FAQs

All water use not associated with an existing residential/commercial meter service line must be obtained through the bulk water permitting system. You must pay for the amount of bulk water you use, just like you would pay for water used at a Wilsonville home or business. The meter makes it easy to record how much water is pulled, even if you make multiple trips.

• Filling ponds or pools - Water for these kinds of projects should go through a permanently metered source
• Projects outside of Wilsonville city limits

Pulling from a hydrant can contaminate the public waterline if precaution isn't taken to prevent backflow. The backflow preventer protects the waterline from contamination. An air gap sized to twice the pipe's inner diameter serves the same purpose and is also an acceptable backflow prevention method.

Bulk water meter permits are valid for 90 days. You must contact Public Works to request an extension. Permits, with authorized extensions, have a maximum service time of one year.  Any additional time beyond one year will require a new application to be submitted.

Only hydrant wrenches are allowed for use on the hydrant operating nut. If you selected that you required a hydrant wrench on your Bulk Water Meter application form, the staff member communicating with you about your application will request to set up a date and time for pickup at the Public Works Department.

Anyone causing damage to hydrants or using city water without an approved permit is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

As part of the City Council’s agenda, there is time for “citizen input” on issues that are either not on the agenda, or not scheduled for public hearing. At that time, the public is invited to address the Council with concerns, comments, or to make a community announcement.

No. An executive session is that portion of a meeting from which the public is excluded. The Public Meetings Law now provides that representatives of the news media shall be allowed to attend all executive sessions except those involving deliberations with persons designated to carry on labor negotiations.

ORS 192.550 specifies certain topics for which the Council is permitted to meet privately in executive sessions. Before convening an executive session, the mayor must publicly announce the general purpose of the session and the applicable ORS.

The Public Meetings Law defines a meeting as the convening of any of the governing bodies for which a quorum is required in order to make a decision or to deliberate toward a decision on any matter. ORS 192.610(5)

In Oregon the Public Records Law is a disclosure law, rather than a confidentiality law. Exemptions are contained in ORS 192.501 and are applied on a case-by-case basis.

The City of Wilsonville is located in the Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R) District. TVF&R provides fire protection and emergency medical services to a 390-square-mile service area including the City of Wilsonville. Therefore, if the records you are requesting exist TVF&R would be the agency to contact for those records. Below is their contact information:

TVF&R Command & Business Operations Center

Phone: 503-259-1148

Email: records@tvfr.com

Address: 11945 SW 70th Avenue, Tigard, OR 97223

The ORS 192.318 requires a custodian of public records to provide proper and reasonable opportunities for inspection and examination of the records in the office of the custodian. The public body has a reasonable amount of time to respond to the request.

As defined by ORS 192.005(5) "Public record" means any information that:

A.  Is prepared, owned, used or retained by a state agency or political subdivision;

B.  Relates to an activity, transaction or function of a state agency or political subdivision; and 

C.   Is necessary to satisfy the fiscal, legal, administrative or historical policies, requirements or needs of the state agency or political subdivision.

A writing is defined as: handwriting, typewriting, printing, photographing, and every means of recording, including letters, words, pictures, sounds, or symbols or combination thereof, and all papers, maps, files, facsimiles or electronic recordings.

Writing also includes information stored on computer tape, microfiche, photographs, films, tape, or videotape, and virtually any other method of recording information. Public records may be in machine readable or electronic form.

Rental of the River Shelter, Forest Shelter, Stein-Boozier Barn, Tauchman House, and Community Center require a Certificate of Liability insurance and Additional Insured Endorsement reflecting a limit of no less than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence and naming the City of Wilsonville, its officers, agents, employees and volunteers as an additional insured at least 30 days prior to the event.

Grove Shelter and Splash Shelter rentals do not require insurance.

You can call the Community Center at 503-682-3727 (for Community Center rentals) or 503-570-1530 (for Tauchman House rentals).

Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Facilities Rental Application can be downloaded and filled out or you can pick one up at the Community Center (for Community Center rentals) or Parks and Recreation Admin Offices (for Tauchman House rentals). The completed application along with all fees must be submitted in order to reserve the facility. A permit will be mailed to you upon approval of your event.

A certificate of liability insurance (with limit of each occurrence of at least $1M) and additional insured endorsement listing the City of Wilsonville as an additional insured are due at least 30 days prior to your rental and are required for rental of the Community Center and Tauchman House.

The only use of alcoholic beverages permitted by the City of Wilsonville is those activities for which a reservation has been accepted and approved for alcohol use. Alcoholic beverages, or their consumption, shall be limited to wine and/or beer. Liquor liability is required for all events where alcohol is served.

If you find it necessary to cancel your park shelter reservation, a written request is required, providing the following information: name of group, signature of applicant, date of intended use, address, and telephone numbers. This information may be faxed, mailed, or brought in person to the Parks and Recreation Administrative Offices. A partial or full refund will be issued in accordance with the following schedule:

• More than 60 days prior to date of reservation: All applicable fees and deposits will be refunded, minus a $50 processing fee.

• Less than 60 days, but more than 30 business days prior to date of reservation: 50% of applicable fees plus full deposit will be refunded.

• Less than 30 business days prior to date of reservation: 100% of applicable fees will be forfeited, but full deposit will be refunded.

• All refunds will be processed within 30 days.

The City of Wilsonville is leading the French Prairie Bridge Project.

Project planning began in fall 2016. The project aims to complete preliminary design of the French Prairie Bridge by early 2020.

The study area for potential bridge alignments is between the I-5 Boone Bridge and the existing Portland and Western Railroad Bridge in Wilsonville.

This has not yet been determined. The project will address key questions about use, including what type of emergency response vehicles could access the structure. This information will help refine project design criteria (e.g. bridge width, ramp connections, weight it can carry).

The project is funded through a $1.25 million federal grant issued through Metro’s Transportation Improvement Program – Regional Flexible Funds, and 10.27% local matching funds provided through the City of Wilsonville’s Parks Systems Development Charges.

In earlier planning phases, very rough cost estimates were developed. These estimates provided a sketch of potential costs with the information known at the time. This preliminary design project will answer many questions needed to develop a refined cost estimate, including location, bridge type and size.

Creating a backyard wildlife habitat site that attracts songbirds, butterflies, and other interesting wildlife can be fun, peaceful, and rewarding. Replacing a barren lawn with beautiful wildflowers and other native plants will increase the appeal of your property and will provide a nurturing place for wildlife. It is important that you provide them with their three basic needs; food, water, and shelter. Here are some methods of providing these needs:

• Food: Bird feeders and hummingbird feeders are a good way to attract birds to your naturescaping yard; however, it is better to attract wildlife with natural growing sources of seeds, berries, and nectar. Plants that attract insects that birds like to eat are also a good way to provide food.
• Water: Because an open clean water source is an increasingly rare resource in urban environments, it is the feature most likely to attract wildlife. You can use something as simple as a saucer filled regularly with clean water or construct something more sophisticated like a pond, recirculating stream, or a fountain.
• Shelter: Birds and other creatures need protection from other predators and the weather. By providing dense evergreen trees, shrubs, and nesting boxes for birds, you supply them with a place to nest and raise their young.

Invasive species can include plants, animals, or insects. They are species that have been introduced by humans or by other means to a location where they did not previously occur naturally. Invasive species can displace native species, and have the potential to significantly alter local ecosystems. Examples of invasive species that can be found in Wilsonville include: Himalayan blackberry, English ivy, nutria, and European starlings.

First, it is important to note that not all wildlife create conflicts. They behave instinctively doing whatever they need in order to survive. That being said, there are some things that you can do to prevent wildlife from infringing on your property. Basically, wildlife have three key necessities; food, water, and shelter. If you don’t provide these components you will lessen the odds of having to contend with them.

Often people send mixed messages by feeding or inadvertently sheltering wildlife so that they may enjoy viewing them but after an unpleasant experience they quickly alter their perception of particular species. If you have found your situation to be unmanageable, the Audubon Society of Portland offers Living with Urban Wildlife brochures and information.

The city has adopted regulations that protect natural resource areas, such as the Significant Resource Overlay Zone (SROZ). The SROZ (Section 4.139 of the Wilsonville Development Code) protects wetlands, riparian corridors (areas that directly drain to a stream or river), and upland forests.

Development is prohibited in these protected natural resources areas, with the exception of relatively minor development impacts. In addition, the city has many important natural areas that are protected within local parks and open space areas.

The policy makes compliance with the city's Significant Resource Overlay Zone (SROZ) and tree protection regulations a factor in annexation decision making. The policy is strictly advisory in nature, and the City Council retains complete discretion over annexation of lands without regard to the policy’s application

Annexation is not guaranteed, but the property owner will be viewed more favorably based on their compliance with the policy. The City Council retains full discretionary authority to grant or deny petitions for annexation. A property owner’s request for annexation may not be consistent with land use standards or the request may not be in the best interest of the community (e.g., property that cannot economically be accessed or served with city infrastructure).

A violation of the policy will certainly be a factor in the City Council granting or denying an annexation request. However, the policy provides that the City Council may approve such an annexation (and ignore the violation) if the best interest of the community is served. If the subject parcel is a valuable addition to the city in spite of the loss of natural resources (e.g., the site is already served by public facilities and the owner will provide needed housing), the property may be annexed. 

The development code addresses the preservation and protection of significant natural resources and trees. Protected natural resources include streams, riparian corridors, wetlands, upland forests, and trees greater than or equal to six inches at d.b.h. (e.g., diameter at breast height or 4 ½ feet above grade).

It is not the intent of the development code to prevent development where the impacts to significant natural resources and trees can be minimized and mitigated. A list of exempt land activities and uses are addressed in the SROZ and tree protection code. They include, farm and forest uses and other activities related to the development and maintenance of properties.

Example: A Type “A” Tree Removal permit allows for the removal of one to three trees per property, per year. Trees are likely to be approved for removal if the tree is not in the SROZ or Willamette River Greenway, and is not a Heritage Tree.

According to Wilsonville Code Section 5.200, a vehicle can legally park on a street up to 72 hours as long as it is not impeding or likely to impede the normal flow of traffic and is not in violation of “No Parking” signs. For violations, contact the Wilsonville Police Departments non-emergency dispatch at 503-655-8211.

There are other restrictions in the Code regarding parking of vehicles. All parking questions related to vehicles, trailers, storing dumpsters, POD’s on public right-of-way, etc., can be found in Wilsonville Code Section 5.200 or by calling the Engineering Division at 503-682-4960.

There are applicable rules on where and how tall you can build a fence that should be researched by the property owner prior to construction. See Code Section 4.113(.08), Figure 1: Fence Standards for Residential Development, and Section 4.176(.04)(F.). No permit is necessary if you are building a wood fence that is less than six feet in height on your own property.

Contact the Planning Division to discuss your property questions at 503-682-4960. Many of the subdivisions in Wilsonville have standards that are unique to that subdivision and do not necessarily concur with the zoning regulations as described in the Development Code. Please have the address or map and tax lot number available.

Information regarding sign permits is available online at Signs. Contact the Planning Division at 503-682-4960 to discuss the process for applying for a new sign.

Zoning can be determined by viewing the Zoning Map, visiting WilsonvilleMaps.com, or by contacting the Planning Division at 503-682-4960.

Upcoming events and project information are listed on the Frog Pond website at: www.ci.wilsonville.or.us/frogpond. On the website, you can sign up to be on the mailing list to be notified of project events. Staff contacts include Chris Neamtzu, Community Development Director, neamtzu@ci.wilsonville.or.us, 503-570-1574, and Miranda Bateschell, Planning Director, bateschell@ci.wilsonville.or.us, 503-570-1581.www.ci.wilsonville.or.us/frogpond

Yes. Specific questions under discussion include: (1) how big is a “large lot”; (2) how much land should be included in this category; (3) where should large lots be located; and, (4) what are the best ways to provide flexibility for larger lots throughout the area? The Planning Commission and City Council will be addressing these questions as the Concept Plan is finalized this summer.

Development in the Frog Pond Area, Wilsonville and nearby communities will result in more people traveling through and within the area. However, significant improvements are planned for various modes of travel, which should result in increased safety and maintain or improve congestion and reliability on the roadways.

The City’s Transportation System Plan (TSP), updated and adopted in 2013, included the Frog Pond West area as part of the City-wide analysis. Planned transportation facilities include the widening of Boeckman Road, Stafford Road, Advance Road and a new traffic signal at the Stafford Road-Wilsonville Road/Boeckman Road-Advance Road intersection – are already included in the TSP to support Frog Pond’s growth and improve safety. The transportation technical work was updated and verified as part of the Frog Pond planning process (including the entire 500-acre area) in September, 2014. The traffic analysis found that the I-5/Wilsonville Road interchange and study intersections within the vicinity of Frog Pond will operate at a Level of Service D or better (the city’s standard for the PM peak hour) with improvements previously identified.

In the draft concept plan, improvements are planned for Stafford Road, Boeckman Road, Advance Road, and 60th Avenue. New or improved streets, sidewalks, bike lanes, and off-street trails are included throughout the plan. Signalized and unsignalized traffic control devices for intersections are planned at key intersections throughout the area. The City is working closely with the School district to coordinate safe routes to schools and neighborhood connectivity. 

The Frog Pond vision statement prepared by the Frog Pond Task Force and approved by the City Council states:

“The Frog Pond Area in 2035 is an integral part of the Wilsonville community, with attractive and connected neighborhoods. The community’s hallmarks are the variety of quality homes; open spaces for gathering; nearby services, shops and restaurants; excellent schools; and vibrant parks and trails. The Frog Pond Area is a convenient bike, walk, drive, or bus trip to all parts of Wilsonville.”

The guiding principles, also adopted, are:
• Create great neighborhoods
• Create a complete streets and trails network
• Provide access to nature
• Create community gathering spaces
• Provide for Wilsonville’s housing needs
• Create a feasible implementation strategy
• Frog Pond is an extension of Wilsonville
• Retain trees
• Honor Frog Pond’s history
• Provide compatible transitions to surrounding areas
• Promote healthy, active lifestyles
• Integrate sustainability
• Coordinate with Wilsonville’s transportation network 

The City anticipates that the new middle school will be the first area developed – with construction expected to start in 2016 and the middle school opening in September 2017. In Frog Pond West, a number of steps must be first undertaken: completion of the Concept Plan (planned for 2015); approval of a Master Plan and Comprehensive Plan amendments with realistic funding strategies identified (planned for 2016); annexations and development review; and then, the construction of streets, utilities, homes, and parks. The timing of these activities is subject to property-owner initiatives, funding strategies, and City approvals. Therefore, while there may be development capacity for the middle school in 2017, it will be a few years beyond that to put the necessary approvals and infrastructure in place for significant additional residential development. Development of Frog Pond West is expected to take 10-20 years to build out.