Wilsonville Swears In First All-Woman Council in City History
January 9, 2023 — To begin the January 5, 2023, meeting of the Wilsonville City Council, incoming councilors Caroline Berry and Katie Dunwell were sworn in by Municipal Court Judge Fred Weinhouse. All five Wilsonville City Council seats are now occupied by women for the first time in the City’s history.
To ensure that Wilsonville recognizes a wider variety of cultural holidays and events that may hold meaning to community members of historically-marginalized groups, the City Council adopted a Cultural Calendar developed by the City’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee.
The Council authorized the City Manager to sign an amendment to the Community Enhancement Grant Program Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Metro and the City of Wilsonville. This action enables the City to accept Community Investment Fees (CIF), which increases the funds available for allocation each year through the Community Enhancement Program.
Additionally, the Council authorized a second amendment to a contract with OTAK, Inc. to fund additional engineering services needed to complete the 5th Street / Kinsman Rd. Extension project. Due to unforeseen utility conflicts, an additional $50,000 was needed to extend the contract term through October. The new roadway in Old Town is to be substantially complete by this summer. The Urban Renewal Agency Board convened a brief meeting to authorize a similar amendment.
The Council authorized the City Manager to execute a $426,000 contract with Emery and Sons Construction Group, LLC, to complete construction of the 2022 Street Maintenance Project, which includes the replacement or reconstruction of curb ramps and pedestrian signals on Wilsonville Rd. at Boones Ferry Rd. and at Rose Ln.
To enable the development of a warehouse/manufacturing building and associated site improvements that are consistent with the Coffee Creek Master Plan the Council adopted two ordinances, on first reading, that annex and rezone 9.2 acres within the Coffee Creek Industrial Area.
The Council took two actions to approve new Flag Policy, which codifies a framework that defines how/when commemorative flags may be placed on City flag poles and in City facilities, among other regulations. The new code prohibits the display of banners on City streetlights and other poles except for City-sponsored events, and articulates how flags may be displayed.
During Legal Business, City Attorney Amanda Guile-Hinman updated the Council on the ongoing review of prohibited camping code to comply with new Oregon laws. New policy is to be informed by a brief survey now available to subscribers at “Let’s Talk, Wilsonville!”
At the work session held prior to the meeting, Legal staff queried the Council about considering revisions to City Code that would eliminate inconsistencies and empower additional staff, including the City’s Code Compliance Specialist, to issue citations in the wake of egregious code violations.
Engineering consultants from DKS and Associates shared an overview of the City’s transportation system planning in advance of upcoming work to complete an update to the City’s Transportation Performance Monitoring Report. Periodic reporting from DKS allows the City to evaluate current traffic data and road capacities, and informs the City’s future road infrastructure development.
Because City offices are closed on Monday, Jan. 16, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the next regular meeting of the City Council is to be held on Thursday, Jan. 19, 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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