City Council Report for Dec. 19, 2016
On Dec. 19, 2016, the Wilsonville City Council held a public hearing and selected 5th Street as the preferred final alignment for the proposed Boones Ferry Road to Brown Road Corridor, formerly known as “The Old Town Escape.” The proposed new roadway seeks to offer an alternative to using Wilsonville Road as the only access route for the Old Town commercial and residential neighborhood. Traffic studies show that the new roadway will provide traffic congestion relief and improved circulation at the intersection of Wilsonville and Boones Ferry Road near I-5.
In selecting the 5th Street alignment, the Council noted extensive public outreach and technical research comparing the 5th Street route with an alternative alignment on Bailey Street. The Council found that the 5th Street alignment offers a safer route, costs less to construct, provides greater relief from traffic congestion and utilizes an existing and approved railroad crossing. The Council unanimously supported the decision by a vote of 4-0, with Mayor Tim Knapp abstaining due to a potential perception of a conflict of interest as an owner of commercial property located in the area.
Eleven residents, primarily from Old Town, testified at the meeting with a majority preferring the Bailey Street alignment. In order to ensure the new road design minimizes impacts on the Old Town neighborhood, the Council will provide public input opportunities on the upcoming roadway design project that is expected to be ready for City Council consideration late this spring or early this summer. For more information about the project visit www.BoonesFerrytoBrownRoad.org.
Under new business the Council amended the agenda to include unanimous approval of a new City logo developed by local resident and graphic designer Jennie Hill. The newly- adopted logo pays homage to the City’s long-term logo, “hand-in-hand with nature”, by featuring a new modern design of two stylized side-by- side hands along with a new leafy green tree sprout. The designer explains, “My goal was to take the familiar elements of the City’s hand and tree logo and give them a modern makeover.” The City is working with Hill to develop a branding guide and is preparing to launch the new logo in the new year.
The Council also held a public hearing and approved revisions to the City’s road maintenance fee program as recommended by a task force comprised of local residents and business representatives that found the program was not keeping pace with road maintenance needs. The changes update a section of City Code to provide the City greater flexibility and clarity around implementing annual road maintenance projects. The Council is scheduled on Thursday, Jan. 5, to consider incremental increases to the road maintenance fee charges as recommended by the task force from a current charge of $4.03 per single-family household to $5.23 per month in early 2017 and up to $7.23 per month in November 2017.
The Council held a second reading and closed a public hearing to approve an ordinance that amends the City’s right-of-way and public-easement management section of City Code. The ordinance clarifies the method of determining the fees to be charged by the City for use of the public right-of-way by utility providers that may or may not provide service to Wilsonville customers. In particular the code amendments are needed to clarify how to calculate and assess the fees the City will charge for the four miles of 66-inch-diameter water pipeline being planned and constructed to pass through Wilsonville to provide water to Tualatin Valley Water District and City of Hillsboro customers.
The City Council agreed to continue until Jan. 5 two ordinances related to the water treatment plant and the proposed raw water pipeline. The first ordinance authorizes a ground lease agreement for the raw water pipeline with Tualatin Valley Water District and the City of Hillsboro and the second ordinance amends an related to ownership and management of the Willamette River Water Treatment Plant in Wilsonville.
On the Consent Agenda the Council approved awarding a three-year street sweeping contract to Water Truck Service, Inc. which was identified and selected by the City through a formal request for proposals process.
During work session prior to the meeting, the City Council met with applicant Judge Fred Weinhouse who has applied to serve as the City’s new Municipal Court Judge, that if approved will replace current Municipal Court Judge Michael Gleeson who is retiring. The Council also heard about updates to the Water Treatment Plant Master Plan and a draft ordinance to create a residential parking-permit program to be considered for adoption at the next City Council meeting on Thursday, Jan. 5.
Community members are able to watch a replay of all or a portion of the City Council meetings on Comcast/Xfinity Ch. 30, Frontier Ch. 32 or on the City’s video-on-demand service at www.ci.wilsonville.or.us/WilsonvilleTV.
