Cornelius City Council & Urban Renewal Agency Board Meeting – January 5, 2026

The Cornelius Urban Renewal Agency Board and City Council held a combined meeting on Monday, January 5, 2026, starting at 7:00 PM. The meeting began with the Urban Renewal Agency Board session, followed by the City Council regular session. Key actions included approving a minor amendment to the urban renewal plan for a parking study, passing a new parks master plan, updating the urban planning area agreement with Washington County, naming the Mariposa Causeway, and adopting several new policies on park shelter reservations, artificial intelligence use, and participation in the Bee City USA program. Several board and commission appointments were also confirmed. Both Chair Lopez and Councilor Nunez Barragon were excused from the meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Urban Renewal Agency: The board unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included the December 1, 2025 meeting minutes. Motion by Mayor Dahlin, second by Board Member Vaughan. All in favor.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Urban Renewal Agency: No members of the public testified during the public hearing for Resolution 202601 (Urban Renewal Plan Minor Amendment).
• City Council: No members of the public spoke during the public comment period for items not on the agenda.

Urban Renewal Agency – Elections

• Elections for the positions of Chair and Vice Chair of the Urban Renewal Agency Board were postponed to the February 2026 meeting. Members cited the absence of nearly half the commission and the Chair as reasons to hold the election when all members could be present. The decision to postpone was made without a formal vote.

Urban Renewal Agency – Resolution 202601: Minor Amendment to Urban Renewal Plan

• Discussion: Staff presented Resolution 202601 to amend the Urban Renewal District Plan to add a project related to parking. The amendment would allow for funding a parking study, which would assess current parking availability, inform future parking management strategies (e.g., time limits, designated lots), and coordinate with future redevelopment of the town center. Board Member Delane asked clarifying questions about the study's potential to identify dedicated parking areas and integrate parking with future redevelopment (e.g., below-grade or stacked parking). Staff confirmed the study would provide such information.
• Outcome: The board unanimously passed Resolution 202601, approving the minor amendment to the Cornelius Urban Renewal Plan. Action takes effect immediately.

City Council – Recognitions & Presentations

• Employee Recognition: Staff recognized Carlos Martinez, Finance Analyst, for his five years of service. City Manager Ellie described his key role in finance: ensuring paychecks and invoices are processed, managing the P-Card system, assisting with cash receipts and utility accounts, and managing the citywide fixed asset database (critical for audits). He also compiles the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Council members expressed appreciation for his pleasant demeanor and the high output of the city's small staff.
• PGE Update: Representatives from Portland General Electric (PGE) gave an update. They noted that PGE has filed for a rate reset but committed to keeping residential rate increases below inflation. Growth in electricity demand (driven by electrification, heat pumps, and data centers) is now 2.5–3.5% per year, while new transmission has not been built since the 1970s. PGE’s system now includes 500 megawatts of battery storage (10% of capacity), helping to reduce peak energy costs. In Cornelius, approximately 62% of eligible residents use PGE’s income-qualified bill assistance programs; PGE aims to raise that to 80%. The utility is prioritizing planning partnerships with the city and offered tours of its new Incident Operations Center.
• Community Events Update: Itzel presented a summary of 2025 events and previewed 2026 plans. Notable 2025 successes included the Take Care of Cornelius Day (which partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build a fence for two households), the Farmers Market (relocated to the Grande Foods parking lot and featuring special events like a punk art market and car show), the Community Dinner (moved to the new Cornelius Elementary School, drawing large crowds), and the Tree Lighting (also at the new school, with 450+ crafts for children). New for 2026: an Emergency Preparedness Fair, a city-hosted State of the City event in the afternoon, and a larger 9/11 Memorial Ceremony for the 25th anniversary. A ribbon cutting for the Mariposa Causeway is planned for spring.

City Council – Civic Leadership Academy Topic Ideas

• City Manager Brandom proposed expanding the Civic Leadership Academy for 2026, funded in part by a Ford Family Foundation grant. He floated the topic: “How to envision the future of the Cornelius Boosters in changing times,” referencing declining volunteerism. Councilors discussed making the topic multi-generational, focusing on volunteer recruitment and civic engagement for the 20–40 age range and newer neighborhoods (e.g., Laurel Woods). Councilor Godinez expressed a desire to solicit community input via a Gazette poll, but Brandom noted logistical constraints. The consensus was to focus broadly on “volunteerism and civic engagement across generations and cultures.”

City Council – Appointments to Regional Policy Bodies & City Boards/Commissions

• The council approved several appointments and reappointments to various bodies:
  • Economic Development Commission: Reappointed Anthony Mendoza (Position 5, through 2028), Alma Lozano (Position 6, 2028), Robert Dixon (Position 7, 2028); appointed Maria Caballero Rubio (Position 8, 2028) and Cecilia Giron (Position 14, 2028).
  • Budget Committee: Reappointed Andrew Denley (Position 1, term expiring December 2028); appointed Janet Fleshman (Position 4, term expiring December 2027).
  • Planning Commission: Reappointed Reheaness (Position 1, through 2029).
  • Public Infrastructure Advisory Board: Reappointed Janet Fleshman (Position 5, through 2028). All motions passed unanimously.

City Council – Hearings & Ordinances

• Ordinance 2026-01 (Parks Master Plan): Staff presented the Parks Master Plan, a legislative amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. Park acreage doubled from 25.3 acres (2019) to 54.1 acres (2025). The plan identifies park-deficient areas and prioritizes new parkland acquisition. Councilor Vaughan asked why the plan wasn’t simply updated; staff explained the dramatic growth in acreage and demographic changes warranted a full rewrite. The public hearing had no testimony from the public. The council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance (first reading), waiving the second reading.
• Ordinance 2026-02 (Urban Planning Area Agreement): Staff presented a new Urban Planning Area Agreement with Washington County, replacing the 1988 version. The map shows remaining unincorporated areas north of the city (industrial), area north of Council Creek (Metro park), and area east of TV Highway (mainly residential with a pocket of very low density residential for farm uses). The council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance, waiving the second reading.

City Council – Resolutions

• Resolution 2026-01 (Pedestrian Bridge Naming): Staff presented a proposal from the Public Infrastructure Advisory Board to name the pedestrian bridge in Laurel Woods the “Mariposa Causeway.” The bridge connects the west and east sides of the Laurel Woods neighborhood, is about 2,300 linear feet, and has enough freeboard to avoid flooding. Council unanimously approved the resolution.
• Resolution 2026-02 (Water Park Booster Station Change Orders 11-18): Staff presented the final set of eight change orders (11–18) for the Water Park Booster Station, which is substantially complete. The council unanimously approved the resolution.
• Resolution 2026-03 (Jacobs Work Order 22): Staff presented Work Order 22 with Jacobs Engineering for a risk and resiliency analysis and emergency response plan, required by the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. The analysis is due June 30, 2026; the emergency response plan is due December 31, 2026. Council unanimously approved.
• Resolution 2026-04 (Park Shelter Reservation Policy): The park shelter reservation policy was proposed to address increasing demand, especially at Mariposa Park. Key changes: a four-hour reservation limit during peak season (April 1–September 30), two weekend shifts (10 AM–2 PM and 3 PM–7 PM), and priority for Cornelius residents during January–March for peak season reservations. Concerns were raised about enforcement, but staff emphasized the policy aims to encourage equitable use rather than police residency. Council unanimously approved the resolution.
• Resolution 2026-05 (Artificial Intelligence Use Policy): The policy provides guidance for city staff on responsible AI use, emphasizing transparency, equity, privacy, and that AI does not replace human judgment. It allows drafting routine documents and research but prohibits use with confidential information or for automated decisions affecting individuals. The IT committee and legal counsel reviewed it. Council unanimously approved.
• Resolution 2026-06 (Bee City USA Program Application): The city manager proposed joining the Bee City USA program (run by the Xerces Society) to support pollinator conservation. Requirements include a standing committee (Public Infrastructure Advisory Board), planting pollinator-friendly vegetation, reducing pesticide use, and hosting education events. The annual fee is $200. The council unanimously approved the application.

Key Outcomes

• Urban Renewal Agency Board: Elections postponed to February 2026. Resolution 202601 (parking study amendment) passed unanimously.
• Parks Master Plan (Ordinance 202601) and Urban Planning Area Agreement (Ordinance 202602) both approved unanimously.
• Eleven board/commission appointments/reappointments confirmed for the Economic Development Commission, Budget Committee, Planning Commission, and Public Infrastructure Advisory Board.
• Resolutions passed: Naming Mariposa Causeway, approving booster station change orders, authorizing Jacobs engineering contract, adopting park shelter reservation policy, adopting AI use policy, and applying to Bee City USA.
• Council reports included reminders about immigration resources, signing up for ECHO alerts, and thank-yous to staff for community events.