Dr. Joann Linville Sworn In; Council Seeks to Continue Due Diligence on Proposed Airport Extension

​September 24, 2019 — At the Sept. 16, 2019, meeting of the Wilsonville City Council, retired higher-education administrator Dr. Joann E. Linville was sworn-in as City Councilor, beginning a term that continues through Dec. 31, 2020.

Linville, previously the chair of City’s Development Review Board, began her career in nursing before transitioning into higher education. She earned a doctorate in education from the University of Washington in 2003 and worked for several colleges. Before moving to Wilsonville’s Charbonneau neighborhood in 2011, she served as the Vice President of Learning Services at Arizona Western College in Yuma, Ariz.

During Citizen Input at the well-attended meeting, Council heard considerable public testimony regarding the proposed runway extension at the nearby Aurora State Airport. Afterward, Council directed staff to provide public comment on the Oregon Department of Aviation’s Aurora State Airport Master Plan re-approval process pertaining to the issue of compatibility with applicable statewide public-processes and land-use goals.

In order to preserve the City’s standing to participate in any action, the Council also directed staff to file a motion to intervene in an appeal filed by Friends of French Prairie on the approval of the Aurora State Airport Master Plan with the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA).

An ordinance was passed, on first reading, which authorizes the return of more 2,000 square feet of land to property owners in Villebois. The property had been held for a street that is no longer part of the community plan.

Additionally, the Council authorized up to $5,000 in additional funding to continue a rate review of Republic Services, the City’s franchised waste and recycling hauler.

During Communications, Assistant City Manager Jeanna Troha provided details about a Multi-City Equity Summit to be held at Lake Oswego High School on Oct. 19. The all-day event, 8 am-4 pm, provides an opportunity for citizens to learn and identify ways to support diversity, equity and inclusion in the communities of Wilsonville, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Tigard and Tualatin.

During the work session prior to the meeting, City staff showed preliminary designs of a future Public Works facility to be constructed on City property on Boberg Rd.

Economic Development staff provided a snapshot of the City’s ongoing Business Retention and Expansion efforts, which support the health of existing local businesses and serve as a catalyst toward future investment.

Parks and Recreation staff discussed plans to establish bylaws for an official Wilsonville Sister City Board that would be established to formalize the City’s investment in the ongoing cultural exchange between Wilsonville and Kitakata City, Japan.

SMART staff detailed the outreach efforts of the Dial-a-Ride steering committee, which is completing an evaluation and preparing recommended service enhancements for the demand response program, which provides door-to-door transportation for Wilsonville residents unable to use the fixed route service.

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.

- # # # -