City Council Approves Road Improvement Program, Extends Community Enhancement Program

May 18, 2021 — At its May 17, 2021, meeting, the Wilsonville City Council adopted a resolution allowing the City Manager to initiate a $2.3 million contract with Eagle-Elsner, Inc., to fund the City’s annual Street Maintenance Program.

This year’s program is rehabilitating or reconstructing the driving surface on about 1.4 miles of City roadways, including Town Center Loop E., Town Center Loop W. and Park Pl. The capital improvement project also replaces or reconstructs pedestrian curb ramps, pedestrian signals, and vehicular signal detection throughout the project area and extends bike facilities with a new buffered bike lane on Town Center Loop W. between Parkway Ave. and Park Pl.

Also, the City and Metro extended an intergovernmental agreement to continue the Wilsonville-Metro Community Enhancement Program through June 2026. The program offsets the impacts of the City’s local waste transfer site (operated by Republic Services) by providing the City $1 for every ton of waste processed at the site. Since the program’s inception in 2015, more than $430,000 in Community Enhancement funding has been allocated in support of community projects that rehabilitate and beautify Wilsonville.

Additionally, the Council adopted the City’s five-year tourism promotion business plan and a Tourism Promotion and Destination Marketing Services Plan for the upcoming fiscal year. The “Explore Wilsonville” tourism campaign is designed to attract visitors to local hotels, restaurant and attractions.

The Council authorized the City Manager to Execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Willamette Falls And Landings Heritage Area Coalition (WFLHAC) that accepts the City’s membership, effective July. The City’s participation benefits tourism promotion and cultural affairs programs, and support’s the City’s interest in preserving the area’s historic buildings, museums and heritage sites. Councilor Charlotte Lehan is to serve as City’s representative on the WFLHAC board.  

During Mayor’s Business, the Council confirmed the appointments of 13 community members recommended by Mayor Julie Fitzgerald to compose the City’s first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee.

The Mayor read a proclamation recognizing June as Pride Month in support of community members who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Queer, Asexual, and Allied (LGBTQIA+). The proclamation vows that the city will “stand up to hurtful speech and reinforce our efforts to attract a workforce that is representative of our community so that Wilsonville becomes a more vibrant, diverse, and livable community.”

During Communications, the City Council recognized Public Works Director Delora Kerber, recently named among 10 national “Leaders of the Year” by the American Public Works Association. The Mayor read a proclamation recognizing Public Works Week, celebrating the unsung heroes of City government who dig the trenches, flush the water system, shovel the snow, fill the potholes and otherwise support the development and maintenance of the City’s infrastructure to enhance our quality of life.

The Council amended Resolution No. 2882, which further extends the Local State Of Emergency to provide the City greater flexibility to support safety measures to mitigate the threat of the novel coronavirus. 

During City Manager’s Business, the Council voted to cancel the scheduled July 8 meeting.

At the work session held prior to the meeting, City staff shared details of a one-time opportunity being provided by the Wilsonville-Metro Community Enhancement Committee to apply for funding to complete projects that aid individuals and organizations, including HOAs, in recovering from February’s ice storm. The committee is accepting project nominations until June 25.

A special City Council meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, May 26, at 6:30 pm, to consider a Development Review Board recommendation to approve Comprehensive Plan and Zone Map amendments to accommodate a new Canyon Creek subdivision.  

The next regular meeting is to be held on June 7, at 7 pm; a pre-meeting work session is scheduled at 5 pm.

Community members can watch all City Council meetings on cable (Xfinity Ch. 30, Ziply Ch. 32) or on the City’s YouTube channel: ci.wilsonville.or.us/WilsonvilleTV.

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