Beaverton City Council Meeting – January 6, 2026

The Beaverton City Council met on January 6, 2026, to address a wide range of issues including the election of a council president, public testimony on immigration enforcement, a presentation on Washington County's housing services, a consent agenda, and a work session on the state and federal legislative framework. A key item was the postponement of a proposed update to street cross-sections in Cooper Mountain following developer concerns.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved unanimously (7-0) after pulling agenda bill 6.4 (Cooper Mountain Engineering and Design Manual update) for separate discussion. Items included a federal litigation framework, crosswalk improvements, traffic calming updates, and a downtown loop IGA.

Public Comments & Testimony

• David Anderson, a local business owner and longtime resident, described two incidents of ICE activity in Beaverton on November 1, 2025 and December 23, 2025. He argued that these actions violated the city's sanctuary city ordinance and asked the council to compel Beaverton police to prevent ICE from using city property, monitor ICE activities, respond to public requests, and issue citations or arrest agents when laws are broken. He stated, "If this is not possible, then what is the purpose of Beaverton declaring itself a sanctuary city at all?"
• Dave Honeycutt, a land use attorney representing property owners on Cooper Mountain, expressed concerns about item 6.4 on the consent agenda. He noted inconsistencies in the staff memo and stated that the proposed collector streets would be 12 feet wider than arterials, significantly reducing buildable land, increasing maintenance costs, and potentially making housing projects infeasible. He requested more time for staff to work with engineers and property owners.
• Mark Ferrah (Metropolitan Land Group) echoed Honeycutt's concerns, calling the expanded street cross-sections "unwarranted" and asking the council to pull the item and direct staff to reexamine the cross-sections.
• Mimi Dickas (AKS Engineering) supported the previous testimony, highlighting a new "frontage zone" that would consume additional land and noting that the landscape median would increase long-term city costs and pedestrian crossing distances.
• Paul Selke (also from AKS Engineering) offered to answer technical questions about the cross-section challenges on steep slopes.

Discussion Items

• Election of Council President: Councilor Teeter nominated Councilor Duggar for council president. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously (7-0).
• Washington County Housing Services Annual Report: Molly Rogers (Executive Director) and Liz Morris (Rental Assistance Division Manager) presented the 2025 report. Key statistics: over 20,000 people served across all programs; 26 capital projects invested; 5,300 families supported with long-term rental assistance; 800 with short-term support; 1,917 of those families in Beaverton; over 2,000 households received eviction prevention; 250 veteran families served (30% in Beaverton); 400 shelter beds maintained; over 700 individuals moved from shelter to permanent housing. The Metro Affordable Housing Bond is on track to exceed its goal with 958 homes open or underway. The report also noted the early sunset of the federal Emergency Housing Voucher program and the need for local investments. Council members asked about eviction prevention processes, coordination with school districts, the point-in-time count (which showed unsheltered homelessness steady despite increased sheltering), and the long wait times for seniors seeking affordable housing. Councilors expressed concern about the impact of federal cuts and ICE activity on housing stability.
• Cooper Mountain Street Cross-Sections (Agenda Bill 26006): Staff presented the proposed cross-sections, which include separated bike/pedestrian facilities, 8-foot landscape strips for tree canopy, and frontage zones. They explained that constrained and restricted cross-sections are available for areas with natural resources and that a design exemption process exists. Council discussion revealed a split: some members supported the proposal as meeting community goals, while others worried about costs, housing affordability, and developer feasibility. Mayor Beatty noted that the design would benefit THPRD (parks district) without cost-sharing. After debate, a motion to postpone the item for two weeks passed 4-3, with direction for staff to review SDCs, work with testifiers, and explore options such as narrower roads or removal of medians.
• First Reading of Ordinances: Two ordinances were read for the first time: one amending transportation system development charges (public hearing on January 20, 2026), and one codifying the Oregon Sanctuary Promise Act (public hearing on January 20, 2026).
• Work Session on 2026 State and Federal Legislative Framework: Government Relations Manager Jocelyn Blake, along with CFM lobbyists Joel Rubin (federal) and Ryan Gleason (state), presented the draft framework. Federal successes in 2025 included $6 million in funding (Brownfield grant, senior housing, North Transmission Line, behavioral health court). The 2026 federal agenda targets $25 million for the Loop project, $1.8 million for Lower Wood Avenue, $500,000 for Oregon Startup Center, and aquifer storage. State priorities include responding to federal immigration enforcement, protecting housing funding, and opposing repeal of HB 3115. Council discussed adding language supporting immigrant and refugee services and consequences for federal agents violating state/local laws. The mayor cautioned that the short session limits funding opportunities, but council agreed to include language signaling priority. The framework will be brought back for adoption on January 20.

Key Outcomes

• Council President Elected: Councilor Duggar was elected council president unanimously.
• Consent Agenda Approved: Passed 7-0, minus item 6.4.
• Cooper Mountain Street Design Postponed: Motion to postpone agenda bill 26006 for two weeks passed 4-3 (yes: Duggar, Kimmy, Tivnon, Beatty; no: Hartmeyer Prigg, Hassan, Teeter). Staff will review SDCs, consult with developers, and present options including narrower roads and median removal.
• First Reading of Ordinances Completed: Public hearings scheduled for January 20, 2026.
• Legislative Framework Direction: Council directed staff to add language seeking funding for immigrant and refugee housing and legal services, and to include consequences for federal agents breaking state/local laws. The framework will be finalized for adoption on January 20.
• Council Acknowledgment: Councilor Tivnon thanked Councilor Kimmy for his service as previous council president.