Beaverton City Council Regular Meeting, Work Sessions, and Executive Session - September 16, 2025

The Beaverton City Council met on September 16, 2025, starting at 7:00 PM, for a regular meeting that included a consent agenda, two presentations, a public hearing, two work sessions, an executive session, and a vote. The meeting addressed updates on the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, the city's IT strategic plan, an ordinance to transition the voter pamphlet to digital, and in-depth work sessions on downtown parking permit fees and a proposed street maintenance fee. The council also voted on joining an amicus brief after executive session.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously (7-0) with a comment from Councillor Teter asking the city manager for annual updates on two unresolved Clean Water Services issues: billing negotiations and asset transfers related to annexation. The city manager confirmed.

Presentations

• Patricia Reser Center for the Arts (RESER) Update – Presented by Chris Azukian, Executive Director. Key fiscal year 2025 highlights: 59,000 visits, 160,000 total since opening in March 2022, 194 public events, 347 activations, 23% increase in attendees year-over-year despite skylight repairs. 80% of users are nonprofits; the RESER drove $2 million in ticket revenue for those organizations. Economic impact estimated at $23.4 million annually. Operating budget of $4.3 million, with 37% from city lodging tax, 27% from fundraising (2,600+ donors), and 36% from earned revenue. The RESER avoided deficits in its first four years and reinvested over $600,000 into building upgrades. A new strategic plan was adopted aiming to become "indispensable" to the community. Council members expressed strong support, noting the center's inclusive programming and public value.
• IT Strategic Plan (2025–2028) – Presented by Chief Information Officer Travis Lucky. The plan was developed collaboratively and approved by the city's IT steering committee. Key objectives: strengthen cybersecurity, advance digital equity, improve staff productivity through IT, and modernize systems. The city has 33 IT staff, supports 1,200 PCs/laptops, 500 mobile devices, 85 servers, and 200+ applications. A SWOT analysis identified strengths (customer service, engaged steering committee) and weaknesses (underinvestment, high number of custom apps). The AI strategy includes a pilot that saved staff an average of 97 minutes per week. Council praised the customer service culture and asked about data privacy vetting and transparency. The plan will be made available to council but not publicly posted due to security concerns.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were offered during visitor comment or the public hearing.

Public Hearing & Ordinance – Voter Pamphlet Digital Transition

• Ordinance 4872 – Amending Beaverton Code sections 2.06.415 and 2.06.435 to allow digital publication of the voter pamphlet instead of mailing printed copies to every household. Staff estimated annual savings of $20,000. Implementation options included mailing postcards with QR codes, limited printed copies at public facilities, and online access. Council discussed the need to balance cost savings with accessibility, especially for non-digital residents and during the upcoming levy election. Motion to adopt passed 7-0. Council direction: proceed with both print and digital for the 2025 election, then transition to primarily digital with printed copies available at libraries, city hall, and other locations.

Work Session – Downtown Parking Permit Work Plan

• Staff presented parking permit fee options based on a peer survey (median employee permit $30/month, residential $125/month). Four options: no change (free residential, $10 employee), at-cost ($16 for all), market rate ($86 for all), recommended ($86 residential, $16 employee). Council discussed cost recovery, code limitations, and the need to align fees with private parking rates to avoid incentivizing on-street parking. Key concerns: impact on low-income residents and small businesses, need for zone-based pricing, and the program's overall goals. Councillor Teter suggested expanding the permit zone. Mayor Beatty announced she will host a downtown parking roundtable with business owners. No formal vote; staff directed to revise code and bring back refined options.

Work Session – Street Maintenance Fee

• Presented by Public Works Director Tim Elco and Project Manager Brant Holiday. The street fund faces a $6.9–$12.4 million annual shortfall due to 70% construction cost increases since 2020. Current PCI (pavement condition index) is 71, projected to drop to 64 in five years without new revenue. Preventive maintenance is no longer viable for many roads; deferred maintenance costs escalate rapidly. Three funding scenarios were presented: PCI Control ($10.93/month per single-family home), Steady State ($14.21), and Target PCI ($15.70, raising PCI to 75). A proposed state transportation package could reduce these rates by about $3.80, but passage is uncertain. Council discussed phased implementation, low-income discount programs, and the potential inclusion of a small sidewalk component. Most council members leaned toward the Steady State or Target scenarios, with emphasis on affordability and public communication. Direction given to staff to draft code and explore phased rates.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved 7-0.
• Ordinance 4872 (voter pamphlet digital) adopted 7-0.
• First reading of ordinance on sewer and stormwater utility charges noted; public hearing set for October 7, 2025.
• Parking permit work session – No formal vote; council directed staff to revise code and return with options reflecting cost recovery, equity, and program goals. Mayor to convene stakeholder roundtable.
• Street maintenance fee work session – Council directed staff to proceed with code development, targeting a phased implementation around $14–$20/month with low-income assistance and possible small sidewalk allocation.
• Executive session (ORS 192.660(2)(h)) – Council voted 6-0-1 (Councillor Tivnon abstained, citing inability to participate in closed session) to authorize the city attorney to join an amicus brief in Newsom v. Trump (9th Circuit).
• Meeting adjourned.