West Linn City Council Meeting - July 14, 2025

The West Linn City Council met on Monday, July 14, 2025, with Mayor Rory Bialostosky presiding. The agenda included police commendations, public comment, a surplus property sale public hearing, utility right-of-way code revisions, and a transient lodging tax collection change. The council approved all action items unanimously, with multiple 5-0 votes.

Awards & Commendations

• Police Chief Peter Mahuna recognized School Resource Officer Jabral Johnson, one of 10 officers nationwide to receive the National Association of School Resource Officers' Award of Excellence for Region 9; the region includes Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and Alaska.
• Chief Mahuna also recognized Evidence Technician Nicole Hedley and Detective Sergeant Todd Gradwahl for solving the 1978 homicide of 20-year-old Diana Kuhn. Hedley discovered previously untested physical evidence that was submitted to the Oregon State Police Crime Lab; DNA identified David Lawrence Atkinson as the suspect. Atkinson died in February 1989. The Clackamas County District Attorney's Office stated it believed Atkinson would have been indicted, tried, and convicted of sexual assault and aggravated murder.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Shannen Knight and Beau Genot, representing the Committee for Community Involvement (CCI), explained that their March 6 letter was intended to propose a marketing and outreach plan to grow Neighborhood Association membership, not to reshape Neighborhood Associations. They asked for direction so they could use remaining summer outreach opportunities; the council scheduled CCI's work plan discussion for August 4.
• Kathie Halicki, President of the Willamette Neighborhood Association, expressed concern that expanding Planning Manager decisions and written-only testimony would reduce public input. She said some changes are state-mandated but argued Neighborhood Associations should be consulted. Councilor Bryck, who attended the June 18 Planning Commission meeting, said the city must follow state mandates but should review options and possible lobbying.
• Dean Suhr asked the city to take a public position on IP 31, a 2026 ballot measure on voting before tolling; he also updated the council on the 9/11 event and Oppenlander property/school district bids, mentioning potential funding challenges.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent agenda 5-0, including: June 16 and 23, 2025 meeting minutes; an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Oregon for Willamette Falls Drive, 16th Street to Ostman Road pedestrian/bike upgrades; Resolution 2025-09 extending the Comcast cable television franchise term while the Metropolitan Area Communications Commission completes the renewal process; and a letter of support for a Housing Planning Assistance Grant application.

Business: Surplus Property Sale at 6123 Skyline Drive

• Public Works Director Erich Lais explained that the city purchased 6123 Skyline Drive in 2015 for the Bolton Water Reservoir project, declared it surplus in 2018, listed it on June 6, 2025 for $670,000, and set a June 10, 2025 offer deadline. Three offers were received.
• Realtor Elizabeth Henderson stated the winning offer from The Portlock Company, LLC was $826,350, using a $21,000 escalation clause and no seller-paid commission request.
• Icon Construction representatives Harlan Borow and Darren Gusdorf asked the council to rebid the property with transparent rules or place Icon in a backup position. They recounted Icon's earlier unsuccessful 2018-2019 purchase attempt and said Portlock's offer was only $350 above Icon's.
• Staff and the realtor recommended accepting Portlock's offer, noting the public process had been fair and reopening it would expose all offer strategies.
• Council approved the sale to The Portlock Company, LLC with Icon as backup, 5-0, and authorized the City Manager to execute the transaction documents.

Business: Utility Licenses and Use of Right-of-Way

• Management Analyst Stephanie Hastings presented Ordinance 1759, replacing Chapter 10, with two options. Option 1 was the original version; Option 2 added an exemption from right-of-way usage fees for wireless providers that do not own facilities in the right-of-way. Staff recommended Option 2 as lower risk.
• Staff and special counsel Nancy Werner stated the fees are not taxes, were publicly noticed in March and discussed at an April work session, and are imposed on providers, not residents; providers might choose to pass costs through.
• Public commenters representing Verizon, AT&T, and the Technology Association of Oregon each supported Option 2 and expressed concerns about legal exposure under Option 1.
• The council voted 5-0 to repeal existing Chapter 10 and replace it with Ordinance 1759, Option 2, on first reading; then voted 5-0 to adopt the ordinance on second reading.
• The council also adopted Resolution 2025-07, updating the Master Fees and Charges, 5-0. The fee schedule retains existing gross revenue fee percentages for operators, including communications at 7% and electric and gas at 5%, while adding a $50 annual provider registration, a $250 five-year utility license, small-cell permit fees, and minimum fees for operators with no revenue.

Business: Transient Lodging Tax Collection

• Finance Director Lauren Breithaupt said the change allows the Oregon Department of Revenue to collect transient lodging taxes for the city. The code currently requires monthly collection, but the state collects quarterly, so the ordinance changes the collection period from monthly to quarterly.
• The agenda listed this item as Ordinance 1764, but the motion and minutes refer to Ordinance 1765; the source documents are inconsistent on the ordinance number.
• The council voted 5-0 on first reading and then 5-0 on second reading to adopt the ordinance.

City Manager Report & Next Steps

• Acting City Manager Elissa Preston thanked Parks and Recreation, Public Works, and Police for the Old Time Fair. Music in the Park begins July 24 and runs for five Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.
• The July 21 council meeting was canceled after Council agreed; the next regular meeting is August 4. Staff plan to add an urban renewal discussion with Urban Renewal Specialist Elaine Howard to the August 4 agenda.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the agenda 5-0, moving the police awards ahead of public comment.
• Approved the consent agenda 5-0.
• Approved the 6123 Skyline Drive sale to Portlock with Icon as backup, 5-0.
• Adopted Ordinance 1759, Option 2, and Resolution 2025-07, 5-0, updating utility right-of-way licenses and fees.
• Adopted the transient lodging tax collection ordinance, 5-0, despite the 1764/1765 numbering discrepancy in the record.
• Set CCI work plan discussion and urban renewal discussion for August 4, and canceled the July 21 meeting.