West Linn City Council Work Session - May 19, 2026
West Linn City Council Work Session - May 19, 2026
This work session of the West Linn City Council was held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, beginning at 6:00 PM. The council approved a modified agenda, moving items related to gun violence awareness, fire district update, and Robinwood Station to earlier in the evening, and removing Ordinance 1770 regarding SDC installment payments from the agenda. The meeting included a proclamation, two presentations, council reports, and a city manager update.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public signed up to speak on non-agenda items.
National Gun Violence Awareness Day Proclamation
- Council President Baumgardner read the proclamation, noting that over 130 Americans are killed by gun violence daily and that Oregon had 663 gun-related deaths in 2024. The proclamation declared June 5, 2026, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day and encouraged citizens to wear orange.
- A representative from Moms Demand Action shared personal experiences with gun violence, expressing full support for the proclamation and ongoing prevention efforts. The council unanimously approved the proclamation.
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVFR) State of the District
- Division Chief Brian Smith presented an overview of TVFR operations in West Linn. In 2025, the district responded to 1,889 calls in West Linn, with 73% (1,376) being medical calls; 412 of those were critical. Fire calls totaled 31. Call volume has been consistent over the past five years.
- TVFR is preparing for the 2026 wildfire season through block training and a wildland response team. They are also managing rising EMS call volumes via programs such as the Advanced Practice Community Paramedic (APCP), care facility outreach, and nurse navigation (NERS).
- Capital projects funded by the 2021 bond are underway, including replacement of King City Fire Station and a station in Newburgh. These projects include seismic upgrades, improved security, and equity enhancements.
- TVFR’s “Struggle Well” program—a firefighter health and wellness initiative—has trained approximately 60% of personnel. A request for $500,000 in state funding to expand training to all first responders was not funded in the last session but may be revisited.
- Council members expressed appreciation for TVFR’s service and asked about care facility staffing and the district’s budget. TVFR reported a stable budget with no cuts.
Friends of Robinwood Station Update
- Randall Fastiban and Emily Harris, volunteers with Friends of Robinwood Station, reported on the facility’s usage. In 2025, bookings increased 42% over 2024, averaging 7.2 hours per day. Usage by category: education (33%), business incubator (22%), private parties (19%), community events (17%), youth events (8%), and city use (1%).
- The group described an urgent need to replace the existing ADA lift, which is oversized, frequently fails, and creates safety and dignity issues. Two recent incidents were cited: a child trapped in the lift and a guest with a broken leg who had to crawl up stairs. The proposed replacement lift costs $29,600.
- Friends of Robinwood Station proposed a mutual benefit: if the city funds the lift replacement, the group will purchase and install a standby generator and renovate the old utility building on the property to serve as an emergency shelter/hub. The total value of their commitment was estimated at $60,000.
- Council members expressed strong interest but noted budget constraints. The mayor mentioned previous disagreements over similar funding amounts. Councilor Bryck suggested the existing lift might be surplused for a few thousand dollars. Council agreed to explore the proposal further, with city staff to evaluate options and coordinate with involved parties.
- Tom Lowne of the West Linn Lions Club also spoke, requesting use of approximately 20x24 feet of the utility building for storage (they are losing their current space). Lions Club indicated willingness to partner financially and coordinate with Friends of Robinwood Station.
Mayor and Council Reports
- Community Advisory Group Reports: Councilors shared updates on attending South Fork Water Board meetings, the Wednesday market, Sergeant Johnson’s swearing-in, Water Environment Services budget preview, pond district tour with Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Willamette Falls and Landings Heritage Area Coalition meeting, PGE visit to Moore’s Island, Parks Board meeting on facility condition assessment.
- Renaming Idea for Willamette Park: Council President Baumgardner proposed considering a renaming to “Towallamet Park” (combination of Tualatin and Willamette) to avoid confusion with Willamette Park in Portland and to recognize the confluence. Council discussed the process: the city has a naming policy that requires parks board review, public involvement, and council action; renaming carries a greater burden. Council agreed to send the idea to the Parks Board for a recommendation.
- Public Use Zoning: Councilor Bryck introduced the concept of creating a public use zone for city-owned properties (parks, city hall, library, fire stations, schools) to allow civic uses outright rather than conditional. Community Development Director Steve Koper provided examples from other jurisdictions. Council expressed interest in a formal work session to explore pros, cons, and public process implications. Consensus to schedule a future discussion.
- Designation of City-Owned Property on Cedar Oak Drive: Councilor Bryck noted the property along Trillium Creek is currently zoned R10 and has been restored by volunteers; she proposed designating it as open space to prevent future sale without voter approval. Council agreed to place a work session on a future agenda to discuss the designation and its implications.
City Manager Report
- City Manager John Williams provided several updates: Parks and Recreation is operating with an interim director; the next council meeting is June 2, with items including community advisory group quorum discussion and Bancroft financing. The State of the City event is scheduled for June 4, featuring a waterfront panel and public engagement on “Framing Our Future.” Upcoming agenda items include annual fees and charges, community grant awards, and a planning department docket.
- Water conservation messaging will be emphasized due to low snowpack; an e-bike/e-scooter safety education campaign will launch at the end of the school year. The city is also reviewing best practices for updating code of conduct on city property to ensure safety for staff and the public.
Key Outcomes
- The agenda was approved as amended (unanimous).
- National Gun Violence Awareness Day Proclamation adopted.
- Council directed staff to explore funding and logistics for the Robinwood Station lift replacement in coordination with Friends of Robinwood Station and Lions Club.
- Council agreed to forward the Willamette Park renaming idea to the Parks Board for public process.
- Council requested a work session on public use zoning and on the Cedar Oak Drive property designation.
- Next regular council meeting scheduled for June 2, 2026; State of the City on June 4.
Meeting Transcript
This work session of the Westland City Council. It's Tuesday, May 19th, 2026, and the first item is approval of the agenda, and we're going to move a few things around. We're going to move the uh National Gun Violence Day proclamation up on the agenda along with the Towalton Valley Fire and Rescue State of the District and Friends of Robinwood Station update, just so that uh everybody can go earlier in their the agenda before mayor and council reports. So, council president. Thank you, Mayor. I move to approve the agenda for the May 19th, 2026 Westland City Council work session. Uh moving items five, six, and seven to follow public comment. Second. And removing items. And oh I'm sorry. Removing item eight. And removing item eight. So any discussion. Seeing none, uh, you can call the roll, please, Teresa. Thank you. Councilor Bomington. Yes. Councilor Bright? Yes. Council President Baumgartner. Yes. Council Groner. Yes. Mayor B. Lostowski. Yes. So the motion passes. Unanimously. Thank you, everybody. And we can move to public comments now. Do we have anybody signed up to speak? There are no public comments. Not at this time for items not on the agenda. And then with that, we can move to the National Gun Violence Awareness Day proclamation. Council President Baumgartner was first to request that, so she can read that and then we'll uh take a statement if you'd like from the folks from Moms Demand Action. We can take a picture as well, uh just for you for social media purposes for you all. Go ahead. Thank you, Mayor. And I also wanted to recognize um the sad gravity of a recent um shooting that occurred um just yesterday, I believe, in California. So with that, um whereas every day more than 130 Americans are killed by gun violence, and more than 200 are shot and wounded with approximately 44,000 gun-related deaths annually, and whereas Oregon has 663 gun-related deaths in 2024 and ranked 25th in the nation for gun death rates, and whereas communities across the nation, including West Lynn, are working to end gun violence through evidence-based prevention, intervention, and public safety efforts, and whereas protecting the public safety in the communities they serve is the highest priority of mayors and support for the second amendment rights of law-abiding citizens is consistent with efforts to keep firearms out of the hands of individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others. And whereas local leaders, law enforcement, gun violent prevention advocates violence prevention advocates and community organizations play a key role in addressing gun violence and supporting safer communities, and whereas gun violence continues to impact communities nationwide, including an increase in firearm homicides, non-fatal shootings, and domestic violence involving firearms. And whereas in January of 2020 2013, Hadia Pendleton was tragically shot and killed at age 15, and June 5th, 2026 will be recognized as National Gun Violence Awareness Day when people across the country wear orange in her honor and in remembrance of all victims and survivors of gun violence. And whereas the Wear Orange movement was inspired by a group of Hadias friends who drew on the practice of hunters wearing orange in the field and chose the color as a symbol of visibility and the value of human life, and whereas by wearing orange on June 5th, 2026, Americans will raise awareness about gun violence and honor the lives of gun violence victims and survivors. And now therefore, be it proclaimed by the City Council of the City of West Lynn that the first Friday in June, June 5th, 2026, is National Gun Violence Awareness Day. We encourage all citizens to support their local communities' efforts to prevent the tragic effects of gun violence and to honor and value human lives. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Council President, for that reading that. Agree with your statement. Would you any either of you like to make a brief comment?
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