The Forest Grove City Council met on July 13, 2026, at 7:08 PM. The meeting included a public comment, presentations on regional transit, housing, and tourism, and approval of multiple ordinances and resolutions. All votes were unanimous (5-0).
Metro Update: Council President Juan Carlos Gonzalez (Metro) and new Metro Councilor Miles Palacios presented. Key updates included:
Tourism Update: Amanda Yakos (Chamber of Commerce) presented a vision to make Forest Grove a destination for overnight stays. Key points: leveraging wine country, sake brewery, historic downtown, and year-round events. Marketing strategy includes KPIs for accountability. Council expressed support and noted partnership opportunities with Pacific University.
Forest Grove Permanent Supportive Housing Update: Jill Chen (Deputy Director, Washington County Housing Authority) and Lisa Varen (Real Estate Division Manager) presented. The project at 3127 Pacific Avenue will provide 44 studios/one-bedrooms for people exiting homelessness. Partners include Central Cultural, Transcending Hope, Walsh Construction, Scott Edwards Architecture, and Care Oregon. Funding: $2.5 million pre-development loan from Housing Authority Board, plus 9% low-income housing tax credits and $4 million gap financing from the state, plus rental assistance. No local SHS funds needed. Project timeline: community engagement and design over next 6-8 months, building permit winter 2027, construction start fall 2027. Councilor Martinez asked about inclusivity; staff clarified residents are referred through coordinated entry but will be integrated into the community via services. Councilor Schimmel suggested community engagement with local agencies. Discussed potential variances (balconies, playgrounds) due to population needs.
Ordinance 2026-03: Amend the Comprehensive Plan Map to remove General Industrial designation from territory to be removed from urban planning area. Approved 5-0.
Resolution 2026-32: Approve intergovernmental agreement with Washington County for CDBG program administration for plan years 2027-2029, with option to extend to 2032. Approved 5-0.
Resolution 2026-33: Place a measure on the November 2026 ballot for general obligation bonds to finance a new police facility. Estimated cost $29.5 million, cost to average homeowner $193/year ($17/month). Currently facility built in 1977, 12,120 sq ft for 42 personnel, with 34 deficiencies. New facility would be 45% larger. Construction could begin early 2028, occupancy 2029. Approved 5-0.
Thanks for bearing with me. I'm a little bit late. I would like to call this meeting to order. It's 7 08. Will our city recorder please call roll? Counselor Schimmel? Here. Counselor Falconer? Here. Counselor Martinez? Here. Counselor Marshall. Here. Mayor Wenzel. Here. We acknowledge the land on which Forest Grove is located, located, rests on the traditional village sites of the Atphalati, a tribe of the Calapua who originally inhabited the Tualeton Plains, including Forest Grove. They are now part of the Confederate tribes of Grand Ron. Will the audience and council please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of the mayor. To the Republic for which it one nation under God, indivisible, liberty investment problems. Thank you. There are no proclamations this evening, so we'll move on to item B on the agenda, which is public comment. Public comment time provided for anyone wishing to speak to the council on any item not scheduled for a public hearing. Comments are limited to two minutes unless additional time is granted by the presiding officer. The public comment period shall not exceed 30 minutes unless extended by the council. Our first person and only person as of right now signed up for public testimony is Mr. Dale Feek. Good evening, Mr. Feek. Good evening, Mayor Wenzel and Councillors. Dale Feek. May I have three minutes? You may. Thank you very much. I have two topics. Uh, one is the forest group permanent supportive housing update. The second is uh current situation and what others have a right to expect us and what we have a right to expect from others. The uh people on the agenda today is Jill Chin and Lisa Varn are representing the county. It has to do with Forest Growth Permanent Supportive Housing Update. I made a little bit of public comment about county. You know, it's going to be Jim's automotive, they're gonna refurbish that and have a great program. So it's great that you're supporting that, and the county is supporting you and you're supporting each other. It's great. Uh Mortimer J. Adler, prominent philosopher, uh, has written the book called Aristotle for Everybody Difficult Thought Made Easy. And he says, based upon everything that's been read, uh, that's the only book that's ever is morally sound, undogmatic, is Nicomedian ethics written in the uh fifth century by Aristotle. And Adler updated it so it's current for women and blacks and everybody else. Okay. So, because of the current political climate, please consider his words of wisdom below. What do others have a right to expect from us?