Lake Oswego City Council Meeting: Speed Reduction Vote and Housing Strategies – September 2, 2025

The Lake Oswego City Council met on September 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM. Key actions included passing Ordinance 2966 to lower the speed limit on local roads to 20 mph (vote 5-2), hearing public testimony on pedestrian safety and speed, and receiving updates on the Housing Production Strategy and disaster preparedness.

Consent Calendar

• Approved appointments to the Foothills District Community Advisory Committee.
• Passed ordinances indexing 5450 Kenney Street and annexing 6210 Lakeview Boulevard.
• Approved Amendment No. 4 to the sub-recipient agreement with Clackamas County Human Services.
• All consent items passed 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Edward Conrad (via in-person): Presented a survey of arterial sidewalks and bike lanes on A Avenue, Kruse Way, and Boones Ferry Road. Found 49% non-compliance with ADA sidewalk standards and 79% non-compliance with a six-foot bike lane standard. Concluded that his fear of riding an e-bike on Lake Oswego arterials is justified. Encouraged the city to correct deficiencies.
• Chris Turkey (Chair, Palisades Neighborhood Association): Expressed full support for reducing speed limits to 20 mph. Noted the association board voted unanimously in support. Suggested streets without sidewalks should be the first priority for reduced speed.
• Mike Perm: Praised the “go slow” campaign but urged further steps to reduce car dependency, including making neighborhoods more walkable and vibrant. Asked why most parents drive kids to school and why neighborhood amenities are lacking.
• Kate Lupton (Parent, new LO School Board Director): Shared personal story about her 4-year-old son with sensory sensitivity who ran from school and had to be chased by the principal down McEwan to Pilkington. Thanked city for considering lower speed limits, saying it will help keep children like her son safe.
• Ginny Adelsheim: Described dangerous intersection at Cornell and Hemlock streets, citing multiple near-misses and an August 23 crash where a boy on a bike hit a car. Begged city to make it a four-way stop before a serious or fatal accident occurs.
• Sarah Ayana Roan (Executive Director, The Street Trust, via Zoom): Urged support for Ordinance 2966. Cited studies showing 20 mph limits reduce crashes up to 40%, create more jobs per dollar than car-only projects, and boost local business foot traffic. Offered help with community education and micromobility policy.

Discussion Items

Ordinance 2966 – 20 mph Speed Limit on Local Streets

• Councilor RAF (requested item pulled from consent): Shared that he received many emails both for and against. Noted concerns about enforceability and the $200,000 cost, especially after a tight budget cycle. Leaning against it at this time.
• Councilor Mboop: Strongly in favor, citing safety for children, elderly, and pedestrians. Stated that 30 km/h (18.6 mph) is normal in European neighborhoods. Argued the cost is minimal compared to safety benefits, and criticized budget arguments as inconsistent (citing lake and guard expenditures).
• Councilor Afkin: In favor. Noted that while he could pick apart data, the evidence from national agencies, Portland’s 26 neighborhoods, and Lake Oswego’s lack of sidewalks makes a compelling case for the reduction.
• Councilor Winland: Opposed. Said the city lacked sufficient public process, that actual Lake Oswego traffic data showed no accidents on targeted streets (accidents happen at major intersections), and that without enforcement the change gives a false sense of security. Suggested the $200,000 be spent on speed bumps or stop signs.
• Councilor Verdict: Supported. Argued enforcement will be at least as good as now, and signs serve as reminders. Noted that the cost is about the same as one year of a police officer, and the change benefits every residential street.
• Councilor Corgan: Supported. Noted the cost of the sign program ($200,000) is much less than a pathway (e.g., Upper Drive to Bryant: $2.5 million). Called the change a “bargain” for pedestrian safety and community-wide impact.
• Mayor Buck: Supported. Said the 25 mph standard was set 70+ years ago based on car mobility, not safety; the 20 mph is based on modern survivability data (even 1–2 mph reduction significantly increases survival). Called it a “profound” citywide impact for a relatively small cost.

Housing Production Strategy Implementation

• Eric Olson, Long-Range Planning Manager: Provided an update on implementing the eight-year HPS.
• Code Audit and Amendments (Strategy 1): Aimed at removing barriers to housing and economic development; RFP expected fall 2025 with project kickoff early 2026.
• RSO Land Strategy (Strategy 3): Focus on non-residential zones (e.g., Southwest Employment Area) for housing. DLCD grant application submitted; recommendations due by end of 2026, amendments by end of 2027. Council clarified they do not want to pursue residential rezoning (e.g., R7 to R2), and will prioritize non-residential zones.
• Foothills District: Consultant contract finalized (June 17, 2025), Community Advisory Committee appointed, TIF district planning underway. Directly tied to HPS and state requirements.
• SDC fees (Strategy 7): A larger fee structure review begins in 2027; cottage cluster fees will be adjusted for 2026.
• Low-income rental housing tax exemption (Strategy 9): Will offer to for-profit developers for housing at or below 60% AMI; discussion at council expected in early 2026.
• Fair Housing policy (Strategy 13): Comp plan amendment scheduled for Planning Commission September 8; council hearing November 4, 2025.
• State conditions: DLCD requires the city to take tangible steps on one of four recommendations involving surplus land, faith-based partnerships, regional resources, or TIF funding for affordable housing. The TIF path appears most aligned with current work.

Wildfire Response and Disaster Preparedness

• Emily Merklin and Jamie Poole (Clackamas County Emergency Management): Presented the “Be CLAT GoPre” evacuation campaign, which includes 21 evacuation zones, public alerts (doubled sign-ups year-over-year), and mapping tools. Reached 2.4 million social media impressions and 15,500 website clicks.
• Battalion Chief Greg Barnum (Lake Oswego Fire): Explained that 90% of homes burn due to embers, not a fire front. Emphasized home mitigation (defensible space, zero-to-five-foot zone), free fire department home assessments, and the Firewise program. Recommended the “Watch Duty” app for real-time evacuation updates.
• Council discussion: Concerns about simultaneous evacuation of 41,000 residents; county noted phased notifications to avoid bottlenecks. Tree committee asked for wildfire-specific guidance on vegetation management.

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance 2966 (20 mph speed limit on local streets): Passed 5-2. Voting yes: Mayor Buck, Councilor Corgan, Councilor Afkin, Councilor Mboop, Councilor Verdict. Voting no: Councilor RAF, Councilor Winland.
• Housing Production Strategy: Council directed staff to focus on non-residential zones for housing production and to deprioritize residential rezoning. Staff will bring SDC fee adjustments and the fair housing comp plan amendment for future council action.
• Disaster Preparedness: No formal vote; council directed staff to continue coordinating with Clackamas County and to integrate fire safety guidance into tree code discussions.