HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item - 2020-11-17 - Number 10.2 - Council Meeting Minutes 10.2
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Subject: Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes
Meeting Date: November 17, 2020 Staff Member: Anne-Marie Simpson, City Recorder
Department: City Manager's Office
Action Required Advisory Board/Commission Recommendation
❑X Motion ❑ Approval
❑ Public Hearing ❑ Denial
❑ Ordinance ❑ None Forwarded
❑ Resolution ❑X Not Applicable
❑ Information Only Comments:
❑ Council Direction
❑X Consent Agenda
Staff Recommendation: Approve minutes as written
Recommended Language for Motion: Move to approve minutes as written.
Project/ Issue Relates To:
❑Council Goals/Priorities ❑Adopted Master Plan(s) ❑X Not Applicable
ATTACHMENTS
1. October 6, 2020, Draft Regular Meeting Minutes
503.635.0215 380 A Avenue PO BOX 369 Lake Oswego, OR 97034 www.lakeosweao.city
ATTACHMENT 1
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CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
October 6, 2020
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1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Studebaker called the regular City Council meeting to order at 5:02 p.m. on
October 6, 2020. The meeting was held virtually.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Studebaker and Councilors O'Neill, Nguyen, LaMotte, Wendland,
Manz, and Kohlhoff
Staff Present: Martha Bennett, City Manager; David Powell, City Attorney; Anne-Marie
Simpson, City Recorder; Brian Don, Building Official; Jessica Morey-
Collins, Associate Planner; Jessica Numanoglu, Planning Manager;
Stefan Broadus, Assistant City Engineer; Erica Rooney, City Engineer;
Ivan Anderholm, Parks and Recreation Director; Paul Espe, Associate
Planner
Others Present: Lynn Brokaw, Lake Oswego Meals on Wheels; Dan Goodrich, ICON
Architecture /Planning
3. EXECUTIVE SESSION under authority of ORS 192.660 (2) (d) conduct
deliberations with persons designated to carry on labor negotiations.
The City Council met in Executive Session from 5:03 to 6:15 p.m.
4. PRESENTATION
4.1 Meals on Wheels Proclamation
Lynn Brokaw thanked the City Council and the City of Lake Oswego for proclaiming October
Meals on Wheels Month. Several restaurants were participating in Meals on Wheels this month
and he encouraged people to patronize the restaurants and donate directly to the program at
those locations. He confirmed New Seasons Market was participating this year, but was
conducting their own collections.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 13
October 6, 2020
5. CITIZEN COMMENT
• Sarah Ellison
Ms. Ellison thanked Council for its work to date on the resolution to acquire the property at
1107 Yates St, adding she was grateful that it was on the agenda this evening.
• Edward Conrad
Mr. Conrad's testimony was read into the record and was included in the meeting materials. In
summary, he urged Council to publicize the Oregon Health Authority's guidance on Halloween.
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS
6.1 Resolution 20-27, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Lake Oswego
Modifying and Increasing Building Division Permit Fees and Plan Review Fees in
Response to Implementation of the State of Oregon Permitting System.
Mr. Powell outlined the parameters of the public hearing.
Mr. Don presented the Council Report on the resolution, stating the City had recently adopted
an e-Permitting System and, during the process, discovered several items did not align with the
mandatory state fee guidelines for permits and that the City's permit fees had not been updated
since 2005. He proposed fee increases to bring the City in line with the fee rates of other
jurisdictions as follows: building permits, 20 percent; electrical permits, 45 percent; mechanical
permits, 25 percent; and plumbing permits, 22 percent. Several fees were also added.
Mayor Studebaker noted the increases were large and asked if consideration had been given
to phasing them in. Mr. Don replied that he believed applicants had been given a bargain in the
last 15 years. Usually, jurisdictions increased their fee rates by 5 percent a year. The City had
been operating at a loss on inspections fees. The only fee that had been adjusted each year
was the hourly rate, which was charged only if a request was made for a one-hour inspection.
The Building Department was self-sufficient off of permit fees and had been taking money from
the plan review side to subsidize the permit side because the fees were so low. No funds were
taken from another department. He confirmed the proposed fees were still cheaper than
Portland's and those of larger cities like Beaverton. He had compared Lake Oswego's permit
fees to those of cities with similar populations in the Portland metro area and the adopted the
rates of those cities.
Councilor Wendland asked if the plan review fees were too high. Mr. Don replied that those
fees were based on a percentage of the permit fee. An attachment in the meeting materials
addressed third-party charges. For example, when an inspector was hired at an hourly rate to fill
in for an absent inspector, the charge was $110 an hour. Councilor Wendland stated he did
not have a problem with the fees matching those of other jurisdictions, but if both the plan
review fee and permit fee funds rose, it could produce a surplus. Mr. Don clarified that during
good times in a building department, plan review fees helped pay for the life of a project, like a
two-year school project. Because times had been good and a lot of construction was still taking
place during COVID-19, the Building Department had been fine, but it would be hit hard during a
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 13
October 6, 2020
downturn in the permitting process. Councilor Wendland asked if the money was carried
forward to ensure a positive fund balance. Mr. Don confirmed that was correct and noted an
emergency fund was also kept to allow building departments in the State of Oregon to float
during the six-month downturns.
No public testimony was given and Mayor Studebaker closed the hearing.
Mayor Studebaker moved to adopt Resolution 20-27. Councilor Kohlhoff seconded the
motion.
A roll call vote was taken and the motion passed, with Mayor Studebaker and Councilors
LaMotte, Wendland, Manz, Kohlhoff, O'Neill, and Nguyen voting `aye.' (7-0)
6.2 Appeal of the Development Review Commission's Denial of Tree Removal
Application at 381 9th Street. TR#499-19-05510/AP 20-01
Mr. Powell outlined the parameters of the public hearing and asked if any Councilors had any
ex parte contacts, bias, or conflicts of interest. None were declared.
Staff Report
Ms. Morey-Collins entered two new comments into the record, Exhibits G-210 and G-211,
which had been distributed this afternoon. The applicant's request had been reviewed by the
Development Review Commission (DRC) on August 3, 2020. The applicant had the burden of
proof to demonstrate all of the Type II tree removal criteria in LOC 55.02.080 were met.
Criterion 1 required that the trees proposed to be removed would have outgrown their
landscape area, that their removal was part of a landscape plan, or would enable construction of
a development allowed or approved pursuant to Code or other applicable development
regulations. The applicant provided a site plan showing the proposed development relative to
the root protection zones of the trees. The trees were requested to be removed for development
purposes to construct a new zero lot line dwelling, a detached garage and guest room, a
driveway, and a required on-site stormwater system all of which were permitted in the zone.
Tree 10300 was located in the footprint of the proposed driveway and was within 6 ft 6 inches of
the proposed garage and guest room and Tree 10304 was located within 2 ft 6 inches of the
proposed garage and guest room. The DRC found that the application did not comply with
Criterion 1 because, without an arborist's report to substantiate that the trees could not be
accommodated with the proposed development due to potential damage to the critical root
protection zones, the applicant had not established that the tree removal was for development
purposes. The DRC found the trees to be large, healthy, mature Douglas firs significant to the
neighborhood character and aesthetics based on their size, distinctive character, and being the
only remaining trees on the site. The applicant did not provide evidence to the contrary.
According to Code, trees might only be approved for removal if one of the exceptions to
Criterion 3 was met. The DRC found the applicant had not met Exception B because they did
not submit any materials demonstrating that alternatives had been considered for development
on the site in accordance with the zone's dimensional and development standards, or why
alternatives would not be reasonable. No arborist's report or other evidence was provided by the
applicant establishing the distance from the subject tree at which development would or would
not cause removal of the tree. This precluded the ability of the applicant to meet their burden of
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 13
October 6, 2020
proof to show that no reasonable alternative existed to allow the property to be used as
permitted in the zone. The DRC denied the application because it found that Criteria 1 and 3
were not met. The applicant's Notice of Intent to Appeal to the City Council stated that he had
worked with City staff and no viable alternative solution was found to the removal of the trees.
However, the applicant did not specify why he believed the DRC erred in its decision. The
Council's decision options were to tentatively affirm or reverse the DRC's decision to deny the
application. Based on the Council's tentative decision, staff would present the findings,
conclusion, and order finalizing the decision on October 20.
Councilor LaMotte pointed out the problem with the Development Code and trees kept
recurring. Hard line site plans were done and trees were later removed if a problem arose. He
asked if moving the entire project to the northwest had been considered followed by granting an
exception or variance to the builder so the trees could be avoided by going several feet into the
setbacks. He also inquired about flipping the southern house's garage to the front so one
driveway would be entered from 9th St and one entered from the alley. The southern house
would then have beautiful tree growth for their back yard. He understood variances and
exceptions were for unique situations and this was a commercial corridor that could shift into the
right-of-way (ROW) and not cause any problem with the street line for the mixed-use street. He
noted that if the developer did not want to go through the time and effort of a variance, they
would still have to take the time to go through the DRC and through Council. Ms. Numanoglu
responded that the City could not compel an applicant to apply for a variance. The applicant
was allowed the development as permitted by Code and could apply for a variance which the
City would encourage. Councilor LaMotte asked if the City could suggest a variance to the
applicant and asked why the trees were not dealt with in the beginning with a possible variance.
Mayor Studebaker pointed out that the issue had arisen a number of times and staff was not in
a position to do anything about it. Councilor LaMotte responded that he would ask the
applicant why it was not done in the beginning and why staff kept resisting going outside of a
building's envelope by a few feet. Ms. Numanoglu stated the question could be asked of the
applicant but, ultimately, it was up to the applicant to decide whether or not to apply. The
applicant in this case had built many different projects in the city and was very well aware of the
variance process. Staff was happy to suggest a variance to applicants. Referring to the site
plan, she noted the blue area indicated the setbacks for the primary structure. The detached
garage and guest suite were allowed to have a reduced setback up to 15 ft in the rear and it had
5 ft setbacks on either side. If the garage was moved to the front, it would still have to maintain
a 25-ft front yard setback which would push the dwelling towards the rear of the lot and result in
a reduction in its footprint. Also, consideration would need to be given to the 30 ft setback in the
rear yard. She confirmed that adjusting the setbacks in a variance was possible if the applicant
desired.
Councilor O'Neill pointed out the burden was not on City staff to do the applicant's work. This
applicant had built numerous dwellings and understood the Code. Staff should not be in the
situation where they would be designing for an applicant; their role was to uphold the Codes set
by Council. He recalled that this occurrence was only the fourth in eight years during the
building of hundreds of homes. The variance process was expensive and time consuming.
Councilor Wendland understood, based on Ms. Numanoglu's explanation, that the applicant
failed to do certain tasks. He asked if the applicant could apply to remove the trees because of
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 13
October 6, 2020
the impact of part of a building structure. He was not referring to just the footprint, but wanted to
know if the applicant missed applying information that Council needed to make a decision to
remove the trees or if the trees could not be removed because of the Code. Ms. Numanoglu
replied that the DRC determined the applicant did not provide an alternatives analysis or an
arborist's report stating how far away the building needed to be in order to preserve the trees.
The DRC also found that the applicant did not meet his burden of proof to show that the removal
was for development purposes and that no reasonable alternative existed to allow the properties
to be as permitted in the zone. She confirmed the applicant had been issued a tentative
decision to approve and then the DRC denied the application. The applicant could also reapply.
Testimony of Applicant
Mr. Goodrich stated he had considered the available options and had adhered to the yard
setbacks to come up with a placement for the building. The diameter of the trees and the root
line was so large, it made no difference where the buildings were placed when trying to stay
within the yard setbacks. In trying to establish an alternate position for the buildings in the front
yard, they would have had to be moved so far to the west or front that very little space would be
left to develop. The trees had simply outgrown their suburban site and consumed one-third of it.
Even in discussion with the arborist, a decision could not be reached as to whether the trees
would survive the placement and construction of the buildings. Currently, if the buildings were
placed there, the trees would not survive. No distance was available to provide an adequate
building between the root line of the trees and the yard setbacks. Building the garage in the front
would bring an entirely different aspect because the entry to the garage would become a utility
surface and should be located off of the alley. He was unsure if it would be appropriate to have
the front yard facing the alley in this case. The entire stretch was not well developed. Though
they had looked for alternatives, none could be found. An appropriate building size could not be
found due to the small lots, and the buildings could not be located at a sufficient distance from
the trees to provide any advantage whether they were attached or detached. Applying for
variances at that point would be a difficult choice because it was unknown if the issues could be
addressed sufficiently for a variance to be approved. The Planning Department said a variance
could be applied for, and he had considered it, but no additional support was offered. He did not
know what he would be getting himself into with a variance compared to knowing how to deal
with the large trees on a small lot. A conflict existed because the building could not be built on
the parcel without an enormous amount of manipulation of the yards with multiple variance
applications and for a variety of other issues. The trees were so large that it did not make any
difference where the buildings were placed and it seemed like the only reasonable answer was
to ask to remove them.
Councilor LaMotte noted the 90 homes in his neighborhood accessed their driveways and
garages from the front and he did not fully understand Mr. Goodrich's point. It had taken the
applicant longer to go through the DRC and then come to Council than it would have if he had
requested a variance and the result was still unknown. He asked if the project's architect could
create a couple more designs with access in the front. It was possible to go into the setbacks if
staff believed it made sense in special cases. Mr. Goodrich replied a driveway located in the
front needed to be a certain length to allow for sufficient room so a car did not encroach into the
sidewalk. The garage would take 20 ft, the driveway would take another 20 ft, and it would not
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 13
October 6, 2020
be as aesthetically pleasing. Councilor LaMotte responded by noting staff had approved a
variance on Lakeview with a 5-foot driveway and no street parking.
Councilor O'Neill confirmed the previous home on the site had been a single-family structure
and the applicant would be building a duplex there. He stated it was an example of why House
Bill 2001 was a bad bill because it would increase mass on properties that were designed for
single-family residences. Mr. Goodrich confirmed that a single-family home could still be built
on the site, but that was not what the developer requested. Councilor O'Neill stated he
understood why the applicant was trying to maximize what could be built because the site was
allowed to have multi-family, but an alternative existed to build a single-family home. Ms.
Numanoglu noted the zone was R-7.5 which only allowed a single-family dwelling. What was
proposed was a zero-lot line dwelling that would be attached on one wall with the house to the
north. She clarified that the project was not multi-family.
Mayor Studebaker confirmed there was no public testimony in support of the appeal and called
for testimony in opposition.
Testimony in Opposition of the Appeal
• Alan Arora
Mr. Arora noted the applicant had said the DRC erred in the unanimous decision to deny the
application because the architect had worked with City staff to conform to City design standards
and no viable alternative solution was found. The decision to remove the two trees was
supported by both the City's arborist and the applicant's arborist. He did not believe an applicant
arborist's report was supported either as part of the Type II application for the public to see or
for the DRC to consider; therefore, any reference to it could not be considered in the appeal
hearing. Further, the unsupported note from the City's consulting arborist that was scribbled on
a paper copy of a City staff member's email was also not made available during the DRC
hearing and, as such, no discussion of either arborists' findings could occur in this appeal
because no arborist documentation was previously submitted. The DRC denied the application
on two distinct and separate grounds: One, no evidence existed about the impact of the
construction on the trees; two, no reasonable alternatives were presented. Those were two
separate findings, so even if the second option was found to be in error, the first would still apply
in denying the appeal and could not be overturned because no new evidence could be
submitted to counter the finding. The staff report confirmed that the applicant did not submit an
arborist's report and noted only that the City's contract arborist found that the trees were
considered generally healthy with no reference to the size of the root ball or whether the trees
could survive the development as proposed. Comments in the DRC meeting minutes showed
no evidence existed regarding the construction causing the removal of the tree as the size of the
root ball was not known, and no evidence of reasonable alternatives was presented to try to
avoid the problem, and along with the lack of an arborist's report, the tree removal application
was denied unanimously. Therefore, the decision should be affirmed by the City Council and the
appeal denied.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 13
October 6, 2020
• Gary Granger
Mr. Granger spoke on behalf of the Evergreen Neighborhood Association. He noted the DRC
found that the applicant failed to meet the burden of proof as required by Code. This information
was known at the time of the application. The application was tentatively approved by the
Planning Department in the absence of any evidence submitted to fulfill the requirements, so the
DRC's decision demonstrated the initial decision for tentative approval was flawed. Insufficient
information was in the record to deny the application at the outset after the initial comment
period. The timeline of events in the record showed the application was made on November 7,
2019. Inexplicably, no public comments were made in the record because the application was
not reopened until April 22, 2020. The process had now gone into October when the application
could have been denied at the time of the application. The applicant said that they did not apply
for variances, and staff had noted the City could not require variances. Variances were not
necessary if the applications would be approved without any review. No arborist's report was
submitted by the applicant about alternate plans. It had been stated that the trees needed to be
removed because of the construction, and the applicant had noted that it would not make any
difference where the buildings were sited because the trees were too large. Other buildings in
the area were located within 4 to 10 feet of trees as large as those on the applicant's site. The
notion that the trees had outgrown their suburban site, as the applicant had stated was
demonstrated to be false simply by standing on the site and looking around. No arborist's report
was available from the City or from anyone else when the tentative approval was given. The
arborist's report was not requested until after the neighborhood association for which he was
speaking appealed the initial approval. What was submitted was not a report, but rather was
handwritten notes on a piece of paper, and those notes were used to construct the staff report
after the fact as a justification for the tentative approval that was made in the absence of any
evidence from the applicant that would meet the criteria. If it had been handled properly,
construction could be underway by now with the trees saved.
• Diana Boom
Ms. Boom stated she supported Mr. Granger's comments and those of the other speaker. She
urged Council to support the DRC's decision to deny the application. She noted that the Code
allowed exceptions based on the physical characteristics of a lot and suggested adding
significant trees as one of those exceptions so trees could be saved in that manner.
• Betsy Wosko
Ms. Wosko asked Council to confirm the DRC decision, but she believed part of the DRC's
reasoning was flawed because it did not consider the Comprehensive Plan in regard to its
findings. The Comprehensive Plan addressed healthy ecosystems for which findings could be
used to balance private property rights. In this case, discussion concerned a garage and a
house which could be relocated on the property without harming two trees. She believed the
true reason developers wanted trees removed was due to convenience and profitability. Local
government's role, and the Planning Department's role in particular, was not to make business
more profitable for developers, but to protect and defend the community and effectuate the
intent of state and local comprehensive plans, and that included preserving the magnificent
Douglas firs. She asked the Council to not allow the trees to be cut down.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 7 of 13
October 6, 2020
Applicant's Rebuttal
Mr. Goodrich stated he was looking at the arborist's report in reference to the comments about
not having received it. It was prepared on August 14 and was sent to the City. The report
showed the true line and the critical root zones at issue. He had emailed the report just now to
Ms. Numanoglu. Staff had confirmed the report was not in the record. A lot of discussion had
taken place between the applicant's team and the arborist as the report would show. The
location of the garage and house were in the critical root zones. A rebuttal opinion addressed
whether building should take place on the roots, but a competent foundation could not be built
on organic material. Whether the little garage next door was still standing was not a viable
comparison because the proposed buildings were heavier. The roots of the trees were too big to
take care of. Other options could be considered if a variance were a reasonable approach. A
variance had not been completely discussed because it was common sense that the trees were
just too big and the existing setback requirements would not push the buildings out of that zone
because the trees were simply too large. Moving the garage forward might be possible, but the
complications of a variance were equally as arduous as dealing with the tree removal. He did
not believe any other reasonable solution was available without going with variances, and he
could not ask for those at the same time because he needed to find out if a variance would be
allowed. The applicant team was not trying to deal with the difficulty by just cutting down the
trees to make it more convenient; no one would want to cut a tree down. Councilor LaMotte
referred to Mr. Goodrich's use of the phrase "common knowledge" and said that might refer to
his team, but might not be common knowledge for everyone. He had repeatedly referred to a
variance, but had spent more time coming to Council with an appeal than a variance would have
taken. Variances were for reasonable requests, and the applicant could have tried for a variance
by offering alternatives, such as flipping the garage, to see if staff believed it would work. He
asked why the applicant believed the project was too complicated for a variance. Mr. Goodrich
replied the Planning Department approved the location of the garage and the applicant had
gone to the DRC with the approval that had been offered to the team as a solution. He could
have spoken to staff about a variance but, at the point of submission, he was in compliance with
the Code and had to deal with the tree removal issue. A variance had risks; the team could have
requested one, but with the Planning Department's approval, they believed a stronger case was
to go to the DRC.
Mayor Studebaker confirmed there were no further comments and closed the public hearing.
Councilor LaMotte moved to tentatively affirm the DRC's 6 to 0 decision and deny Tree
Removal Application 499-19-05510 and direct staff to present findings, conclusions and
an order finalizing the Council's tentative decision on October 20, 2020.
Councilor Kohlhoff stated it appeared that the City's arborist assisted in the applicant's case,
but the information was too sketchy. The DRC's decision was clear that what was presented
was insufficient based on their understanding of the record. It did not appear that decision was
arbitrary or out of line, and she agreed that it was not staffs or anyone else's job to do the work
for the applicant. She did not want to get embroiled in trying to make the proposal possible or
not, or to get involved with a remand to the DRC which did not appear reasonable. She would
vote to affirm the DRC's decision to deny the application. She agreed with Councilor LaMatte's
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 8 of 13
October 6, 2020
assertion that the same issues with trees kept arising, and believed the packet had done well in
showing that the DRC heard such cases all the time and were saying 'no.'
Mayor Studebaker stated he would vote 'no' because it was clear to him, based on the
experience in his own house, Mr. Goodrich's statements that the trees would not survive that
close to the building were accurate. If the building did not kill the tree, the foundation, walls, and
ceilings would crack. It was clear the trees had to be removed.
Councilor Wendland believed the applicant had not met the burden of proof and that the
process needed to be upheld. The applicant could choose to resubmit the application with an
arborist's report that proved the trees needed to be taken down. He believed Council needed to
rely on staff and processes in order to have a good, clean system.
A roll call vote was taken and the motion passed, with Councilors LaMotte, Wendland,
Manz, Kohlhoff, O'Neill, and Nguyen voting 'aye'. Mayor Studebaker voted 'no' (6-1)
7. COUNCIL BUSINESS
7.6 Findings, Conclusions and Order Affirming the Development Review
Commission's Decision Approving an Application for a Development Permit to
Construct a 160-unit Multi-Family Residential Structure at 5600 Meadows Road
[LU 19-0041]
This item was taken out of sequence.
Mr. Powell highlighted the Council Report, noting Council held a public hearing on September 8
and had made a tentative decision to deny the appeal and affirm the DRC's decision to allow
the Development Permit.
Councilor Wendland moved to adopt the Findings, Conclusions and Order for LU 19-0041
as presented. Councilor Manz seconded the motion.
A roll call vote was taken and the motion passed, with Mayor Studebaker and Councilors
Wendland, Manz, O'Neill, and Nguyen voting 'aye.' Councilors LaMotte and Kohlhoff
voted 'no.' (5-2)
Council returned to the regular order of the agenda.
7.1 Resolution 20-34, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Lake Oswego
Declaring the Public Necessity to Acquire Property at 1107 Yates Street for Park
Purposes
Mayor Studebaker stated that due to fruitful discussions with the owner, Council would not be
considering the resolution of necessity.
7.2 Water Systems Studies Engineering Services Contract Award
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 9 of 13
October 6, 2020
Mr. Broadus presented the Council Report, noting in 2018 the City had performed an update to
the Water Systems Master Plan (WSMP). The objectives of the WSMP covered several
recommended construction projects, including projects to rehabilitate or reconstruct pump
stations. Also recommended were several more detailed studies, three of which were part of the
item he was presenting to Council for its approval: A planning of the storage needs and options
for the south side of the city and the best locations for additional storage, and geotechnical and
structural assessments for the reservoirs on the south side and north side of the lake.
Information would also be gathered regarding the vulnerabilities of the reservoirs during a
seismic event and the mitigation options for those types of events, the cost/benefit of performing
them, the best strategy for some aging pump stations in the system, and determining the best
high and low season demand operational levels to maintain in the reservoirs.
Councilor Wendland stated he was in support of the proposal, noting that the studies would
provide a blueprint to follow for many years, and received confirmation it would be the first and
the last consulting project to evaluate the water system needs for the foreseeable future. Mr.
Broadus replied other study efforts were identified in the WSMP, but those would be several
years out as other physical construction projects began that were already identified in the
WSMP, as well as others that would be identified through these planning projects. Councilor
Wendland observed that almost a million dollars would be spent, although the city was not
growing substantively. He expected the studies to cost much less. Ms. Rooney said that a
WSMP update was done a couple of years ago and brought to Council which had tens of
millions of dollars of work and studies. She acknowledged that the city was not growing, but the
infrastructure was getting older. Many of the reservoirs were near end of life. The WSMP
addressed the replacement of that infrastructure as well as some expansion issues. She offered
to review the WSMP with Council. Councilor Wendland believed that almost $900,000 was
expensive; two engineers could be hired to do the work at a more reasonable cost. Mr.
Broadus replied that the scope of the study included a small army of water engineers,
technicians, a highly qualified dive team to enter the reservoirs to perform assessments, and
specialties for creating models to project growth and how to move water around the city.
Councilor LaMotte asked if some of what was proposed for $900,000 was done for the new
water plant project, especially on the south side of the city. Mr. Broadus replied that recent big
investments were made in the water system, much of it on the south side of the city. The
proposed plans would consider other issues, such as new storage facilities. Also, many
reservoirs were nearing the end of their lives, and the analysis would consider the next best
alternatives for additional storage. The previous large Investments concerned how to treat and
move water to the end users. This investment regarded water storage and seismic
assessments.
Councilor Wendland moved to award a Personal Services contract to West Yost in the
amount of $898,635 for Engineering Services for Water System Studies (S-01, S-02, and
S-03) as recommended in the 2018 Water System Master Plan. Mayor Studebaker
seconded the motion.
A roll call vote was taken and the motion passed, with Mayor Studebaker and Councilors
LaMotte, Wendland, Manz, Kohlhoff, O'Neill, and Nguyen voting `aye.' (7-0)
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 10 of 13
October 6, 2020
7.3 Jean Road/Pilkington Road Intersection Improvement
Mr. Broadus presented the Council Report seeking approval of a concept on how to move
forward with a transportation project at the intersection of Jean Road and Pilkington Road which
had been identified in the 2014 Transportation System Plan (TSP) as failing its intended level of
service. A subsequent study in 2017 found it met warrants for a traffic signal. In 2019, staff
began a study of the design of the project and considered options other than a traffic signal to
make sure they found the right solution before designing began. Three options were considered:
the no-build, the traffic signal, and a mini roundabout. The no-build option showed a level of
service that was close to Level F, the lowest possible, by 2040, and City policy was to maintain
levels of service at intersections at Level E or greater. A traffic signal or a mini roundabout
showed the average delays were reduced to a Level B or C, considered to be a high-performing
intersection. Driving the decision to eliminate the roundabout idea was the magnitude of impact
on the adjacent properties. A traffic signal would have a much smaller impact, and staff
recommended traffic signal treatment because of the lower total cost, though it was very close
to that of a mini roundabout. The traffic signal was also preferred due to the heavy crossing
activity by children attending the middle school in the area. Staff had recommended the traffic
signal to a well-attended neighborhood meeting in August and to the Transportation Advisory
Board in September. If approved, construction would start at the intersection late next year.
Councilor Kohlhoff stated she did not like roundabouts but she spent recreation time in Bend
which had roundabouts and people there insisted they moved traffic better. She asked if there
were two schools of thought about which option moved traffic more freely or if it was the
constraints that determined the decision. Mr. Broadus replied that roundabouts were very
efficient and did not break down. The caveat was that a roundabout worked very well when it
was in the right place, but the subject intersection was not the right place.
Councilor Wendland stated he had wanted a roundabout, but believed the bigger picture
regarded the safety for the kids at the school. He believed that rivers had trouble understanding
pedestrians in roundabouts. He asked if traffic lights were really not as effective as roundabouts.
Mr. Broadus replied that it depended upon the intersection and on the split of traffic. A
roundabout worked well when traffic was approaching an intersection in roughly equivalent
volumes because it equally dispersed it. When the split was disproportional, traffic signals would
start to perform similarly or even outperform a roundabout. In this intersection, similar splits
were seen, so the roundabout outperformed the traffic signal to some degree. The average
delay for a mini roundabout would be about 12 seconds versus the average delay of 14 seconds
for a traffic signal. In 2040, based on the growth projections, the estimated delay was 17.8
seconds for a signal and 18.14 seconds for a roundabout. The difference was negligible.
Councilor Manz stated she agreed with Mr. Broadus on roundabouts and recalled a clever
roundabout she had seen in Spain, but drivers were confounded by stoplights that were
installed there because of a nearby elementary school. The issue was an example of
bureaucratic craziness that she did not want to see in Lake Oswego. She would be voting in
favor.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 11 of 13
October 6, 2020
Councilor Wendland moved to approve the traffic signal alternative for the Jean Road /
Pilkington Road Intersection Improvements (TSP 62), Work Order 273, and direct staff to
begin the engineering design process. Councilor LaMotte seconded the motion.
A roll call vote was taken and the motion passed, with Mayor Studebaker and Councilors
LaMotte, Wendland, Manz, Kohlhoff, O'Neill, and Nguyen voting `aye.' (7-0)
7.4 Woodmont Natural Park Right-of-Way Dedication
Mr. Anderholm said that the County required that all parcels for Woodmont Natural Park be
within the City. Atwater Road on the south edge of the park was a County road under County
jurisdiction. Parking was allowed on the park property; however, the public strongly indicated
that they wanted a reduction in parking and to allow parking only along Atwater Road.
Regardless, the development of the park would require a dedication of the right-of-way (ROW).
The City approached the DRC for a major variance for on-site parking in order to locate it where
the public desired. Clackamas County gave the City two options: To dedicate 4.5 feet of the
park and develop 27 feet of road, curb, sidewalk and planting strip; or to develop the full 26-feet
width of the asphalt in that location with a rural characteristic that matched closely with the rest
of Atwater Road. The City chose the latter option, essentially providing on-street parallel parking
in front of the park and requested approval of a 4.5 fppt dedication of Woodmont Natural Park
frontage to Clackamas County along Atwater Road.
Councilor Wendland moved to dedicate 4.5 feet of Woodmont Natural Park along Atwater
Road as additional right-of-way to enable park development per LU 18-0039 and County
road requirement. Councilor LaMotte seconded the motion.
A roll call vote was taken and the motion passed, with Mayor Studebaker and Councilors
LaMotte, Wendland, Manz, O'Neill, and Nguyen voting `aye.' Councilor Kohlhoff
abstained. (6-0-1)
7.5 Ordinance 2824, An Ordinance Annexing to the City of Lake Oswego Three Tax
Lots Consisting of 2.07 Acres at 16556, 16524, 16552 and 16494 Boones Ferry
Road (21E07DD02300, 21E07DD02400, and 21E07DD02500) and a Portion of the
Boones Ferry Road Right-of-Way; Declaring City of Lake Oswego Zoning Pursuant
to LOC 50.01.004.5(a-c); and Removing the Territory from Certain Districts (AN 19-
0003)
Mr. Powell asked if any Councilors wished to make any declarations of ex parte contacts, bias,
or conflict of interest. None were declared.
Mr. Espe presented the Council Report, noting the properties under consideration were located
along the south side of Boones Ferry Road and would be zoned West Lake Grove Residential
Mixed Use (WLG RMU). The properties also abutted the Lake Grove Urban Renewal District,
but would not automatically become a part of that District upon annexation to the city, so
separate actions were needed, which included amending the Lake Grove Urban Renewal
District Plan and annexing the properties to that District. In June 2018, the property owners
entered into an annexation agreement, attached as Exhibit 3, and agreed to have the
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 12 of 13
October 6, 2020
annexation allowed 90 days after Clackamas County issued a certificate of occupancy, or
September 1, whichever came first. Staff recommended approval of the proposed annexation.
Councilor LaMotte moved to enact Ordinance 2824. Councilor Wendland seconded the
motion.
A roll call vote was taken and the motion passed, with Mayor Studebaker and Councilors
LaMotte, Wendland, Manz, Kohlhoff, O'Neill, and Nguyen voting `aye.' (7-0)
7.7 Approval of Meeting Minutes
July 21, 2020 Regular Meeting
September 1, 2020 Regular Meeting
September 12, 2020 Special Meeting
September 24, 2020 Special Meeting
September 29, 2020 Special Meeting
Mayor Studebaker moved to approve the minutes as written. Councilor Wendland
seconded the motion.
A roll call vote was taken and the motion passed, with Mayor Studebaker and Councilors
LaMotte, Wendland, Manz, Kohlhoff, O'Neill, and Nguyen voting `aye.' (7-0)
8. INFORMATION FROM COUNCIL
No information was offered.
9. REPORTS OF OFFICERS
No reports were made.
10. ADJOURNMENT, CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Studebaker adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Anne-Marie Simpson, City Recorder
Approved by the City Council on
Kent Studebaker, Mayor
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 13 of 13
October 6, 2020