City Council Approves Memorial Park Field Lights, SMART Yard Expansion
September 6, 2024 — At the September 5, 2024, meeting of the Wilsonville City Council, the Council approved a $670,000 contract with Musco Athletic Lighting for the purchase and installation of new lighting at the Memorial Park athletic fields as outlined in the Memorial Park Master Plan. In this first phase of a multi-year project to add or replace lighting at the park’s five athletic fields, the City is replacing 30-year-old lighting on field 4, and installing lighting on field five. The park’s new LED lighting is to be installed on metal poles to increase its lifespan.
The Council also approved a $3.65 million construction contract with In Line Commercial Construction, to advance the SMART Yard Expansion Project. This Capital Improvement Project expands the South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART) maintenance yard to provide additional bus parking, a reconfigured drive aisle and security gate, automated bus wash facility, and improved battery-electric bus charging facilities to support SMART’s goal to transition to 100 percent use of alternative fuels.
Following a public hearing, on first reading, the Council voted to codify the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee within sections 2.380-2.386 of the Wilsonville Code in order to strengthen its commitment to work advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging.
The Council approved a $707,000 contract with Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc. (HHPR) to provide engineering consulting services for the Brown Road Improvements Project. Brown Rd. connects westside residential neighborhoods to Wilsonville Road. These improvements will upgrade approximately 1,900 feet of roadway with bike lanes, sidewalks, and turn lanes that improve access to adjacent neighborhoods, while enhancing stormwater quality, street lighting, and pavement condition.
Additionally, the Council adopted Wilsonville’s addendum to Clackamas County’s multi-jurisdictional Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (NHMP), required by state and federal law to outline short- and long-term plans in place to mitigate potential natural hazards that could occur within our region.
During Mayor’s Business, the City Council formally pledged its unanimous support for a Clackamas Community College bond measure on the November ballot. Should the measure pass, rate payers would continue to pay $0.25 per $1,000 of assessed value to support local education opportunities, including the expansion of workforce partnerships with local employers.
Mayor Julie Fitzgerald encouraged public participation in two open houses scheduled this month at City Hall.
- Sept. 11: Boeckman Creek Trail and Sewer Interceptor (City-hosted)
- Sept. 18: I-5 Boone Bridge Progress Update (ODOT-hosted)
During Communications, Parks and Recreation staff showcased the completed new Skate Park Mural (IG: @wilsonvilleparksandrec) painted by Abigail Penfold, a public art project funded by the Wilsonville-Metro Community Enhancement Program.
Also, representatives of the Kitakata Sister City Advisory Board presented the board’s goals for the upcoming year, including awareness building, youth engagement and increased network building with peers in Kitakata.
At a work session held prior to the meeting, Planning staff updated the Council on strategies the City continues pursue to mitigate the arrival of Mediterranean Oak Borer, an invasive beetle that is decimating Oregon white oaks. While the removal of infested trees continues, new treatments and testing methods are providing optimism that many infected trees may not necessarily be subject to removal.
The next scheduled meeting of the City Council takes place on Monday, Sept. 16, 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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