HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Goals - Citizen Input 100039 - Kim Wizer 2026 Goal Setting - Public Input Form
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The Lake Oswego City Council will hold its annual goal setting retreat on Saturday, February 21,2026 beginning at 9 a.m.
in Council Chambers at City Hall. In preparation,the City Council would like to hear from the community.
Please take a few minutes before 5 p.m.on February 12,2026 to share your input. Comments will be shared with the City
Council before their retreat.
Name Kim Wizer
Neighborhood Evergreen
What would you like to see the City Council consider in their 2026 goal setting session?*
I was glad to see recently in The Review that the Council plans to focus on economic development and business
support. However,the article portrays that retail businesses are"thriving".Also,the article states that the City is
"extremely tight on retail space".While there may be little vacancy,that does not necessarily mean businesses
are thriving,and also some spaces are being replaced with financial or real-estate focused businesses because
they can afford the high taxes and rents. Being a small business owner and landlord, my family knows first hand
what a challenge it is to support and keep open a small, retail business or restaurant.
If the Council is focusing on economic and business support,what does this mean?Can you please share these
plans and solicit input directly from businesses?A need for increased foot traffic is something I hear frequently
from business owners, but how do we achieve this?Of course looking at other cities and busy neighborhoods for
what they are doing to foster vibrant commercial districts,will be helpful. I personally have pushed forward some
business focused initiatives like"Downtown Third Thursdays",which had over 20 participating businesses at the
peak and 20 interested artists, but it has now fallen flat with little support.
We know that retail challenges are not just isolated to LO, but increasing business license fees(with the new fee
schedule it is over 3x more for a business with 2 employees),taxes, bonds,etc.along with all the other
increasing costs that businesses face without an increase in foot traffic, is not sustainable for many retail
businesses.Thank you for being open to listen, having a renewed focus on development to help promote the
wonderful town of LO as a destination,and I encourage you to share and collaborate more closely with
businesses and landlords.
Thank you,
Kim Wizer
Please note: inflammatory,offensive,or inappropriate language may be redacted. Comments are a public record subject
to public records law,and, unless an exception applies, may be disclosed.