Beaverton City Council Regular Meeting - October 6, 2026

The Beaverton City Council held a regular meeting on October 6, 2026, beginning at 7:00 PM. The meeting covered a proclamation, public comments, consent agenda, two public hearings, an action item on council new project requests, a work session on the transient lodging tax, and council items. Key decisions included approval of a supplemental budget, annexation of a parcel, direction on several policy projects, and consensus to increase the transient lodging tax to 8%.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved the consent agenda (6-0, with one absent), including items from the city council and contract review board consent agendas.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sandra Elliott (Beaverton resident, business owner) expressed strong support for Agenda Bill 26162, urging protection of relationship and family structures from discrimination, citing successful similar policies in Portland and Seattle. She noted the existence of non-traditional families in Beaverton and called for action.
• Evelyn Coacher (lifelong Beaverton resident) criticized the lack of advanced public notice for council items, noting that over half of a recent meeting was taken up by council items not on the public agenda. She urged a structural change to allow public input and expressed support for studying a rideshare fee and a fee on home delivery purchases.
• David Carlson (campaign director for OPEN, grew up in Aloha) supported Agenda Bill 26162, stating it passed in six cities already this year. He emphasized the bill is a simple amendment to civil rights protections and that approximately 5% of Beaverton's population (conservatively 4,000 people) has some form of non-monogamous relationship.

Discussion Items

• Proclamation for Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day: Councilor Hartmeyer Prigg read a proclamation declaring October 21, 2026 as Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day in Beaverton, recognizing the Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce's contributions.
• Supplemental Budget (Resolution 4972): Assistant Finance Director Susan Cole and Budget Analyst Viet Lynn Fam presented the fall supplemental budget for fiscal year 2026-27, including $24.6 million in capital improvement carryovers, $202,000 in non-CIP carryovers, revenue from the new street maintenance fee, and $750,000 in general fund reductions to align with the city's fiscal sustainability plan. Council discussed the impacts, including a reduction in the neighborhood program full-time equivalent position, and expressed concerns about transparency in hiring holds. The resolution was adopted 6-0.
• Annexation at 5200 SW Scholls Ferry Road (Ordinances 4886 & 4887): Associate Planner Lauren Russell presented the annexation of a 0.39-acre parcel and associated comprehensive plan and zoning map amendments (to low-density neighborhoods/RMC). No public testimony was given. Council adopted both ordinances 6-0.
• Council New Project Requests: Interim City Manager Elizabeth Coffey presented staff hour estimates for five projects from the September 15 council meeting. Council voted on each:
  1. AI External Policy: Approved Option 2 (develop language for city grant agreements only) unanimously.
  2. Wage Transparency Ordinance: Moved to the city's legislative priorities for the next state session, rather than undertaking a full staff project, due to complexity and existing state-level conversations. Motion carried 6-0.
  3. Anti-Discrimination for Non-Traditional Families: Approved unanimously to update the city's anti-discrimination ordinance to protect non-traditional household structures from housing discrimination.
  4. Transportation Network Charge (Rideshare Fee): Approved to move forward, with staff to research examples and bring back a work session. Projected start in January 2027, requiring 60-80 hours. Motion carried 6-0.
  5. Business Gross Receipts Surcharge: Proposer Councilor Duggar withdrew the project due to the high estimated staff time (500-700 hours) and complexity. No vote taken; council supported the withdrawal.
• Transient Lodging Tax Work Session: CFO Carolyn Sullivan presented options to increase the city's transient lodging tax from the current 4% to 6% or 8%. Staff recommended 8% to stabilize funding for the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts (PRCA), build reserves, and fund the arts program. Council members expressed strong support for 8%, citing the need for sustainable revenue from visitors and the importance of the PRCA. Council directed staff to return in November for a first reading of an ordinance increasing the rate to 8% effective January 1, 2027.
• Council Items – Private Detention Centers: Councilor Duggar introduced a resolution banning private detention facilities in Beaverton. Discussion included an amendment to update the state of emergency end date (Section F) from October 10 to December 9, 2026, consistent with the city manager's recent extension. The resolution, as amended, was adopted 6-0.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved unanimously.
• Resolution 4972 (supplemental budget) adopted 6-0.
• Annexation ordinances 4886 and 4887 adopted 6-0.
• Council approved moving forward with AI policy (option 2), family structure anti-discrimination protections, and rideshare fee study; directed wage transparency to legislative priorities; business surcharge withdrawn.
• Council directed staff to prepare a first reading of a transient lodging tax increase to 8% for November.
• Resolution banning private detention centers adopted 6-0 with amended date.
• Police chief will provide council with detailed information on U visa certifications, as requested by the mayor and councilor Hassan.