss Hock on the Lusher farm. Love to get a tour and get updated. And just wanted to draw your attention lastly to uh an email from a constituent that um uh just brought up uh safe the safety issues in the McVey Stafford corridor and the corridor study that was done prior. Um the first project that's going to be done in that corridor is the Lakewood um crossing uh enhanced crosswalk. There's several coming up. Um the design for that starts in the next fiscal year and then the project would go the following year. So there's three projects in the corridor that are planned out in the CIP and I just want

to make sure that we're on the same track. Um, I recommend continuing with that process and as we go out and work on the first project, that we make sure that all three projects are kind of talked about with the community as one corridor improvement and start talking a little bit with them about access management issues um to increase safety as we as we work out all three of those projects in that quarter. So, if you have any concerns um about that, let me know. But right now, my recommendation is keep going. don't change the timing on all and any of that because I think we're in a good place. So, I think that was it. If you have any questions of me, I do have a new cell phone number. So, let I will get that to you. Thank you. They're good updates. Okay. Um the city council is now going to enter executive uh session. Um Mr. Toy, will you please read the statutory basis for us?

The Lake Origo City Council will now meet in executive session under RS 192.660 660 sub2 subh to consult with an attorney regarding legal rights and duties of a public body with regard to current litigation or litigation likely to be filed in subsection F to consider records that are exempt by law from public inspection. Representatives of the news media and designated staff shall be allowed to attend the executive session. All other members of the audience are asked to leave the room. Representatives of the news media are specifically directed not to report on any of the deliberations during the executive session except to state the general subject of the session as previously announced. No final decisions will be made in executive session. At the end of the executive session, we will adjourn the meeting. Great. Okay. Uh so this will conclude the public broadcast portion of the meeting. We will uh recess and then reconvene in the side room. Thank you everyone.