City Council Approves Budget Amendment to Accommodate Construction, Financing of New Public Works Complex
February 8, 2022 — At the February 7, 2022, meeting of the Wilsonville City Council, the Council approved a supplemental budget amendment that appropriates funds for the construction and financing of the City’s future Public Works Complex.
The amendment provides $22.65 million to advance the project, which was approved by City Council on January 20, 2022. The project addresses the City’s current and future needs with a new facility on Boberg Rd. Construction of the Public Works Complex will improve the efficiency of operations, enhance the security of City’s assets and improve emergency preparedness.
The Council also approved updates to the Tourism Promotion Committee charter. The update recognizes the transferred authority of the Community Tourism Grant program to the newly-formed Arts, Culture and Heritage Commission. It also recognizes the committee's existing work, including oversight of the Tourism Promotion and Destination Marketing contract and to development of the Five-Year Action Plan and annual One-Year Implementation Plan.
Following a legislative hearing, the City adopted an ordinance to correct a scrivener’s error that updates language in Section 4.181 of the City code to correct a direct conflict with previously revised language in Section 4.156 related to the height of signs and other structures.
During Mayor’s Businesses, Mayor Julie Fitzgerald expressed her intention to re-submit comments to the Oregon Transportation Commission that request a delay in the implementation of tolling on I-205. A re-issued letter will also recommend advancing the I-5/Boone Bridge and Seismic Improvement Project and pursuing significant transit improvements for the South Metro area.
Additionally, Human Resources staff shared an update on the process now underway to recruit and hire a new City Attorney to succeed Barbara Jacobson, who is retiring at the end of next month. Interviews with preferred candidates are to bescheduled for early March.
During Communications, Wilsonville Police Chief Rob Wurpes provided a two-year snapshot of local property crime rates, shared crime prevention tips and included an update on current staffing levels. Wurpes noted that vehicle break-ins remain a problem. He advised residents not to leave anything of value in vehicles and to report suspicious behavior to police when it is observed.
Parks and Recreation Staff summarized a successful project to raise community awareness around food composting in Wilsonville. The program included webinars, Library Storytime programming, and a giveaway of 500 City-branded compost buckets (funded through an award from the Wilsonville-Metro Community Enhancement Program). Food compost may be deposited in residential yard debris bins provided by Republic Services.
During Legal Business, the Council approved a settlement to resolve a legal dispute between the City and CWI, Inc., a corporation of Kentucky, Symonds Flags and Poles, Inc., and FPI-Wilsonville, LLC regarding the unpermitted installation of a 130’ pole at Camping World that has since been removed.
At the work session held prior to the meeting, City Administrative Staff sought feedback from the City Council to help set the agenda for a scheduled one-day workshop in May with the City Council and members of the City’s appointed Boards & Commissions.
Information Systems staff shared an update on the City’s ongoing work to develop a fiber-optic backbone within Wilsonville to support future Internet service delivery. A collaboration with the cities of Sherwood and King City to expand the City’s fiber network is being funded by a $1.6 million America Recovery Plan Act award allocation from Rep. Courtney Neron and Sen. Kim Thatcher.
The IS report also included an update on the ongoing installation of new Enterprise Resource Program software, a project designed to more efficiently handle several of the City’s core functions, including budgeting, human resources and utility billing.
Because of the Presidents Day holiday, the next regular meeting of the City Council is to be held on Thursday, Feb. 24, 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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