Milwaukie City Council Meeting – March 4, 2026

The Milwaukie City Council held its 2,444th meeting on March 4, 2026, in a hybrid format. The meeting included a Women's History Month proclamation, the selection of the 2025 Volunteer of the Year, approval of revised public contracting rules, a presentation on the city's new emergency management and resilience framework, and the adoption of an updated Transportation System Plan (TSP).

Proclamation and Announcements

• Mayor Lisa Beatty proclaimed March 2026 as Women's History Month, read by Linda Carr of the Milwaukie Historical Society. Councilor Jordan announced a downtown 'Wine Walk' event on March 8, 2026, featuring women-owned businesses and wineries.
• Upcoming community events were announced: a talk with David Harrelson (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde) on March 5, 2026, Johnson Creek Watershed Council restoration event on March 7, 2026, Earth Day event on April 25, 2026, and a park work party on March 14, 2026.

Volunteer of the Year Selection

• Community Engagement Coordinator Jason Wax presented 12 nominees for the 2025 Volunteer of the Year award. Council members highlighted each nominee's contributions, including:
  • Allie Callos Spencer and Linda Hedges (CERT team leaders, expanded program from 38 to 53 volunteers)
  • Lisa Gunyanranker (Parks Foundation, neighborhood association, 8+ years service)
  • Nick Hess, Tom Hogan, Amanda McAdams, Howie Oakes, Lynn Porta, Colleen Rockwell, Lane Rollins, Christina Thomas, Nancy Whitting were also nominated.
• The council voted using a ranked-choice ballot. Colleen Rockwell was selected as the 2025 Volunteer of the Year. (Vote: 5-0)

Public Comments & Testimony

• David Ashenbrenner (Vice President, Milwaukie Historical Society) thanked the council for a grant that funded window and siding replacements at the Milwaukie Museum, noting the contractor donated supplies and labor.
• Kenny Wirth (ODOT) spoke in support of the TSP adoption, stating Milwaukie's plan is the first in the state to implement new state transportation planning rules, and ODOT is sharing the city's discoveries with other communities.

Consent Calendar

• The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included:
  • Minutes from Feb 3, 2026 work session and regular session
  • A resolution opting into recreational liability limitations (ORS 105.668)
  • A contract with Century West Engineering for wastewater collection engineering services
  • A personal service agreement with FCS Group (Bowman) for transportation SDC study services

Public Contracting Rules Update (Resolution)

• Kelly Tucker (Accounting & Contract Specialist) presented adopted revisions to the city's public contracting rules, which had last been updated in July 2023. Key changes include:
  • Increasing intermediate procurement threshold from $150,000 to $250,000
  • Raising federal micro-purchase threshold from $10,000 to $15,000
  • Increasing director authorization for surplusing personal property from $1,000 to $10,000
  • Removing a five-year limitation on purchases from cooperative price agreements
  • Adding a requirement to invite at least one COBID-certified contractor on intermediate solicitations
  • Allowing electronic publication of advertisements instead of printed newspaper
• The council unanimously approved the resolution adopting the revised public contracting rules. (Vote: 5-0)

Emergency Management & Resilience Framework

• City Manager Joseph and staff (Climate & Natural Resources Manager Katie Guevara, Emergency Management Coordinator Marta Patenty) presented a new framework organized around mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
• Key discussion points:
  • City Manager Joseph reported a gas line was struck during the Harvey Street project on Feb 25, 2026, requiring a 40-minute emergency shutdown and evacuation notice from the county. Staff is conducting an internal after-action review to improve communication.
  • The framework outlines three incident activation levels (Level 0–3), with the city typically operating at Level 1 for events like atmospheric rivers while the county may activate Level 2.
  • Goals include: tracking natural hazard mitigation plan items, developing community resilience hubs (e.g., Ledding Library), expanding CERT from 38 to 51 active volunteers, conducting staff training, updating the 2012 Emergency Operations Plan, and creating a continuity of governance plan.
  • Council members suggested incorporating equity considerations for vulnerable populations, connecting with amateur radio operators, and coordinating with North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District and a new early learning center that received PGE funding for a resilience hub.
  • Councilor Massey cautioned against overtaxing the framework with over-certification and noted the Cascadia earthquake risk is less severe in Milwaukie, with wildfire being the city's worst-case scenario.

Transportation System Plan (TSP) Adoption (Ordinance 2262)

• Community Development Director Laura Weigel, City Engineer Jennifer Garley, Senior Planner Ryan Dyer, and consultants from Kittelson & Associates presented the updated TSP, a five-year effort funded in part by a $350,000 ODOT grant.
• Plan highlights:
  • Financially constrained projects: 79% focus on bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
  • New functional classification maps for pedestrian, bicycle, freight, and transit networks (previously only existed for roadways).
  • Performance standards: Pedestrian Level of Traffic Stress (PLTS) minimum of 2, Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress (BLTS) minimum of 1.
  • Baseline system completeness for major city walkways is 53%; implementing all tier-one projects would raise it to 65%.
  • Code amendments include requiring street-facing building entrances, parking behind or beside buildings, and drive-through design standards for pedestrian safety in commercial zones.
• Council discussion:
  • Councilor Massey raised concerns about freight routes, clarifying that Linwood Avenue's freight designation is not new, and trucks have long used the route.
  • The council discussed ensuring that the Level of Service (LOS) standard for vehicles is properly defined and footnoted (staff agreed to add a clarifying footnote before final publication).
  • Councilor Anderson asked about the freight project prioritization; staff noted that 3–4 businesses participated in 2007 but no new freight concerns emerged in the 2026 business survey.
  • Councilor Massey and Councilor Anderson also discussed the need for realistic expectations about sidewalk installation on local streets and proper numbering of transit projects.
• Public testimony: Kenny Wirth (ODOT) confirmed the TSP is the first to implement new state rules and praised the partnership.
• Final vote: The ordinance adopting the TSP and amending code passed unanimously. (Vote: 5-0; Ordinance 2262)

Council Reports & Legislative Update

• Council President Anderson reported on state legislation: four of six tracked bills appear likely to pass, including changes to public meeting laws and an affordable housing revolving loan program. Two bills, including one related to safe routes to school funding, may not advance. The governor signed a transportation package moving to the May ballot.
• Mayor Beatty noted that $67,750 from council budgets will go toward the Wichita purchase, with a consent item at the next meeting.
• Councilor Stevan Jordan and Mayor Beatty announced using parts of their budgets for a historic homes inventory project in partnership with the Milwaukie Museum.
• The dedication ceremony of the first artworks in Milwaukie Bay Park will occur on March 16, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the consent agenda (5-0).
• Selected Colleen Rockwell as the 2025 Volunteer of the Year.
• Adopted revised public contracting rules (5-0).
• Received the emergency management resilience framework for further development; no formal vote was taken.
• Adopted the updated Transportation System Plan (Ordinance 2262) via a 5-0 vote.
• Allocated $67,750 from council budgets for the Wichita purchase, to be formalized at the next meeting.
• The meeting adjourned following council reports.