City Council Adopts Agreement to Provide New Recycling Services, Updates City Building Codes
December 19, 2019 — During the December 16, 2019, Wilsonville City Council meeting, the Council approved an agreement with Republic Services to introduce several new services, including residential food-scraps collection for customers with yard debris bins. The agreement also reduces the temporary recycling surcharge by 50 percent for residential and commercial customers.
New services are being provided at no charge to Republic Services customers following a recent rate review that determined that the City’s solid-waste franchise hauler’s operating margin exceeded the target rate of 10%. Other new services to be implemented in 2020 include: foam polystyrene collection (for rigid #6 packing foam only), commercial food-scraps composting as part of metro-wide mandate, a limited-duration free bulky waste pickup for seniors/ADA customers, and a “mail-back” program that allows commercial/industrial customers to recycle batteries and fluorescent light tubes at no charge.
On second reading, the Council adopted an ordinance that updates the City Building Code to provide local regulatory guidance for the administration of state building codes, among other changes. The revision, made necessary after recent state legislation, ensures that consistent, accepted safety standards remain in place for all City structures. Two related resolutions adopt the latest statewide specialty codes for building, residential, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, energy and fire codes and re-adopt the building permit fee schedule with no fee changes.
The Council also authorized the sole-source selection of the National Research Center to once again conduct the National Citizen Survey in 2020 and 2022. The biennial survey gauges resident satisfaction on a broad range of topics, allowing City Council and staff to track year-to-year progress and identify areas of resident concern. The next survey is scheduled to be administered this spring.
Additionally, the Council authorized a contract with JayRay Ads & PR, Inc., for the City’s ‘Explore Wilsonville’ tourism-promotion and destination-marketing program, authorized the settlement and dismissal of a Land Use Board of Appeals case and awarded a contract to Green Sweep Asphalt Services, LLC for street sweeping services.
During Mayor’s Business, the Council voted to renew the contract of City Attorney Barbara Jacobson for two years, lauding her legal guidance, expertise and litigation success on behalf of the City.
During Communications, Lt. Michael Copenhaver of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office provide an update on the Family Justice Center, a unit that provides a safe space and services to victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking and other forms of abuse. Those in need of these services or seeking to learn more about the Family Justice Center can visit asafespacefjc.org or call 503-655-8600 to learn more.
Natural Resources staff provided an update on the success of an innovative City partnership with Portland State University to design and monitor the effects of roadway design to provide safe passage for wildlife inhabiting the Coffee Creek Lake natural area near Boeckman Rd. and Kinsman Rd. The roadway design allows wildlife to migrate, and has nearly eliminated automobile collisions with wildlife.
During the work session prior to the meeting, City staff shared three water rate structures for the Council to consider before new rates are adopted early next year, and offered a progress report on the development of bylaws to guide the future Sister City Advisory Board.
Staff also provided an update on the work of the Willamette Falls Locks Commission, and sought the Council’s approval to continue providing financial support and other assistance to aid the commission’s efforts to re-open the locks.
Community members can watch a replay of all or a portion of the City Council meeting on Comcast/Xfinity Ch. 30, Frontier Ch. 32 or on the City’s YouTube channel: ci.wilsonville.or.us/WilsonvilleTV.
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