Lake Oswego City Council Meeting June 2, 2026: Library Planning, North Anchor Project, and Public Comment
Lake Oswego City Council Meeting June 2, 2026: Library Planning, North Anchor Project, and Public Comment
The Lake Oswego City Council met on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The meeting included the swearing-in of Councilor Jackie Edmonds Manns, proclamations for Pride Month and Gun Violence Awareness Month, public comment, a consent agenda, a public hearing on the city's public arts program, a Redevelopment Agency (LARA) meeting to approve the sixth amendment to the North Anchor disposition and development agreement (DDA), and a study session on library site selection criteria and the creation of a library site reuse task force. All votes were unanimous 7-0 unless noted.
Consent Calendar
- Approved four consent items: appointment of Kindre Lundquist as municipal judge pro tem; an intergovernmental agreement with Milwaukee for public safety communication services; a contract for landscape maintenance services; and approval of minutes from March and April 2026.
- Councilor Boop briefly inquired about flexibility in leaving leaf litter in landscaped areas, then joined the unanimous vote to adopt the consent agenda.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Donna Jordan (representing River Bend on the Willamette homeowners) expressed strong support for the new north-south pathway connecting George Rogers Park and Foothills Park, but urged the council to adopt a local ordinance limiting the speed on that path to 10 mph to protect pedestrians, children, and pets from fast-moving electric bikes and scooters.
- Diana Schmidt offered testimony opposing the landscape maintenance contract (consent item 7.3), arguing that its requirement to remove all leaf litter and organic matter from shrub beds and tree circles conflicts with the city's urban forestry plan and sustainable practices. She provided examples from the heritage tree grove and the workers' cottage, and asked the council to direct staff to adopt practices that allow leaves to remain in place for soil health and insect habitat.
Discussion Items
Public Hearing: Resolution 26-21 – Arts Council Contract
- Assistant City Manager Megan Phelan presented the resolution to approve a special procurement for administration of the city's public arts program and an agreement with the Arts Council of Lake Oswego. No public testimony was offered. The council adopted the resolution 7-0.
Redevelopment Agency (LARA) Meeting: North Anchor Project – Sixth Amendment to DDA
- Redevelopment and Economic Development Manager Megan Bronstein presented the sixth amendment to the disposition and development agreement with Urban Development Partners (UDP) for the North Anchor site. The project includes three parcels: Parcel A is planned for a boutique hotel (88 rooms, two floors of thermal spa totaling 10,000 sq ft, plus a wellness-focused restaurant); Parcels B and C are for mixed-use residential (two four-story buildings, 66 apartments with at least 8 affordable at 80% AMI, and 5,700+ sq ft of ground-floor retail).
- The sixth amendment separates the schedules for the hotel and residential components. Residential: demolition of the office building on Parcel B to begin fall 2026, with two-year construction; hotel: a check-in by end of 2026, with UDP required to present funding or alternative uses, and if no agreement by March 1, 2027, LARA may terminate UDP's rights to Parcel A. Other terms include reducing the default cure period from 270 to 150 days and removing the inability to secure financing from the list of unavoidable delays.
- Councilor Wenland expressed concern about the difficulty of obtaining hotel financing and urged full effort from UDP. Councilor Afkin stressed the critical nature of the next seven months and asked for clarity that the residential schedule applies to both parcels B and C. Councilor Boop praised the progress. The board voted to authorize the LARA Executive Director to sign the sixth amendment (7-0).
Study Session: Library Site Selection Criteria and Reuse Task Force
- Library Director Melissa Kelly presented the rationale for replacing the existing library (built in 1983 at 27,100 sq ft, 23% smaller than voter-approved 35,000 sq ft, on a 1.1-acre site). The facility has $10 million in deferred maintenance, and the city's population has grown from ~19,700 (1976) to ~42,000. The council goal is to develop a strategy for an expanded, modern library, prioritizing the west side and urban renewal funding.
- Staff proposed two criteria for the site reuse task force: (1) generate one-time revenue to help fund the new library, and (2) stay within deed restrictions and land use requirements. Councilors added considerations: maintaining the character of the First Edition neighborhood, and ensuring neighbors are heavily represented on the task force.
- For the future library site selection, staff proposed four criteria: adequate size (based on consultant's upcoming range of square footage for base, mid, and optimum scopes), equitable and accessible location (central, multimodal), financial feasibility (within urban renewal district), and zoning compatibility. Councilors debated whether to narrow the search to the west side immediately or let data guide the process. Councilor Corgan emphasized that the only financially feasible option is within the Lake Grove Urban Renewal District. Councilor Afkin cautioned against being too restrictive and urged letting the data speak. The council agreed to hold a second study session to refine the criteria.
- The council then adopted Resolution 26-30 (7-0) creating the library site reuse task force, which will meet from August 2026 to March 2027. The task force will have up to 20 members, including representatives from surrounding neighborhoods, city boards, and at-large community members, with a majority residing within walking distance of the existing library site.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda adopted 7-0.
- Resolution 26-21 (Arts Council contract) adopted 7-0.
- North Anchor Sixth Amendment authorized LARA Executive Director to sign 7-0.
- Resolution 26-30 (Library Site Reuse Task Force) adopted 7-0.
- Council directed staff to continue researching deed restrictions on the existing library site and to prepare a second study session on site selection criteria for the future library task force.
- The next study session on library criteria is scheduled for July 2026, with the future library task force expected to meet from October 2026 to May 2027.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. This uh Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026 meeting of the Lake Oswego City Council is now called to order. Ms. Hawkins, will you please call the roll? Yes, Mayor Buck. Here. Counselor's verdict. Corrigan here. Edmund Smans. Here. Afkin. Here. Maboop. Hugh. And Wenlin. Here. Now, uh, before we uh before before we begin the regular uh meeting, we are glad to welcome back to the Dais Councilor Manns, and we have municipal court judge Amy Lingren here to administer the oath of office. Thank you. Thank you. You're awkward. Can you take your microphone, please? They're on. Okay. Test, test. Yeah, put my reading glass readers on. Okay. Uh raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Jackie Edmonds Mans, I, Tacky Edmonds Mans, do solemnly swear, do solemnly swear that I will support the constitutions and laws, that I will support the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, of the United States of America, and the state of Oregon and the state of Oregon. And the Charter and Ordinances of the City of Lake Oswego. And the Charter and Ordinances of the City of Lake Oswego. I also solemnly swear, I also solemnly swear I will faithfully and honorably. I will faithfully and honorably conduct myself to the best of my ability, conduct myself to the best of my ability in the office of counselor of the city of Lake Oswego. In the office of counselor of the city of Lake Oswego. Congratulations. Thank you. This is quite an honor to be selected to come back to this body of folks. I'm only here for six months. I want to make that perfectly clear. I think I made that clear the other night. And I will do my best to support the citizens, the staff, and of course, my colleagues in whatever I can do during those six months. So thank you all very much. Pride month is an opportunity to celebrate the diversity, resilience, and contributions of LGBTQ plus individuals while reaffirming our community's commitment to dignity, inclusion, and equal opportunity for all residents. We'll be celebrating Pride as a community on June 7th, this upcoming Sunday from 12 to 4 p.m. at Millennium Plaza Park in partnership with LO for Love. Gun Violence Awareness Month is an opportunity to honor the lives lost to gun violence, to recognize survivors and families impacted by tragedy, and to reaffirm our shared commitment to community safety efforts. Both of these proclamations acknowledge the ongoing importance of fostering welcoming spaces where every person feels safe and respected. You'll find these proclamations as well as all other proclamations on the city website. Now is the time on our agenda for public comment. If you are here to provide public comment and have not already done so, please fill out one of the white public comment forms and hand it to Ms. Hawkins.
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