Council Approves “Electric Avenue” Car-Charging Hub, New 5G Small Cell Wireless Code
January 29, 2019 - At the Jan. 24, 2019, meeting of the Wilsonville City Council, the Council adopted a City agreement with electric-utility provider Portland General Electric (PGE) to install an “Electric Avenue” five-vehicle electric-charging hub at the Wilsonville Public Library. The site, near the intersection of Wilsonville Road and Memorial Drive, provides electric car owners with a safe, visible charging station that is accessible around the clock and conveniently located near restaurants, shops, Memorial Park and the Library. The hub, with one 6.7 kW Level 2 dispenser and four 50 kW DC Fast Charge stations, is being constructed, operated, inspected, repaired and maintained by PGE; the City is responsible for the care and maintenance of the parking area.
The City Council approved on second reading minor amendments to City Code (Sections 800-814) to comply with new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations governing small wireless facilities located in the public right-of-way. With this action, the City is equipped to apply community-adopted aesthetic policies for telecommunications utilities and to recover a majority of costs in implementing new FCC rules to facilitate implementation of “5G” small-cell wireless technology.
The Council also approved a supplemental budget adjustment to provide funding for several capital requests – including $2 million to complete Villebois Regional Parks 7 and 8 – and operational expenses to bring the City’s janitorial services in-house and an inter-governmental agreement with the Westside Urban Renewal Area that provides the URA with capital project funding without incurring costly bank lending fees.
At the work session prior to the meeting, staff provided an update on ongoing efforts to gather public opinion to inform improvements to SMART’s Dial-a-Ride service to help the transit agency provide better service to the growing number of community members who rely on the service. Staff also provided a financial update on the City’s Urban Renewal districts, the uses and the effects of tax increment financing in the City’s urban renewal districts.
At the Wilsonville Urban Renewal Agency meeting following the City Council meeting, the Board approved a short-term loan from the City (as described above) and also approved a supplemental budget adjustment that provides funding for capital projects, including $1.75 million for the 5th St to Kinsman Rd. extension.
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 video-on-demand service at www.ci.wilsonville.or.us/WilsonvilleTV.
