City Council Approves Major Library Remodeling Project, Holds Joint Work Session
At the Dec. 4, 2017, Wilsonville City Council meeting, the Council approved advancing a major remodeling project for the Wilsonville Public Library. Construction bids for the $1.35 million project came in approximately $200,000 over initial staff estimates, and include a completely upgraded heating-air conditioning-ventilation (HVAC) system and new furniture. The Library District of Clackamas County is contributing $1 million to the project, with the balance of the remodeling costs originating from the City’s general fund.
The Council also authorized a $492,000 contract with MurraySmith, Inc., for design of a replacement wastewater-systems pump station in Memorial Park that relocates the facility to a higher elevation away from the 100-year floodplain of the Willamette River. Previous FEMA floodplain maps had not identified the pump station location in the floodplain; however, the major 1996 Willamette River flooding event revealed that the facility was in the floodplain.
Prior to the Council meeting, the Council held a special joint work session with the Planning Commission to hear a report from the Town Center Plan Task Force presented by City planning staff and consultants. The report featured a number of findings and recommendations, including constructing additional streets and paths to form more of a grid transportation network in the 100-acre Town Center area, incorporating a range of mixed-use buildings ranging from two to five-stories with commercial uses and retail shops on the ground floor, and encouraging a wider variety of outdoor activities and dining options.
Under Mayor’s Business, the Council confirmed the appointment of Brandon Roben, Executive Director of the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, to the Tourism Promotion Committee, vacant position no. 2, with a term ending June 30, 2019.
After the Council meeting, Council members met as board members of the City’s Urban Renewal Agency and approved moving forward with the proposed “confer and consult” process with area taxing jurisdictions for a $14.5 million increase in the Year 2000 Urban Renewal District’s maximum indebtedness. The additional funds would be used to help construct a proposed bridge on Boeckman Road that crosses the “dip” of Boeckman Creek and is a component of the City’s long-term Transportation Systems Plan.
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.
