Beaverton City Council Meeting: July 7, 2026 – Budget, Fees, Sanctuary Policy, and Transportation
Beaverton City Council Meeting: July 7, 2026 – Budget, Fees, Sanctuary Policy, and Transportation
The Beaverton City Council met on July 7, 2026, for a lengthy evening covering a range of fiscal, policy, and planning matters. Key actions included adoption of water and sewer/stormwater rate increases, creation of a new general services fee and a street maintenance fee, approval of a sanctuary city resolution, and work sessions on the Transportation System Plan (TSP) and the Urban Services Framework Project. The meeting also featured public comments on several topics.
Consent Calendar
- The council approved the consent agenda (agenda bills 26122 and 26128 were pulled) unanimously (7-0).
- Agenda Bill 26122: Boards and Commissions work plans. Councilor Huston pulled the item, expressing concern about the pending fate of the Diversity Advisory Board (DAB) and Human Rights Advisory Commission (HRAC). After discussion, the council voted 7-0 to approve, with the understanding that a fall work session would address the future of DAB/HRAC and equity integration.
- Agenda Bill 26128: Service agreements. Councilor Kimmy pulled the item to clarify budget reduction provisions. The council voted 7-0 to approve.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Peter Finley Fry (land use planner, speaking also for Car Subaru and Brad Preppel) requested an area plan for the 115th–117th Canyon Road area, arguing that current right-of-way expansion in urban settings is ineffective and has negative consequences (e.g., Millikan example). He urged the city to adopt a planning-first approach.
- Barry Duff Smith (Beaverton resident) expressed strong support for Resolution 4967 (sanctuary city policy), thanking council members and staff for collaboration. He suggested a public reporting dashboard for immigration enforcement interactions.
- David Witter (resident) announced a public reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8 at the Veterans Memorial Park, part of the 250th anniversary celebration.
- Susan Rosenthal (unincorporated Washington County resident, bicyclist) commented on the TSP update, praising the emphasis on biking/walking safety. She advocated adopting NACTO standards over AASHTO (e.g., smaller turn radii) and highlighted safety concerns on roads near Cooper Mountain.
- Zaria Dukes (Beaverton resident, first time speaking) criticized the elimination of the equity officer position, calling for a strategic plan with timelines, named owners, and measurable outcomes instead of just monthly updates. She urged the council to provide a real plan to maintain connection and belonging for communities of color.
- Blaine Solomon Pearson (Beaverton resident) thanked the council for advancing the sanctuary resolution, noting that nearly all recommendations from his team were included or referenced. He echoed the request for a public reporting dashboard.
- Buff Brown did not appear online.
Discussion Items
- Bicycle Advisory Committee Annual Report (Item 26118): Chair Lillian Mark presented the 2025–2026 activities, including feedback on TSP, traffic calming, bike parking maps, and the May 2026 Bike Beaverton event (550 attendees, 250 riders despite 94°F heat). The committee plans to continue advising on projects, collect data for Southwest Allen Boulevard, and launch community bike rides (e.g., bike bus to 10 Tiny Dances). Council members praised the committee’s growing technical sophistication and impact.
- Public Hearing: Water Rates (Resolution 4958): Assistant Finance Director Susan Cole presented the proposed rate increase (monthly meter charge and consumption rate). The increase is driven by debt obligations for $378 million in water infrastructure investments (Wi-Fi loan, state loan, bonds). Example: A household using 8 units would see a $7.30/month increase. One public speaker (Dave Savage, HOA president) noted the disproportionate impact on his community due to large water mains and irrigation needs. After a required conflict-of-interest declaration (all but one councilor are ratepayers), the council voted 6-1 (Councilor Hassan dissenting) to adopt the resolution.
- Public Hearing: Sewer and Stormwater Rates (Resolution 4959): Staff summarized that cost pressures from maintenance crews and pipe replacements drive the increase. A rate study is underway and will return in fall. No public testimony. The council voted 7-0 to adopt.
- Public Hearing: General Services Fee (Ordinance 4881 and Resolution 4965): Interim City Manager Elizabeth Coffey presented the fee ($9.50/EDU/month with annual escalator, generating $5.3 million in FY26-27) to address the structural deficit. The council discussed the necessity after $11 million in expense reductions and 40+ FTE cuts over recent years. Councilor Hassan expressed concerns about affordability and voted no; others reluctantly supported it. The vote was 6-1 (Councilor Hassan dissenting).
- Public Hearing: Street Maintenance Fee (Ordinance 4882 and Resolution): Public Works Director Tim Elsey presented the fee (phased in: $5/month year 1, $10 year 2, $15 year 3, then annual escalator). The fee would fund pavement preservation (slurry seal, grind/inlay/overlay) to raise the citywide PCI to 70, preventing costly reconstruction. Council discussed the need for prioritization and the impact of vehicle weight. No public testimony. The council voted 7-0 to adopt.
- Action Item: Sanctuary City Resolution (Resolution 4967): Council discussed the policy, which codifies existing police and city policies regarding interactions with federal immigration enforcement. Councilor Hassan shared a personal story and thanked the community and staff. Several council members noted the importance of clarity and transparency. The council voted 7-0 to approve.
- First Reading: Ordinance 4883 (parking permit fees and eligibility criteria) was introduced for a future public hearing on August 18, 2026.
- Work Session: Transportation System Plan (TSP) Update: Senior Planner Jessica Engelman and Planning Manager Brian Martin presented draft network policies and maps emphasizing safety, adaptation, and complete networks (pedestrian, bicycle, transit, motor vehicle). The policies aim to reduce target speeds, create pedestrian districts, and develop all-ages-and-abilities bike routes. Council members provided feedback on specific corridors, the need for reliable bike infrastructure, and focus on pilot areas. Staff received support to proceed to the next phase (project list and investment scenarios).
- Work Session: Urban Services Framework Project: Consultant Tom Reinhardt and CDD Director Annie Varner presented findings from the county-led study on providing urban services to unincorporated areas (UUAs). Key finding: Hypothetical boundary changes to bring some UUAs into Beaverton could generate net revenue for the city due to economies of scale and tax rates, but costs for bringing infrastructure up to city standards were not fully accounted. Council questioned the need for further exploration given existing resource constraints and the political difficulty of annexation. Council President noted the importance of tax equity and subsidy issues.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Water rates (Resolution 4958) – 6-1 (Councilor Hassan dissenting)
- Approved: Sewer and stormwater rates (Resolution 4959) – 7-0
- Approved: General services fee (Ordinance 4881 and Resolution 4965) – 6-1 (Councilor Hassan dissenting)
- Approved: Street maintenance fee (Ordinance 4882 and Resolution) – 7-0
- Approved: Sanctuary city resolution (Resolution 4967) – 7-0
- Approved: Consent agenda items (except pulled items 26122 and 26128) – 7-0
- Approved: Boards and commissions work plans (Agenda Bill 26122) – 7-0, with commitment to fall work session on DAB/HRAC
- Approved: Service agreements (Agenda Bill 26128) – 7-0
- Directed: Staff to proceed with next phase of the TSP update (project list and investment scenarios)
- Noted: The Urban Services Framework report will be finalized; further council discussion contingent on county next steps and resource capacity.
- Council New Business: Councilor Teeter acknowledged recent pedestrian and cyclist fatalities; Councilor Hartmeyer Prig highlighted Pride in the Park; Councilor Kimmy thanked public works for prompt replacement of ballot drop boxes.
Meeting Transcript
Will the recorder please call the roll? I am here. Counselor Mayor Prig here. Counselor Hassan. Counselor Kimmy. Here. Counselor Teeter. Here. Counselor Tivdon. Here. Mayor Beatty. Here. And I am wearing a mask because I have a three-year-old in daycare, and I am very sick. But given the weight of tonight's agenda items, I wanted to be in person, so out of respect of my colleagues, I am going to wear a mask to protect them this evening. On tonight's agenda, we will begin with visitor comments and then move to presentations, and then we have a pretty robust consent for public hearings, one action item, and one first reading, two work sessions, and we'll wrap up with any council new business. We'll now move on to visitor comments. The city requires pre-registration for online in-person visitor comments at council meeting. Registration closed at noon today. All registration was conducted through the city recorder's office via email or phone in preparation for this meeting. There are seven people registered to comment at tonight's meeting. As a reminder, visitor comments provide the opportunity for the community to speak about matters, even if they are not on the agenda. Visitors state their comments and should visitors may state their comments and should not expect the council to engage in back and forth dialogue regarding the comments. While community members may disagree with each other or the city on issues and may give critical feedback, they are expected to do so respectively and without disruption. Disruptions interfere with the ability of other present in in-person or online to participate in this meeting. Council members do not interrupt community members during their public comment, and we expect community to offer the same courtesy to other speakers. Visitor comments are limited to three minutes. If follow-up is needed, our city manager and recorder are here to take notes. First, we'll hear from uh Peter Finley Fry and then Susan Rosenthal is up after that. Hi, my name is Peter Finley Fry. I'm a land use planner. I didn't expect to be at the beginning of your agenda of a very long evening. I was hoping to speak right before your workshop on the uh transportation plan. Uh we have a very small issue, but it's very important, and I'm here with Car Subaru and Brad Preppel wanted to speak, but we didn't get uh organized to your formalities, so here I am representing them as well as myself. So we are here and we have talked to staff, and staff has been uh agreeable to the suggestion, but we would like to do an area plan for the area around 115th Canyon Road, 114th, and 117th. And the reason we want to do that is because the current way you build right-a-ways does not work. Building a right-of-way in an urban setting and expanding a right away in an urban setting is a very, very difficult thing, and it has not been done very often or been done well. I use Millikan as an example, as you probably know, there's no sidewalk on Milliken on the north side between Hawken and Murray. There's no frontages on Milliken, the entire length of it. There are broken lots. Lots are legally conveyable to third parties, and the lots are actually broken in half by Milken. So basically, what you've done is you put us right away through uh urban fabric without addressing the consequences of those actions. And so we're asking you that prior to moving forward in the quasi-judicial or capital improvements, we're asking you to do an area plan for the area that we're in so that we can address things like the uh light rail line and the uh need for protection of the gates for the uh way the streets work and how big they are and how they would work. Um I oh thank you, there's my timer. Uh so uh that's the end of basically our presentation. What you do now, not just you but cities across the West Coast, does not work, and we're asking that you do it differently and establish a different method, which is to do a plan and figure out where the streets should go, how they should go, and how the uses should list exist around the streets. Uh I was gonna ask you if you wanted to ask questions, but I know you have a long evening. I'm pretty sure you don't. So thank you very much for your uh time, and I'll have uh Wally Preppel's letter in the record. Thank you. And we got it via email.
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