OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

West Linn City Council Work Session - July 7, 2026

City Council & Planning Commission — Tuesday, July 7, 2026
BodyWest Linn, Oregon
SessionCity Council & Planning Commission
DateTuesday, July 7, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:21:14

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Thank you very much for being transcribed and summarized.

0:05

And uh now we can go to approval of the agenda.

0:08

We move in a couple of proclamations and moving the water environmental services presentation to the beginning of the agenda.

0:15

Thank you, Mayor.

0:16

I move to approve the agenda for the July 7th, 2026 Westland City Council work session.

0:22

I would like to note the following changes.

0:25

We will be moving item six up to uh which is the water environmental services state of the district.

0:31

We will be moving that to item three, so it'll go right before our public comment if we have any.

0:39

We are also removing the moving parks and rec proclamation and the farmers market proclamation to next week.

0:48

So staff and others can attend.

0:52

Is there a second?

0:55

Okay, it's been moved and seconded.

0:56

I can't repeat that word for word.

0:58

Every word you said, but I will repeat that uh the It's been moved, seconded to move the water environmental services state of the district to number three on the agenda and items 5A and 5C, the Proxy Ract Month and National Farmers Market Week and Summer Street Market Week proclamation to next week's meeting so that staff can attend.

1:17

Any good any discussion?

1:20

I did it.

1:21

Thank you.

1:22

Uh any discussion from City Council on the agenda.

1:25

Seeing none, we could call the roll, please.

1:27

Councilor Bomington.

1:29

Yes.

1:29

Councilor Bright?

1:30

Yes.

1:30

Council President Baumgartner?

1:32

Yes.

1:32

Council Groener?

1:33

Yes.

1:34

Mayor Bielostowski.

1:35

Yes.

1:36

So thank you.

1:37

The motion passes unanimously.

1:39

And with that, we can move on to the water environmental services state of the district presentation.

1:46

And I see uh director Geist here and also chair of the advisory committee, Westland resident Greg Giloretto.

1:54

So welcome to you both.

1:58

All right.

1:58

Thank you, Mayor Bielostowski and Council.

2:02

It's a pleasure to be here again this year.

2:03

My name is Greg Geist.

2:04

I'm the director of Clackmas Water Environment Services.

2:07

And as in years past, I come here annually and give an annual report, things that we've been up to recently and things that are coming down the road over the next year or in some cases for farther than that.

2:18

And for those of you who may be watching, don't know uh who West is, what we do or why we matter.

2:23

Uh we take what goes down the toilets uh and the businesses and the showers in West Lynn, and we make three things.

2:31

We make clean water out of it, which goes back out to the Lyme River for downstream uses.

2:36

We make electricity that we use to fund to fund to power up to half of our industrial facility there in Oregon City.

2:43

Uh and we make a uh natural fertilizer called Biosolis that goes out to uh eastern Oregon and is applied to agricultural fields.

2:51

So if folks in Westlin wonder what happens when they flush their toilet, it comes to us in Oregon City, we treat it, and we make all kinds of wonderful stuff.

3:00

Uh next slide, please.

3:03

Oh, sorry, next slide, please.

3:05

Uh and I'm gonna toot our own horn just a little bit.

3:08

Uh in 2025, uh West was awarding awarded the outstanding member agency of the year award uh by the Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies.

3:18

And that is uh virtually anybody who's anybody in Oregon uh in the wastewater uh and stormwater uh arena.

3:25

So Portland, Gresham, Clean Water Services, Salem, all across the state.

3:29

Um it's the second time we've won it recently.

3:31

We won it in 2019 as well.

3:34

And I just want to um acknowledge that and the hard work of the the folks at Water Environment Services uh every day.

3:42

Uh we're doing good work for the community and people are noticing, and we appreciate that.

3:48

Uh next slide I want to just want to review quickly our vision and mission.

3:52

Our vision is to be a collaborative partner in building a resilient clean water feature where all people benefit and rivers thrive.

3:59

And the operative or the most important two words in there are collaborative partner.

4:04

Um we work with all of the cities that we serve and the communities that we serve uh and constantly try to find ways to work together uh for the benefit of our customers and the community uh and the environment.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management████████████████████████24%
Public Engagement██████████████████████22%
Affordable Housing██████████████████18%
Public Safety████████████████16%
Parks and Recreation██████6%
Procedural████4%
Transportation Safety████4%
Community Engagement████4%
Disability Rights██2%
Summary of Proceedings

West Linn City Council Work Session - July 7, 2026

The West Linn City Council held a work session on July 7, 2026, starting at 4:00 p.m. The meeting included a presentation from Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES), an update on the Housing Production Strategy, discussion of a proposed Code of Conduct and Civil Exclusion Policy for city property, and reports from council members. The agenda was modified to move the WES presentation earlier and to postpone two proclamations to the next meeting.

Agenda Approval

  • Council approved the agenda with changes: moved Water Environment Services State of the District to item 3 (before public comments) and postponed the Parks and Recreation Month and National Farmers Market Week proclamations to the July 14 meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

Water Environment Services (WES) State of the District

  • Greg Geist, Director of Clackamas Water Environment Services, presented an annual report. WES serves about 200,000 people in Clackamas County, including West Linn, and treats wastewater from the city. In 2025, WES was awarded Outstanding Member Agency of the Year by the Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies. The presentation covered:
    • Rates: A 4.9% rate increase ($1.55/month for the average West Linn homeowner) was implemented, with a goal of steady and predictable adjustments.
    • Infrastructure Projects:
      • Bolton Force Main: After smart pigging condition assessment, slip-lining repairs will begin summer 2026.
      • Willamette Pump Station: A major refurbishment and upsizing project, serving 45% of West Linn's flow. Construction on the new force main starts August 2027, and the pump station in October 2028, with completion expected in about one year each.
    • Public Outreach: WES has engaged with property owners and neighborhood associations, including presentations to Willamette, Bolton, and Sunset Neighborhood Associations. They also sponsor community events like movies in the park.
  • Greg DiLaretto, West Linn resident and chair of the WES Advisory Board, spoke in strong support of WES, emphasizing the importance of proactive infrastructure investment to avoid costly failures, citing examples like Akron, Ohio. He stated, "We are really fortunate to have the West folks here taking care of the wastewater."
  • Council members expressed appreciation for WES's planning and financial stewardship. Councilor Groener asked about energy generation; Geist explained anaerobic digestion produces methane that powers generators.

Public Comments

  • No public comments were received.

Mayor and Council Reports

  • Council President Baumgartner reported on attending meetings on the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project, Willamette Falls Locks Authority, Willamette Falls Trust, and Historic City Hall Partners. She noted the Lamprey Festival had its largest crowd.
  • Councilor Bright attended a police swearing-in for two new officers.
  • Councilor Groener attended the Chamber of Commerce meeting, Lamprey Festival, sustainability meeting, and a dog show.
  • Mayor Bielostowski attended South Fork Water Board and the Local Officials Advisory Committee (LOAC) meeting, discussing housing production strategies.
  • Councilor Bonnington reminded about the Old Time Fair parade needing volunteers.

Proclamations

  • A proclamation for Disability Pride Month was read and will be signed. The proclamations for Parks and Recreation Month and National Farmers Market Week were moved to the July 14 meeting.

West Linn Housing Production Strategy

  • Darren Weiss (Principal Planner) and Erica Smith (Senior Planner) presented an update on implementing the Housing Production Strategy, adopted in May 2025 under House Bill 2003. The strategy includes 12 actions to address the need for low-to-moderate income and multi-unit housing.
  • Two requests for council direction:
    1. Review body for land use amendments: Council agreed to designate the Planning Commission as the reviewing body for zoning code changes related to the strategy, avoiding a longer process through a separate working group.
    2. Project working group for financial incentives: Councilors Bonnington and Bright volunteered to serve on the working group (Bright as alternate, but both were accepted). The group will evaluate options such as updating system development charge (SDC) methodologies, waiving city SDCs for certain housing, and property tax exemptions for affordable rental and owner-occupied homes.
  • Councilor Groener requested statistics on housing production since the strategy's adoption; staff will provide data at a future meeting.

Code of Conduct/Civil Exclusion Policy for City Property

  • City Attorney Kaylee Klein and Community Development Director Steve Coper presented a draft policy to establish expectations for behavior in city buildings (excluding the library). The policy would allow exclusion of individuals engaging in highly disruptive conduct (e.g., threatening language, refusing to leave after business is concluded) for 30, 60, or 90 days, with enforcement by a law enforcement officer. Appeals would be heard by a municipal court judge.
  • Council discussed the balance between safety and free speech. Council President Baumgartner framed it as an accessibility issue for other patrons. Councilor Bright supported delegating authority to the city manager for implementation and revisions.
  • Council directed staff to bring the policy back as a resolution for adoption at the July 14 business meeting, with finalized forms and inclusion of exclusion durations (30/60/90 days).

City Manager Report

  • Deputy City Manager Steve Coper, standing in for City Manager John Williams, announced upcoming events: Old Time Fair (July 10-12), Music in the Park starting July 23, Movies in the Park starting August 4, and a summer photo contest. He also noted a Coffee and Connections meeting with the Chamber on July 14.

Key Outcomes

  • Agenda approved with modifications (moved WES presentation, postponed two proclamations).
  • WES presentation: Received and discussed; council expressed support for ongoing projects.
  • Housing Production Strategy: Council directed that the Planning Commission serve as the reviewing body for land use amendments and appointed Councilors Bonnington and Bright to the financial incentives working group.
  • Code of Conduct Policy: Staff directed to finalize the policy and present a resolution for adoption at the July 14 business meeting.
  • Next meeting: City Council business meeting scheduled for July 14, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you very much for being transcribed and summarized. And uh now we can go to approval of the agenda. We move in a couple of proclamations and moving the water environmental services presentation to the beginning of the agenda. Thank you, Mayor. I move to approve the agenda for the July 7th, 2026 Westland City Council work session. I would like to note the following changes. We will be moving item six up to uh which is the water environmental services state of the district. We will be moving that to item three, so it'll go right before our public comment if we have any. We are also removing the moving parks and rec proclamation and the farmers market proclamation to next week. So staff and others can attend. Is there a second? Okay, it's been moved and seconded. I can't repeat that word for word. Every word you said, but I will repeat that uh the It's been moved, seconded to move the water environmental services state of the district to number three on the agenda and items 5A and 5C, the Proxy Ract Month and National Farmers Market Week and Summer Street Market Week proclamation to next week's meeting so that staff can attend. Any good any discussion? I did it. Thank you. Uh any discussion from City Council on the agenda. Seeing none, we could call the roll, please. Councilor Bomington. Yes. Councilor Bright? Yes. Council President Baumgartner? Yes. Council Groener? Yes. Mayor Bielostowski. Yes. So thank you. The motion passes unanimously. And with that, we can move on to the water environmental services state of the district presentation. And I see uh director Geist here and also chair of the advisory committee, Westland resident Greg Giloretto. So welcome to you both. All right. Thank you, Mayor Bielostowski and Council. It's a pleasure to be here again this year. My name is Greg Geist. I'm the director of Clackmas Water Environment Services. And as in years past, I come here annually and give an annual report, things that we've been up to recently and things that are coming down the road over the next year or in some cases for farther than that. And for those of you who may be watching, don't know uh who West is, what we do or why we matter. Uh we take what goes down the toilets uh and the businesses and the showers in West Lynn, and we make three things. We make clean water out of it, which goes back out to the Lyme River for downstream uses. We make electricity that we use to fund to fund to power up to half of our industrial facility there in Oregon City. Uh and we make a uh natural fertilizer called Biosolis that goes out to uh eastern Oregon and is applied to agricultural fields. So if folks in Westlin wonder what happens when they flush their toilet, it comes to us in Oregon City, we treat it, and we make all kinds of wonderful stuff. Uh next slide, please. Oh, sorry, next slide, please. Uh and I'm gonna toot our own horn just a little bit. Uh in 2025, uh West was awarding awarded the outstanding member agency of the year award uh by the Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies.

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