West Linn City Council Work Session - October 21, 2024

The City Council held a work session on October 21, 2024, addressing 2025 legislative priorities and proposed amendments related to Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC). The meeting included council reports, a presentation by the city's contract lobbyist, and a detailed briefing from the Planning Manager on parking reform, EV infrastructure, and tree canopy requirements. No public comments were received, and no votes were taken.

Mayor and Council Reports

• Councillor Groener urged residents to vote in the upcoming election.
• Councillor Bright reported on the October 16 Planning Commission public hearing regarding code amendments for home occupations, appeals, and expedited land use, as well as an update on middle housing. She also attended a Vision 43 event at the West Linn–Lake Oswego football game.
• Council President Baumgartner attended the League of Oregon Cities 99th annual conference in Bend and offered to present a detailed report at a future meeting. He also attended the Willamette Falls Trust board meeting, noting progress on property near the falls.
• Councillor Bonnington reported that the Oregon Parks Department State Committee on Historic Preservation unanimously recommended the McLean House for the National Register of Historic Places.
• Councillor Groener participated in a Sustainability Advisory Board meeting via Zoom, where consultant Grace Thurkill from Parametrics discussed greenhouse gases, resiliency, and adaptation. The board expressed interest in a public scoreboard for ecological goals.
• Mayor reported on a tour of the city's wastewater treatment facility and a meeting with Sunset neighborhood residents about safe school crossings, promising a broader traffic safety discussion.

Discussion Items

2025 Legislative Priorities Discussion

• City contract lobbyist Doug Riggs joined virtually to outline anticipated legislative themes for the 2025 long session (January–June). He identified four main topics: transportation (including a $1.8 billion ODOT funding gap), K–12 education funding, behavioral health (responding to Measure 110), and infrastructure.
• Council discussed tolling. Riggs noted that tolling for I-205 and I-5 (other than the I-5 bridge) appears unlikely due to inefficiency—65–70 cents of every dollar spent on collection and administration. He advised continued vigilance.
• Councillor questioned how the legislature might address the transportation funding gap; Riggs mentioned a list of 11–12 potential sources (e.g., EV registration fees, charging station fees, diesel fuel taxes).
• Regarding housing, Riggs noted the legislature has allocated about $1.4 billion for housing but much remains unspent; a task force is exploring streamlining regulations.
• Councillor Bright expressed concern about one-size-fits-all mandates given West Linn’s topography and limited infill potential. Riggs agreed that a menu of options would be preferable.
• Councillor Groener advocated for orphan highway funding, specifically for Highway 43, as part of the transportation package. He argued that jurisdictional transfer would allow more efficient project delivery. Council President Baumgartner echoed the need, noting the corridor serves regional traffic. City Manager Williams cautioned that any transfer would require substantial rebuild, not just a band-aid. Riggs shared a case study from Prineville where ODOT’s contracting complexity delayed a project and reduced scope.
• Council discussed the I-205 third lane. Councillor Bonnington and Councillor Bright expressed concerns about induced demand, blasting, and wildlife crossings. Council consensus placed Highway 43 as the top priority over I-205 expansion.

Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) Amendments Discussion

• Planning Manager Darren Weiss presented the background and status of CFEC code amendments, required by state rules adopted July 2022. The rules require cities to: reform parking mandates, prepare for electric vehicles, plan for future transportation options, and adopt Metro 2040 town center boundaries.
• The city had to choose between eliminating all parking mandates or adopting a more complex option (paid on-street parking districts, parking lot tax, etc.). The Planning Commission, after work sessions and a public hearing, unanimously recommended eliminating all parking mandates. Reasons included: 90% of commercial properties would remain unaffected under either path; lack of support for paid parking in Bolton and Willamette town centers; feedback from four major commercial property owners/developers who all supported removal, stating they would continue providing parking due to tenant demand and financing requirements; and the possibility that future increased bus frequency on new TriMet routes (Rosemont, Line 76) could automatically extend no-mandate zones, rendering a more complex plan obsolete.
• Council concurred with this direction at a July 15 meeting.
• The draft ordinance (No. 1754) removes parking mandates across all land uses, adds EV service capacity definitions, updates design standards (40% tree canopy for large lots, soil vaults, pedestrian walkways), and clarifies that variances cannot override state administrative rules.
• Staff will also update a reference from Portland’s stormwater manual to West Linn’s own Public Works Design Standards.
• Council asked explanatory questions. Councillor Bonnington suggested a comparison of total parking spaces vs. registered cars to reassure the public. Councillor Groener noted he has never had trouble parking in West Linn. The Mayor noted that the high school area is a known challenge.
• The public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for November 12, 2024.

Key Outcomes

• Legislative Priorities: Council established Highway 43 as the top transportation priority, with a focus on seeking state funding for a substantial rebuild and potential jurisdictional transfer. The city will pursue coalition building with other affected cities. The I-205 third lane remains a lower priority. Council directed the lobbyist to advance these positions.
• CFEC Amendments: Council received the briefing and expressed general support for the Planning Commission’s recommended ordinance eliminating parking mandates. The ordinance will proceed to a public hearing on November 12, 2024. No vote was taken at this work session.
• Upcoming Meetings: The next work session is November 4, 2024 (1 p.m.), covering code process amendments, waterfront, and pedestrian safety. The November business meeting is November 12 (Tuesday, due to Veterans Day).

City Manager Report

• City Manager Williams noted upcoming events: Touch a Truck, Coffee with the Cop, Kindergarten Carnival, library Comic Con (October 23), holiday bazaar (November 16–17), and a series of short videos answering community questions (first: community recreation center update).