City Council Identifies Construction Manager for Public Works Projects, Bids Farewell to City Attorney
March 22, 2022 — At the March 21, 2022, meeting of the Wilsonville City Council, the Council adopted a resolution that approves a $305,000 contract with Cummings Management Group, to provide Owner Representative and Construction Management Services for the Public Works Complex Project (CIP #8113).
Additionally, the Council adopted a resolution approving the selection of public accounting firm Grove, Mueller, & Swank P.C. to perform auditing services for the City and the Wilsonville Urban Renewal Agency for three years.
During Mayor’s Business, Mayor Fitzgerald introduced a short, virtual State of the City address that highlighted recent City progress and underlined the Council’s intentions for the upcoming year.
The Council voted to appoint Amanda Guile-Hinman as Wilsonville’s new City Attorney, subject to the successful completion of an employment agreement. Formerly Wilsonville’s Assistant City Attorney (2016-2020), Guile-Hinman is currently the City Attorney for the City of McMinnville.
The Council also appointed Mayor Fitzgerald as the Council’s liaison to the newly-established Arts, Culture and Heritage Commission.
During Communications, Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) President Dr. Nagi Naganathan provided an overview of the school’s recent success in preparing its students for the workforce, citing the school’s placement of 96 percent of graduate students into jobs within 6 months. Dr. Naganathan cited multiple reports that rank the school as one of the top-rated educational values in Oregon and among the better values in the United States.
Public Works staff shared details of a new public awareness campaign to help the community become more prepared to withstand emergencies. The Wilsonville Ready campaign is taking an “all hazards” approach to help households and businesses prepare for a variety of emergencies, focusing on a different aspect of preparedness each month.
Also, the executive director of the Willamette Falls & Landings Heritage Area Coalition detailed the Coalition’s ongoing work to enhance and promote the area. The group is seeking the area’s designation as a National Heritage area, noting the historical significance of the Oregon Trail, the Missoula Floods and the contributions of Native Americans along the 56-mile stretch of Willamette River that extends from Dayton to Eagle Creek.
During City Manager’s Business, Bryan Cosgrove and the City Council congratulated outgoing City Attorney Barbara Jacobson, whose retirement is effective March 31. Cosgrove praised her 10-year tenure, and specifically highlighted her work to successfully negotiate numerous benefits for the City during a complex negotiation with multiple jurisdictions to establish the Willamette Water Supply Program. Said Cosgrove, “I’ve never seen a better negotiator for a city.”
Jacobson concluded her final Legal Business with an update of an ongoing negotiation with Tualatin Valley Water District (TVWD) to divide property near the Willamette River Water Treatment Plant that is jointly owned by the City and TVWD.
The next regular meeting of the City Council is to be held on Monday, April 4, at 7 pm; a pre-meeting work session is scheduled at 5 pm. The meeting is scheduled to include an update on the most recent State legislative session from District 26 Rep. Courtney Neron.
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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