Lake Oswego City Council Meeting - May 5, 2026

The Lake Oswego City Council met on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The meeting included proclamations for Heritage Preservation Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and the "If I Were Mayor" contest awards. Public comment covered tree code changes, a fire station bond measure, and tree removal concerns. The council approved a consent agenda, invited four finalists for a vacant council seat, adopted a resolution for city manager recruitment, and held a study session on tree code amendments. Later, the Redevelopment Agency received an update on the North Anchor project. Councillor Frederick was excused; all other councilors were present.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved a public improvement contract (5-0) for new sidewalk and stormwater facilities on McEwan Road.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Nolan Wenker: Head golf course superintendent at Oswego Lake Country Club (non-resident, 9 years in community). Opposed the proposed amendment (LU26-0014) that would prohibit golf courses from using the forest management permit. Stated that the country club accounted for less than 0.5% of total tree removal citywide (2021-2025) while occupying about 2% of city land, and that tree management is already regulated with mitigation and replanting. Supported retaining eligibility with current oversight.
• Jeff Shear: Resident since 1968, served on Development Review Commission and Tree Committee. Opposed the change, arguing the process should follow committee recommendations. Noted that golf courses remove less than 1% of trees citywide and that two commissions had rejected the change, which never came before the Tree Committee. Said "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
• Chris Durkey, Kerry Love, Jeff Goodman (LO Fire Station Rebuild PAC): Provided final update before the May 19 election on ballot measure 36-35 to replace the South Shore Fire Station. Campaign budget ~$14,200, with two mailers reaching 10,000 mailboxes. Reported strong community support and noted an art contest with nearly 50 student entries; winners to be announced at the Saturday Farmers Market.
• Janet Paul and Teresa Aguilar (Lake Grove Neighborhood Association): Expressed concern about excessive tree removal at a new mixed-use development on Boone's Ferry Road, where ~30 trees (including 22 old growth) are planned for removal on a small lot. Cited impacts on canopy, environment, and neighborhood character. Urged council to support tree retention. Teresa noted that 20+ households have raised concerns.

Discussion Items

• Proclamations: Recognized Heritage Preservation Month (May) with a Merit Award to Lakeridge High School Technology Program (students Alvin Wang, CJ Hansen, Leon Lee, Alan Wang, instructors John Sperry and Doug Gast) for creating a self-guided walking tour app for the Lakewood neighborhood. Also recognized Mental Health Awareness Month; Dave Hunt (NAMI Clackamas executive director) presented on free resources, noting the average time between first recognizing a mental health condition and seeking treatment is 11 years. NAMI operates on a budget with minimal county funding.
• "If I Were Mayor" Contest: Awarded winners in poster (grades 4-5: Zaki Taylor first, Jacob Plett second, Archie Parker third, Colin Sun honorable mention), essay (grades 6-8: Clara Watson first, Lila Cooley second, Grace Malajai third, Keenan McGee honorable mention), and digital media (grades 9-12: Vedant Ramakrishnan first). First-place entries advanced to the statewide competition; Zaki Taylor won first place statewide in poster, Clara Watson won second place statewide in essay.
• Council Vacancy: Council reviewed 12 applications for the vacant council term (expiring end of 2026). Based on ranked scores, the top four finalists are Jackie Edmonds Manns, Jeff Goodman, Larry Lindstrom, and Suzanne Miles. Council voted 5-0 to invite them for interviews at a special meeting on May 28.
• City Manager Recruitment (Resolution 26-13): Public hearing held; no public testimony. Assistant City Manager Megan Phelan and Brian Cosgrove (GMP Consultants) presented the hiring procedure and timeline. Advertisement to launch for five weeks; first screening June 14; semi-finalist interviews in executive session week of June 28; final interviews July 23-24. Proposed salary range included. Council adopted the resolution 5-0.
• Tree Code Amendments (LU26-0014): Study session on four policy issues (fourth session; project on track for completion in July 2026). Current tree canopy cover is 53%, one of the highest in the region. The amendments create a two-track (discretionary and clear-and-objective) for Type II tree removal permits; the clear-and-objective track requires 45% retention of trees over 15" DBH, with fee-in-lieu options. Draft includes program-specific permits for sensitive lands and emerald ash borer (EAB) management.
  1. Appeals for Discretionary Type II Permits: Currently appeals go to DRC then council; option B would go to a hearings officer (final decision). The advisory bodies (Tree Task Force, DRC, Planning Commission) unanimously or strongly supported the hearings officer. Council was split; leaned toward Option A (keep current DRC/council) but requested more information on what the public hearing process would look like under a hearings officer.
  2. Street Tree Maintenance: City currently ambiguous on responsibility for trees in the right-of-way. City spends ~$100k-$150k/year on tree-related sidewalk repair and $100k-$145k/year on tree removal/trimming (reactive to calls). Proposed code would clarify that abutting property owners are responsible for maintenance (trimming, dead/hazardous removal). Council supported the mayor's proposal: city responsible for trees in "developed right-of-way" (where sidewalks, curbs exist; trees are part of city-built infrastructure), property owners responsible for trees in "undeveloped right-of-way" (functioning as private frontage). Staff to refine and report back.
  3. Forest Management Permits: Current minor forest management permit allows removal of 6 trees/acre/year without justification (for properties ≥1 acre with ≥1 acre canopy). Oswego Lake Country Club removed 63 trees via this permit since 2015 (0.65% of citywide removals). Golf courses were initially proposed to be disqualified, but DRC/Planning Commission opposed. Council considered three options: A (no change), B (require removal to support defined forest management objectives like forest health, hazard reduction), C (redefine large forested tract with minimum cluster size). Council leaned toward Option B, requiring clear connection to forest management objectives for all applicants, not just golf courses.
  4. Hazardous Trees on Private Property: Current code only allows city to enforce removal if tree threatens public property/right-of-way. Pre-2013 code allowed enforcement for threats to private property but was changed due to staff time. Option A (no change); Option B would allow city to order removal of dead trees within striking distance of buildings/infrastructure. Council was divided: Councillors Corgan and Mabu favored Option B for safety; Councillors Afkin, Winland, and Beck leaned toward Option A, citing enforcement challenges, private insurance remedies, and neighbor disputes. Overall lean to Option A.
• North Anchor Project (Redevelopment Agency): Urban Development Partners (UDP) presented update. Multifamily: Since amendment five (fall 2025), UDP purchased parcels B and C; DEQ approved underground storage tank remediation plan for parcel C. Design refinements under review; pre-application conference in March with follow-up in two weeks; aim for staff-level approval to save 2 months. Plan to demolish existing office building on parcel B by end of 2026; groundbreaking for multifamily likely early 2027 (could accelerate to late 2026). Two delivery scenarios: single-phase (both parcels, 18 months) or phased (parcel B first, then C, 34 months total). UDP has 8 debt term sheets for multifamily, spent $5 million to date, and requests $1 million more for demolition and permitting. Hotel: Obtained debt term sheet with CPACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) approval from Clackamas County (authorized last week). Added a thermal spa amenity (contrast therapy) to improve economics. Equity partners showing interest but not committed; request for DDA amendment extension through end of 2026 to finalize. Current contract requires hotel start by July 2026; UDP cannot meet that. Councillors expressed urgency but acknowledged progress.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda adopted 5-0.
• Resolution 26-13 (city manager recruitment) adopted 5-0.
• Council voted 5-0 to invite four finalists for council vacancy interviews on May 28.
• On tree code appeals, council directed staff to provide more details on the hearings officer process but leaned toward Option A (maintain current DRC/council appeals).
• On street tree maintenance, council supported mayor's developed/undeveloped right-of-way distinction; staff to refine and bring back policy.
• On forest management permits, council directed staff to draft Option B (require forest management objectives).
• On hazardous trees, council leaned toward Option A (no change) but will revisit with full council.
• Redevelopment Agency: UDP will return at the next meeting with further details. Council acknowledged progress but stressed the need for concrete hotel financing and timing; UDP requested extension through end of 2026.
• Council entered executive session under ORS 192.660(2)(d) and (f) for labor negotiations and exempt information, followed by Redevelopment Agency executive session for real property transactions.