West Linn City Council Work Session - December 2, 2025

The West Linn City Council held a work session on December 2, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. The meeting covered a proclamation for Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and Impaired Driving Prevention Month, a financial plan for the new Operations Center, and a presentation on severely rent-burdened housing. Council members also provided reports and discussed scheduling future topics.

Proclamations

• Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: Council President Baumgartner read the proclamation, noting the attack on December 7, 1941, and honoring those who served. She shared a personal connection: her husband's aunt, Alice Baumgartner, was killed at Pearl Harbor.
• Impaired Driving Prevention Month: A proclamation declaring December 2025 as Impaired Driving Prevention Month, urging responsible decisions and recognizing law enforcement, was read and adopted.

Operations Center Financial Plan

• Summary: City staff presented the final funding mix for the $40–45 million Operations Center project. The council previously approved a full faith and credit obligation (FFCO) on November 18, 2025. The key question was how to allocate the annual debt service—approximately $560,000 from the general fund and nearly $1 million from the streets fund.
• Options discussed:
  • Using existing revenues, but the general fund faces future deficits.
  • A bond measure, but timing would miss the dry weather construction season unless pursued in May or November 2026.
  • Utility fee increases: A $5/month fee (about $60/year) on utility bills could cover the general fund's share, and a separate increase could bring the parks maintenance fee to cover 100% of costs (currently falling $500,000/year short). Councilor Growner noted his typical $41.93/month for parks and street fees would rise to $47.10—a reasonable amount for a 70-year-old facility replacement.
• Council positions:
  • Councilor Bright advocated for first raising the parks maintenance fee to its intended level (effective January 1) and then addressing the operations center share, suggesting phasing both increases together for clarity.
  • Councilor Bonington emphasized the need for community education about the project and the relatively modest increase compared to other cities (e.g., Wilsonville's 28% annual sewer increases).
  • Council President Baumgartner supported incremental increases to avoid large shocks.
  • Councilor Groner expressed support for the fee increases, calling the current facility an "urban slum."
• Next steps: Staff will bring a resolution in January 2026 for a vote on the fee increases, with community outreach beforehand (e.g., newsletter, project webpage, photo gallery of the existing facility). The FFCO vote is scheduled for December 9, 2025.

Severely Rent Burdened Housing

• Presentation: Community Development Director Steve Coper presented data from Oregon Housing and Community Services: 34% of renter households in West Linn are severely rent-burdened (paying over 50% of income on rent), and nearly 75% are cost-burdened (over 30%). This is an increase from 31% in 2022.
• Causes: Limited rental stock, high construction costs, and limited buildable land. The Housing Production Strategy (May 2025) identifies a need for 1,055 housing units over 20 years, with over 300 units needed for low- and extremely-low-income households.
• Barriers: High infrastructure costs, lack of zoned land, and limited funding for regulated affordable housing. Tax exemptions and subsidies are essential for affordable projects.
• Council discussion:
  • Councilor Bonington suggested exploring a rental registration fee (similar to Portland's) to generate revenue for affordable housing.
  • Councilor Growner asked about engaging Habitat for Humanity; Coper noted land availability and subsidies are key.
  • Council President Baumgartner asked how a new market-rate complex (e.g., on Tanler) would affect the burden; Coper said any new supply helps, but the theory is debated.
• Action: Council will schedule a future work session in 2026 to prioritize which Housing Production Strategy actions to pursue, using grant funds ($125,000 awarded out of $200,000 requested).

City Manager Report

• Upcoming meetings: December 9, 2025 evening meeting with FFCO vote, annexation, and Metro town center item. The December 16 work session may be canceled.
• Other items:
  • Tree lighting event on Friday, December 5 at 6:00 p.m.
  • Winter weather policy update (sand, hill closures, warming centers) with public communication.
  • Metro update: possible regional measures on housing/homelessness, transportation, and sports facilities.
  • Library events: Vintage book sale Dec. 5-6; speed puzzling competition Dec. 13.
  • Dance/social at Adult Community Center for individuals with disabilities.

Key Outcomes

• Operations Center Funding: Council directed staff to prepare a resolution for January 2026 to increase the parks maintenance fee (to cover 100% of costs) and potentially the street maintenance fee to fund the operations center debt service. Community outreach will precede the vote. The FFCO authorization vote is set for December 9, 2025.
• Housing Directions: Council will schedule a future work session to prioritize Housing Production Strategy actions using the state grant.
• Scheduling: Council President Baumgartner requested a future discussion on flock cameras/surveillance; Councilor Bonington requested a discussion on the city's dispensary prohibition. Both will be scheduled by the city manager.