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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item - 2026-02-21 - Number 07a - Recommendations for Goals and Initiatives Discussion MEMORANDUM V AN O OREGO� TO: Mayor and Council CC: Executive Team Amelia Wallace, Facilitator, Jensen Strategies FROM: Megan Phelan, Assistant City Manager SUBJECT: Recommendations for February 21, 2026 Goals & Initiatives Discussion DATE: February 19, 2026 This is a sorting of the items submitted by the Mayor and Council for discussion at your 2026 Goal Setting session. As you know, Council's time is a finite resource, and goal setting is a critical time for you to collectively decide on how your time, city staff time, and other resources, will be allocated over the upcoming year. • Draft Goals: Last year, you adopted 8 "big picture" goals. There is a proposed addition to one of those goals, but otherwise, no changes were recommended. • Proposed Initiatives: These are the projects that would shape your agenda for the next 12- 18 months. They either 1) address a big picture policy or operational question; 2) will take a significant amount of staff and Council time to complete; or 3) complete a work item or project that has been a high priority in past years. I have marked the initiatives that are continuations of existing projects an asterisk. As a reminder, after you adopt your goals and initiatives for the year, staff will return with work plans to accomplish them. There were 42 initiatives proposed, with 16 being existing projects. In general, the City has made significant progress on between 15 and 20 projects in a year, usually "finishing" 4 to 6 initiatives each year. With a couple of exceptions, I have not made any edits to the initiatives proposed by Council (two of them were abbreviated). I know from talking with your facilitator, Amelia Wallace, that there is more detail behind many of these initiatives, and Amelia will be working with all of you to draw out those out in the discussion on Saturday. Respect. Excellence. Trust. Service 503-675-3984 380 A AVENUE PO BOX 369 LAKE OSWEGO, OR 97034 WWW.LAKEOSWEGO.CITY Page 2 of 7 There are a few questions that may help you prioritize. First, which projects are urgent? Second, which projects have a large benefit for the community?Third, some of the work is sequential. Are the initiatives in the right order to ensure that Council and staff are set up to succeed? Proposed Tactics or Work Plan Items: As with years past, some of the items submitted by Councilors are not full stand-alone initiatives. For the most part, these proposals are an element, or a piece of policy direction, that should be considered as part of a larger Council-directed initiative. These will be sent to the Department Directors so they can be included in the work plan for the relevant Council initiative. Goals and Proposed Initiatives Strategic Goal: Ensure a safe, secure, and prepared community Proposed Council Initiatives to be discussed: • Continue implementation of the process to increase preparedness of Lake Oswego residents, especially seniors and people with disabilities, in the event of a disaster.* • Investigate the feasibility of combined red light/speed cameras (details to be developed in work plan). • Implement tools to educate and enforce on reduced residential speeds and e-bikes including partnership with LOSD, social media, fixed speed reader board signs on neighborhood collectors, and tracked enforcement efforts. • Reduce social isolation and loneliness for long term community health. Start by building a neighbor-to-neighbor outreach plan (as recommended at the Boards and Commission Summit). • Enable LOPD to hire all of the resources they need. Strategic Goal: Support business investment and job creation in Lake Oswego Proposed Council Initiatives to be discussed: • Continue to partner with Urban Development + Partners on the North Anchor redevelopment.* Page 3 of 7 • Continue the update of the Foothills District Plan.* • Initiate the process to adopt an update to the Lake Grove Urban Renewal Plan. Examine the geographic boundaries of the district as part of this update.* • Collaborate with the Chamber of Commerce and other community partners to promote Lake Oswego as a destination for visiting, shopping, dining, and enjoying the arts and events.* • Adopt and implement a new Economic and Development Strategy and Resource Plan. Ensure adequate staff and resources are available to support the development of the economic development plan to be delivered in the next year.* • Develop and implement a pilot project for food carts at the LORAC. • Ban car traffic in downtown Lake Oswego on weekends. Strategic Goal: Attract and support a diverse population where all people have civic agency, the opportunity to thrive and equitable access to city services Discussion Question: Add Housing? Proposed Council Initiatives to be discussed: • Adopt and implement a City communications plan to increase informed participation in City decisions, programs, and activities.* • Identify at least one opportunity for purchasing a lot and reselling it to a developer for affordable housing. • Institute "Elevated LO" (from Boards Summit) TED Talks and Super weekend to support cultural vitality of LO. • Explore partnerships to strengthen resources at subsidized affordable housing properties for the children who live there to ensure academic supports, food security and school attendance. Page 4 of 7 Current Strategic Goal: Combat climate change and strengthen the community's resilience to climate impacts Proposed Council Initiatives to be discussed: • Adopt a sustainable buildings policy to set standards for the design, construction, and operation of City buildings that align with the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan.* • Adopt an update to City tree regulations.* • Refine potential code and incentive options to phase out use of gas-powered yard and lawn care equipment in Lake Oswego, while continuing community outreach and education to increase awareness of sustainable lawn care options including electric alternatives.* • Adopt a strategy to address the impact of the Emerald Ash Borer on trees on City owned properties and in the right of way. Strategic Goal: Strengthen public trust in the City through continuous improvement, outstanding customer service, infrastructure investments, and fiscal stewardship Proposed Council Initiatives to be discussed: • Collaborate with the City of Portland to make a financially and environmentally responsible long-term investment in a wastewater treatment plant.* • Develop a strategy for an expanded and modern library facility, allowing it to serve as an all-ages and all-activities community center.* • Ask the voters to approve a general obligation bond to replace the South Shore Fire Station.* • Recruit and hire a new City Manager and new City Attorney. • Onboard the Interim City Manager. • Increase youth engagement in government through multiple avenues including more integration with the schools. Page 5of7 • Create citywide events and volunteer opportunities that connect and give back to the community. • Begin a process to consider a Charter Amendment to provide pay/compensation to City Councilors. • Conduct an organization design assessment and fill critical roles. • Work with Pioneer Cemetery to transition the property and operation to City stewardship. • Bring more visibility to performance against budget; perhaps semiannual, high level review of each department's budget for projects as well as operations. • Understand outlook of the General Fund considering needs to provide competitive compensation for city employees, recently commenced operation of the LORAC and golf course and failure of State to increase transportation funding. Look for efficiencies in City operations and understand LORAC's operating deficit with ways to decrease it. Strategic Goal: Invest in Lake Oswego's high-quality parks, natural areas, and recreational amenities Proposed Council Initiatives to be discussed: • Identify funding for Rassekh Phase III. • Review the performance of the LORAC to ensure it is meeting goals, being managed appropriately, and operating efficiently. • Complete the trail connection between Roehr and George Rogers Park. Identify funding if needed to complete the trail. • Finish Boones Ferry Road project by identifying process and adding public art to the 8 prepared areas. Page 6of7 Strategic Goal: Improve transportation connections, mobility and safety for all travelers and all types of trips in Lake Oswego Proposed Council Initiatives to be discussed: • Continue construction of sidewalks and pathways, focusing on safe routes to schools.* • Establish a plan for upgrading the bridges (scope, schedule, budget, and timing). • Study ways to improve transit access for residents and workforce, including both Intracity transportation and connections into and outside of the city. Analyze current service with TriMet. Look for partnerships with neighboring jurisdictions. Strategic Goal: Plan for change and growth, with a focus on enhancing the community's quality of life and sense of place Proposed Council Initiatives to be discussed: • Implement the Housing Production Strategy, including rezoning commercial and mixed- use properties and evaluating a low-income rental tax exemption program.* • Begin a comprehensive review of the Development Code to identify barriers to housing production and economic development and implement code amendments to address these barriers.* • Enhance the appearance of LO's Gateway historic commercial district along Highway 43 with a new appealing paint scheme (that honors its history). HRAB can guide the project. Work Plan items • Develop a community outreach/connection campaign that encourages everyone to meet their Neighbors (Four from your door). Should be assigned to CHRAB. • Ensure Unsung Hero Program is re-envisioned and brought back. • Ensure HPS is modified to remove references to rezoning residential neighborhoods. • Ensure new City website has easy way for residents to report maintenance and repair issues online. • Consider code enforcement efforts that target minor yet widespread violations like sandwich board signs and banners proactively instead of waiting for complaints. Page 7 of 7 • Build community understanding and support for key City facility investments. Specifically, the Fire Station and Library. • Add French in the languages used in the city for translation and interpretation (the French school can help translate pro bono).