City Council Approves Major Traffic Intersection Upgrade, Sets Plan to Query Voters on Town Center Improvement Plan
January 20, 2024 — On January 18, 2024, The Council adopted an intergovernmental agreement with Clackamas County to fund the design of a new traffic roundabout at the three-way intersection of Elligsen Road, Stafford Road and 65th Ave. This major transportation enhancement, long advocated for by the City Council, is located just outside the City in unincorporated Clackamas County. The City is contributing up to $1 million from developer-paid Systems Development Charges to support the advancement of this high-priority project, which supports Wilsonville Transportation System Plan goals; County funding comes from the 2019 voter-approved Vehicle Registration Fee.
The Council adopted a resolution that asks voters to consider whether Urban Renewal should be used by the City as a funding mechanism to implement many of the high-priority infrastructure improvements outlined in the 2019 Wilsonville Town Center Plan. This advisory vote will appear on the ballot received by registered voters in Wilsonville for the May 21 primary election.
The Town Center Plan guides the community’s vision for a walkable, vibrant mixed-use cultural and commercial district. Placing this advisory vote on the ballot was the recommendation of the City’s volunteer Urban Renewal Task Force, which was convened to consider the feasibility of establishing a Town Center Urban Renewal Area.
The Council and the Urban Renewal Agency (URA) Board authorized acquisition of portions of two properties of the fifth group of properties and property interests associated with the Boeckman Road Corridor Improvement Program. Two slope easements are required to construct the Boeckman Dip Bridge. On Monday, Jan. 22, Boeckman Road is closing to through traffic between Canyon Creek Road and Sherman Drive until spring 2025 to accommodate construction of the bridge.
On second reading, the Council adopted the Wastewater Treatment Plant Master Plan, a 20-year plan to guide the management of the City’s wastewater system. Adopted as an element of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, this critical plan estimates future system usage and capital investment needed to complete new projects and replace aging equipment over the next two decades.
The Council adopted an intergovernmental agreement with Washington County for the design of public utility improvements within the Basalt Creek Industrial Area. The agreement funds design of a City water line within the scope of the County’s Basalt Creek Parkway Extension (BCPE) project; a second agreement would fund construction of the water line when the project proceeds to construction.
The Council approved a development agreement with Venture Properties, Inc., for construction of a segment of the Boeckman Creek Trail and Trailhead Park within the residential Frog Pond Terrace subdivision. This private-public partnership was established to build out needed public infrastructure in a thoughtful and cost-efficient manner.
On first reading, the Council adopted ordinances that annex and rezone five acres within the Frog Pond West neighborhood that enable construction of the 17-lot Frog Pond Cottage Park Place residential development in Frog Pond West.
In accordance with State Urban Renewal regulations, the City Council and the URA Board each approved an overnight loan to the City’s Urban Renewal Agency. Transferring funds to the capital fun allows for interest earning to compound for future use for projects outlined in the Coffee Creek Industrial Area.
During Mayor’s Business, the Council adopted 2024 State Legislative Session Priorities, developed to outline the City’s policy objectives during the upcoming 35-day short session of the Oregon legislature, which begins on Feb. 5.
The Mayor noted her participation in an upcoming event to introduce a new mobile dental office – a.k.a. the “tooth taxi” – being commissioned by the Oregon Dental Association to provide dental care to metro-area school-aged children in need.
During Communications, representatives of the Willamette Water Supply Program (WWSP) provided updates on the status of local components of the “big pipe project” under construction to deliver water to ratepayers in the Beaverton and Hillsboro areas. The update detailed several road improvements to be completed as 95th Ave. is repaved and restored in the coming months. In response to concerns from local businesses along the pipeline route, the City Council requested more regular updates on construction timelines.
At the URA Board meeting held just prior to the meeting, the Board acted as noted above, and also authorized the termination of tax increment collection for the West Side Plan.
At the work session held prior to last night’s meeting, the City Council and the City Attorney tentatively discussed placing a measure on the ballot in May to ask Wilsonville voters to consider amending how service term limits are defined for elected officials. The intent of the measure would be to ensure that the existing term limits language doesn’t impede the City’s ability to seat an experienced and informed elected body. The parties agreed to schedule a work session, Jan. 29, to consider ballot language.
Additionally, the City Council and Human Resources staff discussed the City’s pursuit of a Business Travel Accident Insurance policy for the benefit of staff and elected officials who are traveling to Kitakata, Japan, next month.
Because of the aforementioned trip to Kitakata, Japan, in early February, the Council has canceled its Feb. 5 meeting. Mindful of the Presidents Day holiday, the next regular meeting of the City Council is scheduled to be held on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7 pm; a pre-meeting work session is scheduled at 5 pm.
Community members can watch all City Council meetings on cable (Xfinity Ch. 30, Ziply Ch. 32) or on the City’s YouTube channel: ci.wilsonville.or.us/WilsonvilleTV.
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