West Linn City Council Work Session - September 1, 2026

The West Linn City Council held a work session on September 1, 2026, starting at 1:00 p.m. The meeting covered a proclamation for National Preparedness Month, an update from ODOT on the I-205/Abernethy Bridge project with significant community concerns about noise and damage, and a presentation from the Oregon Department of Forestry on the impending Emerald Ash Borer infestation. The council gave direction on next steps for both topics.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved unanimously (Councilor Groener was absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No general public comments were offered for items not on the agenda.
• During the ODOT presentation, multiple residents testified:
  • Rachel Esterline (Grove Street) described four years of 24/7 shaking, light intrusion, dust, and a neighbor's denied damage claim. She demanded independent air monitoring, release of seismic/vibration data from equipment on her property, and an end to the emergency exemption for routine night work. She stated the ODOT hotline had been unhelpful.
  • Josh Thorne (Bolton, directly under the bridge) reported loss of 33 trees, ground destabilization, constant noise (1–3 a.m.), and dust. He expressed frustration that noise monitoring only began two weeks ago after four years of complaints.
  • Jonathan Barter (Grove Street) accused the council of failing to act previously and urged immediate removal of the noise ordinance exemption for ODOT activities, calling the earlier work session vote to delay action "abhorrent."
  • Vicky Handy (longtime resident) criticized ODOT's project management, stating the presentation lacked a risk mitigation plan and that the city council deserves professional project updates.

Discussion Items

Mayor and Council Reports (various updates)

• Councilor Bonnington reported attendance at a South Fork Water Board picnic, a planning commission meeting, and a neighborhood association picnic (approx. 130 attendees).
• Council President Baumgartner hosted a birding event at Fieldsbridge Park and attended a river assets meeting with 18 stakeholders.
• Mayor Bielasowski attended the South Fork Water Board picnic, met with PGE CEO about waterfront issues, attended a DLCD committee meeting, and a Metropolitan Mayor's Consortium meeting. He also noted returning to law school.

National Preparedness Month Proclamation

• Mayor read and signed a proclamation declaring September 2026 as National Preparedness Month. Dylan Digby (Assistant to the City Manager) provided an update on the "Be Two Weeks Ready" program, current wildfires in Clackamas County (Grasshopper Fire: 93,000+ acres, 83% contained; Austin Fire: 11,000 acres, 0% contained), and a Stage 2 water curtailment (irrigation restricted 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. due to low Clackamas River flow). He encouraged signing up for public alerts.

ODOT I-205 Improvements – Abernethy Bridge (1:35 p.m.)

• Presentation by Vidal Francis (Area Manager) and Ian Cannon (Resident Engineer):
  • Project scope: seismic resilience, new ramps/roundabout, future third lane, bike/ped improvements.
  • Status: drilled shafts and bent caps complete; 40% of seismic bearings installed; 70% of new girders installed; bridge sliding (translation) planned for October 2026 (northbound mid-Oct, southbound ~3 weeks later) requiring weekend closures.
  • Timeline update: Original contract completion Oct 2026; contractor now projecting Oct 2027; ODOT's likely completion is Q3 2027.
  • Noise mitigation: changed I-205 southbound ramp closure from 10 p.m.–5 a.m. to 7 p.m.–5 a.m., with loud work to stop by midnight. Noise monitors installed two weeks prior; peak readings 95 dB, average 75–85 dB.
• Council concerns and resident testimony followed (see Public Comments above).
  • Council President Baumgartner criticized ODOT's lack of proactive support for residents, asking why citizens have been "crying in council chambers." She demanded a better process than a reactive hotline.
  • Councilor Bright asked about internal project management standards, noting ODOT should anticipate and mitigate impacts without waiting for complaints.
  • Councilor Bonnington asked whether noise levels (95 dB) were acceptable for residential living, and suggested the burden of proof for damage should shift to ODOT.
• The mayor expressed willingness to schedule a vote to remove ODOT's noise ordinance exemption at the next business meeting (September 8). City Manager Williams confirmed the item could be added and that police would enforce.

Parks and Recreation – Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Update (2:05 p.m.)

• Presentation by Matt Mills and Alison Harrell (Oregon Department of Forestry, Urban & Community Forestry):
  • EAB is an invasive beetle that kills ash trees within 3–5 years; 99% mortality expected in North American ash species.
  • EAB was detected in Clackamas County in 2022; nearest detections to West Linn are ~5 miles away (Tualatin and Redland).
  • West Linn has significant ash trees, particularly in riparian corridors: a walk along the Tualatin River indicated 90% of trees are Oregon ash. Loss would severely impact stream shading, water temperature, erosion control, and fish habitat.
  • Options: treat high-value trees (trunk injection, $1.50–$20 per diameter inch), remove and replace before infestation (most cost-effective for small/poor trees), or do nothing (not advised in urban areas).
  • Recommended immediate steps: stop planting ash, waive permit fees for ash removal, train staff to identify EAB, create a public reporting pathway, and develop a readiness plan. A free inventory tool (Tree Plotter) is available with ODF support.
  • Cost example from Ottawa: proactive management saved 40% of ash trees over 2.5 decades vs. reactive removal costing the same ($12 million) in half the time.
• Council and Parks Board response:
  • Parks Board co-chair Vicky Handy emphasized the urgency and suggested the city is in "go phase." She recommended using neighborhood associations for volunteer tree inventory and leveraging ODF resources.
  • Council expressed full support for two immediate actions: (1) develop a public communication plan about EAB preparedness, and (2) begin a citywide ash tree inventory. Councilor Bright noted ash trees self-seed prolifically, confirming the scale of the problem.
  • City Manager Williams noted the upcoming budget cycle is well positioned to address potential financial impacts.

Key Outcomes

• Noise Ordinance Exemption: Council directed the City Manager to add a vote on removal of ODOT's noise ordinance exemption to the September 8 business meeting agenda. The city will also coordinate enforcement with police.
• EAB Preparation: Council approved moving forward with a communication plan and initiating an ash tree inventory, with support from ODF and Parks Board volunteers. The inventory will inform long-term management and budget decisions.
• Next Steps: The next regular business meeting is set for September 8, 2026. The city will also engage ODOT to improve proactive outreach to affected residents, including a written response to community concerns raised during the meeting.