OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

West Linn City Council Work Session - March 3, 2025

City Council & Planning Commission — Monday, March 3, 2025
BodyWest Linn, Oregon
SessionCity Council & Planning Commission
DateMonday, March 3, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:21:04

Transcript — Verbatim
0:57

So with that, we will call to order this work session of the Westland City Council.

1:04

It is Monday, March 3rd, 2025.

1:07

Councilor Groner is joining us virtually.

1:10

Thank you.

1:10

And uh Councillor Breich is excused for her vacation.

1:15

So she'll be back.

1:18

With that, we'll take a motion to approve the agenda if everybody's cool with the agenda.

1:24

I move to approve the agenda for the March 3rd, 2025 council meeting.

1:31

Well, work session looks like.

1:33

Did Lou did you have a question?

1:36

No, I'm just seconding.

1:37

Oh thank you.

1:40

Lou okay, Councilor Groner seconded the motion.

1:44

Uh so the motion is to approve the agenda.

1:47

Any discussion.

1:50

Seeing no discussion.

1:51

Uh call the roll, please.

1:56

Councilor Bonnington.

1:58

Yes.

1:59

Council President Baumgartner?

2:01

Yes.

2:01

Councilor Gruner.

2:03

Yes.

2:03

Mayor Bielostowski.

2:05

Yes.

2:06

So the agenda is approved.

2:08

And we'll go to public comments.

2:11

Any comments today?

2:13

There are none.

2:15

No public comments today.

2:16

Okay.

2:18

Well, then moving right along to Mayor and Council reports.

2:24

Uh I wanted to open the floor up to the council for reports from community advisory groups or city business, etc.

2:33

Then all the council president, go ahead.

2:36

Thank you, Mayor.

2:37

I have a report from the Willamette Falls Locks Authority meeting last week.

2:44

Um and the locks authority is moving forward toward um requesting the remaining financial support that is needed to reopen the locks um at the state level.

3:00

And next week I will be accompanying Reed Wagner, the executive director of the LOCKS Authority, um, as he does some meetings for the um National Waterways Association conference in Washington DC, as I will be there with several council members for the National League of Cities Conference.

3:24

And that is all I have.

3:28

Thank you.

3:29

Uh Councilor Bonington, anything to report?

3:32

No, I've got nothing.

3:33

Uh Councilor Groner.

3:36

Uh yes, I too will be going to Washington next week.

3:40

Uh for the League of Cities, maybe couldn't couldn't hear you very well.

3:46

He said he'll be going to DC for the conference.

3:49

Uh, and I will be there as well, looking forward to it.

3:53

Uh my reports, let's see.

3:55

I attended we several of us attended a tour of historic city hall, uh, and that was awesome to see it's coming to almost almost to the end of the project and looks so good in there.

4:05

So we're looking forward to uh coalitions moving in and uh the city being able to use it, use some of the meeting space.

4:14

Uh and then the other thing, I attended last week call of the Metropolitan Mayor's Consortium with all several of the mayors from around the region, uh including the mayor of Portland.

4:28

And there was a discussion about housing and homelessness and the Metro supportive housing services uh status that we've talked about here with Councillor Christine Lewis and uh lots of conversations going on about that issue regionally and uh also the legislative session.

4:46

We've received an update from the Metropolitan Mayor's Consortium's lobbyist and approved uh legislative agenda.

4:54

So there's kind of several groups.

5:00

You got League of Oregon Cities, and then you've got the Metropolitan Mayor's Consortium, which is a group that of all the mayors, and they have the we have our own uh group that advocates.

5:05

So anyway, that's there's my update.

5:10

Uh anything else?

5:12

Mayor, I uh uh council growner, you've got your hand up.

5:17

Go ahead.

5:19

Uh yes, uh I attended the uh science fair at the Riverside High School uh last week.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████████████████25%
Historic Preservation████████████████16%
Procedural██████████████14%
Public Engagement████████████12%
Transportation Safety███████████11%
Youth Programs████4%
Public Health████4%
Public Use Zoning████4%
Environmental Protection███3%
Summary of Proceedings

West Linn City Council Work Session - March 3, 2025

The West Linn City Council held a work session on Monday, March 3, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 2:45 PM. The meeting covered several topics including proclamations, a stormwater management manual, a proposal to preserve the Lady B tugboat, and an update on state housing legislation. No formal votes were taken aside from approving the agenda.

Consent Calendar

  • The council unanimously approved the agenda for the March 3, 2025 work session (motion by Councilor Bonnington, second by Councilor Groner).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were received.

Discussion Items

  • Mayor and Council Reports: Council President Baumgartner reported on the Willamette Falls Locks Authority meeting, noting progress toward requesting state financial support to reopen the locks. Mayor Bielostowski provided an update on the ODOT Jurisdictional Transfer Advisory Committee, explaining the process for cities to transfer state highway ownership (e.g., Highway 43) with state funding for repairs. He highlighted the City of Tigard's successful application for a $50 million transfer of Highway 141, requiring a 20% local match (which Tigard met with maintenance credits). The mayor suggested West Linn could explore a similar transfer for Highway 43. Councilor Groner reported attending the Riverside High School science fair as a physics judge and a tour of the historic city hall renovation.
  • Proclamations: Council President Baumgartner read a proclamation declaring March 2025 Women's History Month. Mayor Bielostowski read a proclamation declaring March 17–23, 2025 as National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week.
  • Stormwater Management Manual: City Engineer Clark Eid and Jameson Lumpkin presented a proposed new Stormwater Management Manual to replace the current reference to Portland's manual. The manual aims to address gaps identified in a consultant's analysis, streamline submittal requirements, tailor rules to West Linn's terrain and infrastructure, and meet DEQ permit requirements. The city attorney noted the accompanying ordinance would adopt the manual and delegate authority to the city engineer. The council reached consensus to: (1) move forward with adoption of the ordinance at the March 17 special meeting, (2) post the manual for public comment, and (3) adopt the manual via resolution at the April 14 business meeting.
  • Lady B Tugboat Discussion: Jim Edwards, representing the Advocates for Willamette Falls Heritage, presented a proposal for the city to accept ownership and display the historic 77-year-old Lady B tugboat at Willamette Park. He explained that the owner (Wilsonville Concrete) has agreed to store the boat until April 2026, allowing time for site preparation. Edwards presented a budget of $200,000 to construct a display facility and cover maintenance for 20 years, including two paint jobs. The advocates have raised $25,000 from two grants, contingent on city ownership. Council members expressed general support and interest in a partnership, but raised concerns about site location (parks board opposition to Willamette Park) and long-term maintenance costs. The council directed staff to work with the advocates and prepare a revised analysis and potential letter of understanding, with a follow-up discussion expected at the March 17 or April 14 meeting.
  • City Manager Report: City Manager John Williams reported on upcoming meetings (March 17 special meeting with items on right-of-way vacation, finance policies, city operations facility), budget timelines (first meetings in late May), and legislative updates. He highlighted Senate Bill 49 and House Bill 2138, which propose to standardize zoning codes statewide and streamline housing processes. Council members expressed a preference to retain local control while supporting housing production. The mayor requested staff prepare testimony letters reflecting the council's nuanced position.

Key Outcomes

  • Stormwater ordinance to be adopted on March 17; manual to be adopted on April 14 after public comment.
  • Council directed staff to work toward a partnership with Advocates for Willamette Falls Heritage on the Lady B tugboat, with further analysis and legal agreement to be prepared.
  • Council confirmed its position to oppose preemptive state housing mandates while supporting local housing efforts; staff to draft testimony.
  • Mayor noted the application deadline for jurisdictional transfer of Highway 43 is November 2025, and asked staff to explore feasibility in coordination with Vision 43 planning.

Meeting Transcript

So with that, we will call to order this work session of the Westland City Council. It is Monday, March 3rd, 2025. Councilor Groner is joining us virtually. Thank you. And uh Councillor Breich is excused for her vacation. So she'll be back. With that, we'll take a motion to approve the agenda if everybody's cool with the agenda. I move to approve the agenda for the March 3rd, 2025 council meeting. Well, work session looks like. Did Lou did you have a question? No, I'm just seconding. Oh thank you. Lou okay, Councilor Groner seconded the motion. Uh so the motion is to approve the agenda. Any discussion. Seeing no discussion. Uh call the roll, please. Councilor Bonnington. Yes. Council President Baumgartner? Yes. Councilor Gruner. Yes. Mayor Bielostowski. Yes. So the agenda is approved. And we'll go to public comments. Any comments today? There are none. No public comments today. Okay. Well, then moving right along to Mayor and Council reports. Uh I wanted to open the floor up to the council for reports from community advisory groups or city business, etc. Then all the council president, go ahead. Thank you, Mayor. I have a report from the Willamette Falls Locks Authority meeting last week. Um and the locks authority is moving forward toward um requesting the remaining financial support that is needed to reopen the locks um at the state level. And next week I will be accompanying Reed Wagner, the executive director of the LOCKS Authority, um, as he does some meetings for the um National Waterways Association conference in Washington DC, as I will be there with several council members for the National League of Cities Conference. And that is all I have. Thank you. Uh Councilor Bonington, anything to report? No, I've got nothing. Uh Councilor Groner. Uh yes, I too will be going to Washington next week. Uh for the League of Cities, maybe couldn't couldn't hear you very well. He said he'll be going to DC for the conference. Uh, and I will be there as well, looking forward to it. Uh my reports, let's see. I attended we several of us attended a tour of historic city hall, uh, and that was awesome to see it's coming to almost almost to the end of the project and looks so good in there. So we're looking forward to uh coalitions moving in and uh the city being able to use it, use some of the meeting space.

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