Beaverton City Council Meeting – December 16, 2025: Emergency Declaration on ICE, Fee Schedule, and Homelessness Updates
Beaverton City Council Meeting – December 16, 2025
The Beaverton City Council met on December 16, 2025, at 8:00 AM (meeting started at roughly 6:00 PM local time and ran past 9:00 PM) to address a range of issues including a declaration of a state of emergency due to federal immigration enforcement, a public hearing on the comprehensive fee schedule, and the annual report on homelessness. A total of seven council members (Duggar, Hartmeyer Prigg, Hassan, Kimmy, Teeter, Tivnon, and Mayor Beatty) were present. Public comment was heavily focused on concerns about ICE activities in Beaverton. Key outcomes included unanimous approval of the emergency declaration (7-0), adoption of the fee schedule with a reduction in parklet fees (6-1), and direction to staff on access center siting criteria.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously, including council appointments (Councilor Teeter was appointed to the League of Oregon Cities transportation committee).
- No other consent items were contested.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jacqueline (first speaker): Spoke on behalf of her employee Jaden Hernandez, whose husband Tony was detained by ICE on October 29, 2025, in Beaverton. Described the family's forced move to Mexico and urged the city to take stronger action against ICE, noting Beaverton is one of the most targeted cities in the U.S.
- Amber Klein (third speaker): Described her own 39-minute detention by ICE agents on December 10, 2025, while live-streaming. Alleged that BPD did not respond despite multiple 911 calls and that a subsequent police report contained false statements. Called for a civilian review board and for the city to use all resources to protect the community.
- Evelyn Coach (fourth speaker): A lifelong Beavertonian, thanked council for previous resolutions but criticized the city's response as slow. Cited PERC statistics that 130 people were detained in Washington County in November, with over half in Beaverton. Urged the council to codify sanctuary status, prevent evictions, direct BPD to keep ICE off city property, and stop using Flock cameras.
- Jessica McBride (fifth speaker, two separate comments): Expressed concern about police presence in schools and the lack of protocols for SROs during ICE enforcement. Suggested forming an ad hoc committee with school board and parks representatives.
- Doug (sixth speaker): Reported over 100 calls of ICE sightings since summer, detailed traffic violations by ICE vehicles, and accused the city of gaslighting after releasing a statement he called false.
- Daisy (eighth speaker, spoke via interpreter after initial time limit issue): A student who described fear among her peers, students carrying whistles, and the emotional toll on families. She pleaded for justice and for the city to stop ICE enforcement.
- David Anderson (during public hearing on fee schedule): Business owner of Syndicate Wine Bar in Old Town Beaverton, opposed fee increases for outdoor dining parklets. Argued the structures were built on faith in the program and that increased fees would force him and other businesses to dismantle them. He stated his capital cost exceeded $10,000, and the parklets are only usable 4–5 months per year.
- Written testimony was submitted by Angela Anderson (opposed), Mary Beth Buffham (unknown position), Keegan Lewis (opposed), Beaverton School District (requested delay), and Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District (opposed).
Discussion Items
- Award of Appreciation – Jim McCrite: The council honored Jim McCrite for over three decades of civic service, including co-founding the Beaverton Arts Foundation, serving as board chair of the Oregon Startup Center, and chairing the citizen committee for the Public Safety Center. Mayor Beatty praised his "legendary" service.
- Action Item – Ratification of State of Emergency due to Federal Immigration Enforcement (Agenda Bill 6-1): Council President Hartmeyer Prigg moved to adopt the resolution ratifying the emergency declaration, which had been previously passed at a November meeting. The motion passed 7-0 after discussion. Councilors expressed strong support, emphasizing that the action is a first step, and many acknowledged the need for continued efforts. Councilor Tivnon warned against being performative. Mayor Beatty noted an after-action review of the Kylie Delgado incident was underway.
- Staff Presentation – Homelessness Response Annual Report: Chad Stover, Community Services Program Manager, presented data from the 2025 Point-in-Time count (940 homeless in Washington County, 701 sheltered – 30% increase since 2023). The Beaverton Shelter, opened December 2024, enrolled over 1,000 people and moved 51 households to permanent housing. Emergency bed utilization was 758, and 514 people used coordinated care. Only two Good Neighbor Agreement grievances were filed. The Safe Parking Program (100% city-funded) had 28 positive exits and 8 negative exits. The library's community resource specialists had 1,200 visits in six months. The BPD bike team made 162 camp encounters, issued 168 warnings, 19 citations, and zero arrests. Councilor Hussen noted concerns about evictions due to federal enforcement and asked for resource referral points.
- Staff Presentation – National Community Survey Findings: Dan Weinheimer and Jason Newmeyer (Polco) presented results from Beaverton's first NCS. 295 randomly selected responses (margin of error 5.7%). Key findings: 8 in 10 residents rated quality of life as excellent/good; 96% felt safe in their neighborhood during the day. Areas for improvement: employment opportunities (33% positive), cost of living (25% positive), and affordable housing (17% positive). Custom questions showed top support for tax increases on road maintenance, parks, and library services. Councilor Kimmy noted low Spanish-language response (<10) and urged more inclusive outreach.
- Public Hearing – Comprehensive Fee Schedule (Resolution 4936): The hearing addressed a new fee schedule for city services, including planning, building, and open-air fees. Councilor Duggar moved to amend the parklet fees: first parking spot reduced from $500 to $150, second spot $200. The amendment also clarified there is no annual application fee (only initial). After debate, the motion carried 6-1 (Councilor Kimmy voted no). Then the business license fee portion was considered separately; Councilors Hartmeyer Prigg and Hussen voted yes, others abstained due to conflicts of interest. Councilors Hartmeyer Prigg and Hussen were noted as the only two who voted for business license fees.
- Work Session – Economic Development Strategic Plan Update: Michael Williams and Neil Simon presented community profile and engagement findings. Strengths: safe/clean city, business-friendly culture, expanding tech sector. Weaknesses: permitting challenges, traffic, limited hotel options, skilled labor shortage. Threats: ICE enforcement affecting business confidence, negative statewide business climate. Council discussed retention strategies, co-working spaces, and the need for a unified economic development message. No formal action.
- Work Session – Access Center Siting Criteria: Chad Stover reviewed draft siting guidelines for a new supportive housing access center. Guidelines proposed 1,000 ft buffer from elementary/middle schools, 500 ft from high schools/playgrounds/licensed childcare. A map showed much of central Beaverton is excluded. Council asked staff to look at unincorporated areas (Aloha), consider a Farmington Road location, and emphasized the need for multilingual and culturally specific services. Staff directed to proceed with county on site selection and operator RFP.
- Council Workload Item – Immigration Enforcement Responses: City Manager reported that five items proposed on November 18 require about 41 additional staff hours. Council acknowledged and discussed next steps.
- Council New Business: Mayor Beatty requested the city attorney interpret charter language on food policy (estimated 5–10 hours, completion in January) and directed the city manager to develop an emergency communication plan. Council also agreed to issue a statement alongside the emergency declaration (with language adjustments to avoid implying ICE cannot legally be present). Councilors Hartmeyer Prigg and Hussen will finalize the statement by the next day.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous adoption (7-0) of Resolution ratifying the Declaration of a State of Emergency due to federal immigration enforcement.
- Adoption (6-1) of the comprehensive fee schedule (Resolution 4936) with amendments to parklet fees ($150 for first space, $200 for second) and removal of annual application fee.
- Business license fee portion adopted (2 yes, 5 abstentions).
- Direction to staff to move forward with access center siting criteria as discussed, including exploring unincorporated areas and involving city staff in the selection process.
- Direction to city attorney to interpret charter on food policy (by January).
- Direction to city manager to develop an emergency communication plan.
- Council statement to be published soon affirming the city's commitment to sanctuary values despite federal enforcement.
- A five-minute break was taken after the consent agenda.
Meeting Transcript
Bring this meeting to order. Hello, I am the mayor for a day, Kaylee Nielsen, and yeah. Madam Mayor and members of the council, um, I would like the recorder to call officially call the role, and we'll hear a little bit from the mayor for the day. Counselor Duggar. I'm here. Counselor Hartmeyer Prigg. I'm here. Councillor Hassan? Here. Counselor Kimmy? Here. Counselor Teeter? Here. Counselor Tivon? Here. Mayor Beatty? Here. Yeah. I mean, today you could totally have the job. It's a long schedule. So Madam Mayor, tell us a little bit about your vision for the city and what you would like to see changed. My vision for Beaverton is a space where green living is easy. And where we can go is for there to be more education on programs and uh materials for people to use to help keep uh to help keep the city uh safe and healthy. And uh one example of this is the purple box program. I am in my family knew about it, but a lot of my friends a lot of my friends did not, including my chief of staff and the so we need more people to know about this program for it to be a bigger impact on the environment. That's awesome. And when you serve as the mayor for a day, you go through a worksheet on an idea and questions, and you go through multiple questions, and when you present something, you have to come up with a plan. So that is what she did this evening. So thank you for being the mayor for the day. We're gonna take a photo with the council. You could have your chief of staff up, and then uh I'll take back over. How's that sound? All right, let's do it. Okay, the third person, not the parent taking a photo down there was the executive director of the chamber of commerce, who was a girl scout, and which I have on good authority two things. She said she will buy Girl Scout cookies from any Girl Scout that ever asked her. And today is her birthday. All right, Council. We have a lengthy agenda today. We are going to start with a proclamation, while visitor comment, presentation uh two presentations, an action item, city manager's report, a consent agenda, a public hearing on fees, two three work sessions, and council items. All right. With that, we will start tonight with an award of appreciation for Jim McCrite. Jim McCrite has dedicated more than three decades to strengthening the city of Beaverton through exceptional civic leadership, volunteer service, and support for adult or for arts, culture, business, and community development. Whereas Jim most recently served as the executive director of the Oregon Startup Center from 2020 to 2025, advancing Beaverton's innovation ecosystem and supporting entrepreneurs following early service as the board chair from 2020 or 2004 to 2007. Whereas Jim co-founded the Beaverton Arts Foundation in 1999 and played a pivotal role in establishing and sustaining the Patricia Resource Center for the Arts, serving as board chair for 17 years and as a board member for 24 years. And whereas Jim has provided significant civic leadership for the City of Beaverton, including his service as the chair of the Citizen Committee to Build Public Safety Center from 2014 to 2016, Chair of the Beaverton Urban Redevelopment Agency from 2010 to 2018, Vice Chair and Board Member of the Beaverton Budget Committee 2013 to 2016, Chair and Board Member of the Beaverton Arts Commission 1995 to 2001, Chair and Board Member of the Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce from 1997 to 2002, and member of the THPRD Bond Advisory Committee. And whereas Jim has enriched the alt arts, culture, landscape throughout Oregon and beyond through his years of distinguished service, including as the president and board member of the Mary Hill Museum of Arts from 1995 to present, past trustee and treasurer and finance committee member of the High Desert Museum, patriot and volunteer with the Portland Art Museum, and past president and chair of the National Museum Trustee Association and past chair of Washington County Museum. And whereas Jim's leadership, generosity, and commitment to public service has left a lasting legacy that will continue to benefit Beaverton and the region for generations. Now for the city of Beaverton City Council expresses its deep appreciation to Jim McCrite for his extraordinary and enduring contributions to the City of Beaverton and honors him for his lifetime of service of arts, civic engagement, and community progress. Yeah. I will just uh Jim's service is pretty legendary in the service, and there's not too many big buildings around here of boards that he didn't serve on in touch.
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