City Council Refers Term Limit Modifications to Wilsonville Voters
February 26, 2024 — On February 22, 2024, The Wilsonville City Council adopted a pair of resolutions that refer two questions – each pertaining to term limits for locally-elected officials – for registered Wilsonville voters to consider in the May 21, 2024, primary election:
- Should the City Charter be amended to allow a two-term City Councilor the opportunity to serve two consecutive terms as Mayor?
- Should the City Charter be amended to not count days of an appointment to Council when less than 365.25 days?
In 2020, a measure was approved by voters that limits any local elected official to serving no more than 12 years on City Council within any 20-year period. Since March 2023, several residents have provided public comment requesting that the Council consider referring to Wilsonville voters ballot measures that would modify the term limits in particular circumstances. These community members expressed concern that the the original measure, as written, could have the long-term effect of limiting and/or discouraging participation from knowledgeable, effective public servants, to the City’s detriment. In referring the above questions to voters, the Council seeks to strike a balance that honors the will of the voters without unduly restricting Wilsonville’s political capital.
The Council approved an amendment to the adopted 2023 Solid Waste Rate Review Report and corresponding Republic Services Rate Schedule for 2024. The amendment corrects a calculating error, with the result being a slight rate reduction for certain commercial services.
At the request of the Homebuilding Association of Greater Portland (HBA), the Council approved a resolution to delay full implementation of increased Parks System Development Charges (SDCs). To balance the difficulties facing homebuilders and potential homebuyers while acknowledging the necessity of SDCs to fund new infrastructure, this action phases in 50% of the increase immediately, with the full rate to become effective on July 1, 2024.
The Council approved a $1.08 million agreement with Brown and Caldwell, Inc. (BC) for engineering consulting services for the Boeckman Creek Flow Mitigation, a component of the Boeckman Road Corridor Improvement Program. The project removes a culvert and flow control structure, restores Boeckman Creek to provide passage for fish, and mitigates the resulting flow differential.
On second reading, the Council adopted ordinances that annex and rezone five acres within the Frog Pond West neighborhood that enable construction of the 17-lot Frog Pond Cottage Park Place residential development in Frog Pond West.
During Mayor’s Business, in the wake of the City Council’s recent trip to Kitakata, Japan, Mayor Julie Fitzgerald read a signed declaration – ratified by the City Council – commemorating the 35th anniversary of a Sister City cultural exchange first established by Wilsonville and Kitakata in October 1988.
The City Council agreed to join several other cities, counties, law enforcement agencies and behavior heath partners in signing a Letter of Commitment, drafted by the League of Oregon Cities, that supports a proposed legislative compromise to deal with the drug overdose crisis. The proposal would recriminalize possession of controlled substances as an unclassified misdemeanor, and allow local district attorneys latitude to deflect charges when violators seek treatment.
Mayor Fitzgerald recognized City Recorder Kim Veliz on receiving Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) Certification from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.
During Communications, Wilsonville Police Chief Rob Wurpes provided summary data on the volume and types of crimes taking place in Wilsonville. Chief Wurpes noted a decline in property-related crimes in 2023.
At the work session held prior to last night’s meeting, Natural Resources staff sought the Council’s feedback on a draft of the Stormwater Master Plan Update, developed to identify and prioritize capital needs, and to present strategies aimed at maintaining, restoring, and enhancing local watersheds and meeting engineering, environmental and land use needs.
Legal staff shared on update on an ongoing project to review the City’s public contracting code, and sought the Council’s direction on several changes under consideration to make the City’s procurement of goods and services more efficient, less confusing, more equitable, and in alignment with current public contracting laws.
The next regular meeting of the City Council is scheduled to be held on Monday, March 4, 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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